Early leader of Sarasota Opera dies at 98

Jay Handelman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read

The Sarasota Opera will host a memorial celebration for Philip Hall, one of the founders of the company, who died April 10 in Sarasota at 98. Hall also spent years on the business side of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Hall was a member of the Asolo Opera Guild and became its treasurer in 1968 at a time when it presented performances by the traveling Turnau Opera Players in The Ringling Museum’s original Asolo Theater. After the guild separated from the touring group, Hall became executive director of the new Asolo Opera Company in 1974, and served until in 1983. It was during his tenure that the company hired Victor DeRenzi, who has served as artistic director since 1982.

“Phil Hall was very important in establishing a foundation for what today has become Sarasota Opera,” DeRenzi said.

Philip Hall, who died on April 10, 2024 at the age of 98, was one of the founders of what became Sarasota Opera. In his later years, he was a fixture at Memories Lounge.
Philip Hall, who died on April 10, 2024 at the age of 98, was one of the founders of what became Sarasota Opera. In his later years, he was a fixture at Memories Lounge.

Hall was born in the Boston area in 1925 and moved to Sarasota at age 17 when he joined the Ringling Bros. circus, first as an usher and later in production.

“Phil was an old-fashioned theater person,” DeRenzi said. “He was in there getting his hands dirty. If something had to be done on stage, he was there to help with it.”

In his later years, Hall became a fixture at Memories Lounge in Sarasota, where he shared stories from his varied careers and performed karaoke. A 2017 feature in Sarasota Magazine about “Mr. Phil” said he was there most nights from 10 p.m. until closing.

Hall also spent time working with The Sarasota Ballet, attended Sarasota Opera dress rehearsals after he retired, and wrote original songs and a children’s musical called “Jack-O-Lantern.”

An early photo of Philip Llewellyn Hall, former executive director of Sarasota Opera, who died April 10, 2024 at age 98.
An early photo of Philip Llewellyn Hall, former executive director of Sarasota Opera, who died April 10, 2024 at age 98.

He was married for 42 years to Esther “Daisy” Hall until her death in 1991. He also was predeceased by his daughter, Stephanie Hall Eddleman (who was married to the late actor Jack Eddleman), three brothers and a sister. He is survived by his granddaughter, Shelby Hall Denney of New York, and a grandson, Christopher Eddleman, of Bellingham, Washington.

The Sarasota Opera will celebrate Hall’s life at 2 p.m. April 29 in the Sarasota Opera House atrium, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. Memories Lounge also plans a celebration at 4 p.m. April 27, 3428 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

Memorial donations may be made to the Sarasota Opera or to Memories Lounge.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota Opera to host memorial for one of its first leaders