On December 7, Aberdeen Community Theatre announced that the main auditorium at the Capitol Theatre will be named Walker Hall. The name honors Jim Walker and Donald Hall, two men that were pivotal in the formation of Aberdeen Community Theatre.
The naming was announced at a retirement celebration for Walker. The event was attended by almost 200 people and included a slide show, speeches, and a musical performance by a choir of ACT volunteer singers. A portrait depicting Walker and Hall was also unveiled during the announcement. The portrait was commissioned by local artists Nick and Nicole Fischer. It will be installed along with permanent signage for Walker Hall in the coming weeks.
Walker and Hall had been involved in the local theatre scene before forming Aberdeen Community Theatre. Stage One, an acting company that performed at Northern State University, was the precursor to both ACT 2 and Aberdeen Community Theatre.
“I didn’t want to mow lawns for money,” Walker remembered. “I thought about doing shows over the summer.”
Hall and Theatre Director Dick Norquist approached then-president Joseph McFadden about utilizing the Johnson Fine Arts Center in the summer, and ACT 2 was born. First incorporated in 1979, they put on their first production, “Annie Get Your Gun”, in 1980.
“Don Hall was a mentor to me for more than 30 years,” Walker said. “Without him, there would have been no theatre.”
In 1985, Walker was named Aberdeen Community Theatre’s Artistic/Managing Director. In 1992, Aberdeen Community Theatre acquired the Capitol Theatre as its permanent home.
The Capitol Theatre building will be turning 100 years old in 2026. Aberdeen Community Theatre is currently undergoing a $565,000 campaign aimed at improving, updating, and renovating the building to ensure its safety and utility.
Walker said that his decision to retire and the transition of his role to Brian Schultz has been in the works for a while now. He also said that the staff and board members of the theatre helped make the transition a smooth one.
“It’s a job I love, and theatre has been my life,” Walker said. “Leaving is bittersweet.”
In retirement, Walker said that he will still have some involvement with the theatre.
“I don’t want to be the person sticking around, but I know how the job goes,” he said. “I’m happy to be here and volunteer.”
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