Craig Hassall has led some of the world's most iconic cultural institutions, from London’s Royal Albert Hall to Opera Australia and the English National Ballet. 

Now, he brings that global expertise to Cleveland as President and CEO of Playhouse Square.  

Before moving to Cleveland in 2023, Hassall was the Chief Executive of Royal Albert Hall, where he helped solidify its international reputation as a premier arts destination.  

His resume spans the globe, including serving as Chief Executive of Opera Australia and Managing Director of the English National Ballet and programming for events including the Sydney and London Olympic Games.  

Hassall was not only drawn to Playhouse Square’s international stature, but also to Cleveland's cultural momentum and strong community support for the arts.  

Reflecting on his move, he shared: “The offer is so broad in Cleveland, you can go to a grungy, fringy theatre production and then you can go see ‘Wicked’ at Playhouse Square. You can go to a neighborhood baseball team and then you can go see the Guardians play. The variety of things here is phenomenal and happily, happily consumed by Clevelanders. It's terrific.” 

Today, Hassall oversees 12 performance spaces, eight resident companies and the largest season ticket base for touring Broadway in North America. He continues to build on Playhouse Square’s rich history while working to expand its local, national and international reach - strengthening Cleveland’s identity as a world class arts destination.  

“Cleveland punches above its weight in terms of its cultural impact,” said Hassall. 

Watch the video to hear more from Craig Hassall on why he chose Cleveland, and what’s next for Playhouse Square.  

This is part of an occasional series about people who have made The Land their home. Know a transplant who’d like to share their story?  Let us know.