Meet PAD’s new chair

Posted by Nick Martinez in Performing Arts

Laura Fine Hawkes is the new chair of the Performing Arts Department

Laura Fine Hawkes may be the new head of the Performing Arts Department, but her ties to SFUAD run back to the College of Santa Fe days.

A graduate from CSF, Hawkes has worked as a scenic designer and art director in Minnesota, Los Angeles and Houston before returning to SFUAD, officially taking over July 15. She’s also been a guest artist for the past three years and was a contributing faculty member last spring.

“I knew the student population and faculty before I came here,” she said. “Although the freshmen and sophomores were newer to me, I knew a number of the juniors and seniors.”

This familiarity lends her a distinct advantage over the typical new hire. But, recognizing the foundation the previous PAD chair Victor Talmidge established, Hawkes hopes to continue SFUAD as a school for professional development.

“I’ve long known [PAD] to be a strong pre-professional program,” she said. “We can build on that same legacy. My specific passion is design and technology. That would be related to both theater and the greater entertainment industry.”

Hawkes’ first step is to make technical upgrades to the Greer Garson Theatre. As a result, all shows will be performed in the round, on stage in Greer Garson, with the audience sitting on stage with the performers. She doesn’t believe the work being done in the theater will disrupt the work in the classroom.

“It doesn’t interfere, I would say they interlace,” she said. “Much of our curriculum is geared to what we do that season.”

SFUAD’s first show of the season will be The Cave Dwellers, by Samuel French, opening Oct. 3, but the real kickoff will be Greer Garson’s 110 birthday party on Sept. 26. Unfortunately, Mrs. Garson will be unable to attend herself, though a scene from The Cave Dwellers and a stair performance from the Dance Department will entertain. This event is open to the public.

Hawkes first action was to make to technical upgrades in Greer Garson Theater.

After this, shows include Some Girls, Hotline and Den of Thieves, all culminating in new contributing faculty member Alaina Warren Zachery’s Musical Theater Workshop’s showcase, featuring music from Nine.

Hoping to extend an olive branch across campus, Hawkes also plans to collaborate with other departments, with film being the obvious suitor. With her improvements on the technical side of PAD, she’s employing a sort of trickle-down eduction that will spread to other aspects in the department.

“We’re looking at what partnerships we can have to mutually support each other and to cross collaborate,” said Hawkes.

Hawkes began her first year in the chair with a full plate, but if her youth and enthusiasm is any indication, the PAD is in for a fresh start.