Magic Theatre Welcomes New Managing Director Scott Hawkins, Announces Move Into Northside Theatre

Magic Theatre is pleased to announce Scott Hawkins as its new Managing Director. Mr. Hawkins comes to Magic with extensive experience in business and theatre, including a 20-year career as an organizational development consultant, and recent service as Co-President of the Board of Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Mr. Hawkins was appointed after a 6-month search led by the Magic board of directors, and has already begun work getting ready for the 2009-2010 season.
"I'm thrilled to team with our great artistic talent, and together lead Magic to a stronger and more secure position within the community," said Scott Hawkins. "In these times, only organizations that are both smart and inspired will prosper. Magic Theatre is one of them."

Loretta Greco, Artistic Director, "is very excited to partner with Scott. He has hit the ground running as we get ready for our 09-10 season, and I'm thrilled with the level of dedication and creative thinking he has already brought to the Magic."

In other staffing news, Magic was awarded a coveted NEA recovery grant to ensure the recovery of the Head of New Play Development position, which will be held by Jayne Benjulian.
Magic Theatre is also consolidating venues for the 2009-2010 Season. In a healthy partnership with Fort Mason Center, Magic is giving the Southside Theatre back to Fort Mason Center and going forward will primarily occupy the Northside Theatre. The Northside stage is an intimate and unique 160-seat thrust. Working closely with Fort Mason Center, Magic's Board and Staff determined that this move will enable the company to weather the difficult economy while growing stronger and reinvigorating its core mission of bringing great new plays to the Bay Area.

" We look forward making available the 160-seat proscenium stage Southside Theater for performances and events that will provide additional synergy to Magic Theatre and Fort Mason Center, " said Ann Lazarus, Executive Director of Fort Mason Center.

Founded in 1967, Magic Theatre is one of the most prominent theatres in the nation solely dedicated to development and production of new plays. Magic Theatre plays and playwrights have won numerous awards, including Pulitzer Prizes, Kennedy Center Award, NAACP Image Award, Obie Awards, Pen-West Awards, Bay Critics Circle Awards and Los Angeles Drama-Logue Awards. The list of playwrights whose works have premiered at the Magic reads like a "Who's Who of American Theatre": Sam Shepard, David Mamet, Paula Vogel, Nilo Cruz, Charles Mee, Anne Bogart and Rebecca Gilman. In addition to its production calendar, Magic Theatre is also instrumental in the development of works in the Bay Area and beyond. For more information, visit Magic Theatre's website at www.magictheatre.org.