Hawkins comes to Magic with 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. Hawkins was appointed after a six-month search led by the Magic board of directors, and has already begun work getting ready for the 2009-2010 season.

In other staffing news, Magic was awarded an 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 2009-10 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," according to an Aug. 7 statement.

The Northside stage is an intimate 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," stated 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.

For more information visit Magic Theatre's website at www.magictheatre.org.