Bio

LAURA FINE HAWKES, Scenic Design and Art Direction

Laura Fine Hawkes’ work broadly encompasses scenic design for theatre, opera, and musical theatre, as well as art direction for live shows, themed visitor experiences, museum exhibits, events, and television programming.  Theatrical engagements include design for Wolftrap Opera, Utah Opera, Stages Houston, Center Theatre Group at The Mark Taper Forum, Arizona Opera, Houston Grand Opera/HGOco, Upstream Theatre, Catastrophic Theatre, Big League Productions, The Geffen Playhouse, Ensemble Studio Theatre Los Angeles, The Road Theatre, Circle X Theatre, NoHo Arts Ensemble, The Fountain Theatre, and a short film within Cirque du Soleil's Iris production at the Kodak Theatre, among many others.  Laura currently serves as Associate Professor, Head of the Design and Technical Area, for the Theatre Department at Binghamton University (SUNY.)  Laura is a former Chair of the Performing Arts Department at Santa Fe University of Art and Design in Santa Fe, New Mexico and recipient of the Laureate Education 2016 GPS Award Winner for Leadership.  As a guest designer and guest faculty in scenic design, Laura frequently works with academic institutions and young artist training programs. Highlights include San Francisco Opera Merola Program, Rice University Shepherd School of Music, The Opera Institute at Cal-State University Long Beach, UCLA Opera, and Cal-State Los Angeles.  Laura recently designed the Excelerate Campaign Launch at Binghamton University. Working with a coalition of the University Advancement Office lead by Campaign Director Rebecca Benner, West Wind Consulting, and BSI International. multiple indoor and outdoor spaces across campus were transformed for a day and evening of dynamic programming. This featured the public launch of the university’s largest capital campaign in its history. Laura has participated in the development of multiple international large scale live shows and themed visitor experiences for Thinkwell Group, Inc. and The Hettema Group, both based in the greater Los Angeles area.  Laura designed the THEA award-winning Air Force One Discovery Center housed in the Air Force One Pavilion within The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA.  Art Direction for television includes programming for NBC/Bravo, Comedy Central, PBS, and the FUEL Network.  Laura is a former assistant and associate of the late scenic designer David Mitchell.  She holds an MFA in Scenic Design from UCLA.  

Extended portfolio, resume, and curriculum vitae available on request.

For further information, please contact:  laura@designhawkes.com