NEWS
My new play, we are all cut from tha same cloth, closed the 2024 Reading and Drinking Series produced by Step1 Theatre Company. The reading was at A.R.T/NYC on November 2nd, 2024
Chiiiiiild you better come on in tha room and see what this new play, we are all cut from tha same cloth is about! It tells the story of Kai Jones, a Black, nonbinary, and queer actor navigating life in New York City. When Kai meets Jay, a fellow theatre artist, on a dating app might i add, it is love at first sight... or at least that’s what Kai hopes and dreams…
Through vivid flashbacks, we dive into Kai's childhood, learning lessons from their Granny and experiencing the struggle for their Mom’s love and acceptance. As this new romance unfolds, we’re challenged to reflect on how our childhood shapes our adulthood. From the choices we make, to the path we decide to follow and how we look for love ultimately making us decide to either break the cycle of generational trauma or sweep it under the rug and keep it movin’ as Keke Palmer would say!
Chiiiiiild come, laugh, kiki and maybe shed a few tears but ultimately radiate joy as you realize we are all connected to tha bond of our family, whether we like it or not, because we are all cut from tha same cloth!
Chiiiiiild you better come on in tha room and see what this new play, we are all cut from tha same cloth is about! It tells the story of Kai Jones, a Black, nonbinary, and queer actor navigating life in New York City. When Kai meets Jay, a fellow theatre artist, on a dating app might i add, it is love at first sight... or at least that’s what Kai hopes and dreams…
Through vivid flashbacks, we dive into Kai's childhood, learning lessons from their Granny and experiencing the struggle for their Mom’s love and acceptance. As this new romance unfolds, we’re challenged to reflect on how our childhood shapes our adulthood. From the choices we make, to the path we decide to follow and how we look for love ultimately making us decide to either break the cycle of generational trauma or sweep it under the rug and keep it movin’ as Keke Palmer would say!
Chiiiiiild come, laugh, kiki and maybe shed a few tears but ultimately radiate joy as you realize we are all connected to tha bond of our family, whether we like it or not, because we are all cut from tha same cloth!
I made my Proscaenium Theatre Company debut in the Origins Theatre Festival, acting in Nattalyee Randall's new work, Sober Play (working title). The staged reading was on Saturday, October 12th, at 7PM at Pregones/The Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre (PRTT).
Made my directorial debut at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale for the U.S. debut of playwright Sebastián Eddowes-Vargas' Can The Peruvian Speak? written to be produced at The Yale Cabaret. We had a sold out run January 25-27, 2024.
Made my debut as a playwright, with my new play called, we are all cut from tha same cloth (former title The Process) which follows a twenty-something Black, queer nonbinary artist looking for love while battling generational trauma in the midst of surviving and thriving in New York City.
The reading was produced by Blacklight Community for the Cookin' In The Kitchen New Works Incubator that was held at The Dramatists Guild of America on December 29, 2023.
The reading was produced by Blacklight Community for the Cookin' In The Kitchen New Works Incubator that was held at The Dramatists Guild of America on December 29, 2023.
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Had a “blast” concluding the world-premiere production of Moon School by Victor Jones, playing the role of Matt respectively. Our production ran from October 2-10 2023 at The Tank in New York City. Check out our opening night review here!
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Had the pleasure of working with Jacob Sexton once more on a queer imagining of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Our ensemble-led production ran at TheatreLab in New York City from Apr 26th-May 4th 2023. Check out the digital program and more here!
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Last fall I made my SoHo Shakespeare Company debut in their fall production of Richard III at The Flea Theatre. Performances were Oct. 21-Nov. 12 2022
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Closed the revival of As You Like It produced by Classics On The Rocks at The Actor's Theatre Workshop. Performances were July 21-23rd 2022
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I made my National Queer Theatre debut in June 2022 for the fourth annual Criminal Queerness Festival, apart of the Summer for the City LGBTQIA+ Pride Festival. I worked on two new plays that had staged readings @ Lincoln Center
I directed an education tour of Romeo & Juliet for The Shakespeare Project of Anniston in August 2022. Set in 1961 in Anniston, Alabama, this tragedy was set in the American South during the Civil Rights Movement to call us to action on how we can make the world a better place for future generations.
I was the assistant director to Jacob Sexton for the workshop production, If You Like Me At My Worst, written by Tre Calhoun that was produced at Columbia University.
I made my debut at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey on their outdoor stage during the summer of 2021! Their Outdoor Season consisted of two shows in rep, Comedy of Errors and the world premiere of Snug, an adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Performances were July 8-August 1st 2021!
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I was the co-host for BlackLight Community Inc.'s first annual Holiday Concert - streamed on YouTube Live Dec. 30th. 2020!
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I returned to The Shakespeare Project in spring of 2021, to reprise my roles in Julius Ceasar and Macbeth for streamed audio versions of these classics! Check em out!
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Performed in a fall virtual production of As You Like It with Classics On The Rocks as Orlando! It was on Facebook Live on Nov. 20th 2020!
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Performed in a summer virtual production of Much Ado About Nothing as Don John produced by Classics on The Rocks. It was on Facebook Live on July 10th 2020!
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Directed a virtual reading of Bootycandy by Robert O'Hara that was held on July 1st 2020 via Zoom for the Zoom Play Reading Series at Southeast Missouri State University - Conservatory of Theatre & Dance.
On April 23, 2020 - Shakespeare's Birthday, I got to make my debut with Classics On The Rocks in their "Shakesday" Celebration with a performance from The Two Gentlemen of Verona via Facebook Live - Video coming soon!
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I will be making my NYC theatrical debut in a production of Othello produced by The Secret Theatre.
Directed by Joe Reault, our queer re-imagining of this Shakespearean tragedy runs March 19th-March 29th 2020! |
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Closed a production of Macbeth for the second season of The Shakespeare Project in Anniston, Alabama as Banquo. Performances were Aug. 14th-18th 2019. Click here to check out some photos!
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Closed District Merchants by Aaron Poser as Lancelot at The New Jewish Theatre. Directed by Jacqueline Thompson, performances were January 24th-February 10th 2019.
“The diminutive Karl Hawkins is a true gem as Lancelot. His delicious, agile comic gifts brighten the play immensely. His brave and easy embrace of an almost vaudeville comic vocal style is perfect and appropriate-a defensive mask for his true cleverness. He is, like all of Shakespeare's clowns, both forgivable and adorable.” |
Karl Hawkins as Lancelot in District Merchants
I concluded my work as a Teaching Artist/Actor for the 2019 Education Tour with St. Louis Shakespeare Festival in April 2019.
Karl Hawkins (left) as Young Charles in the reading of The Thousand Natural Shocks by Michael Saenz, based off his novel
I returned to St. Louis Shakespeare Festival during the fall of 2018 for a month long residency at The Grandel Theatre to inaugurate a new program called, In The Works. The focus is to present work inspired by one of Shakespeare's 38 plays for the modern age. I performed in two plays, The Thousand Natural Shocks by Michael Saenz & A Most Outrageous Fit of Madness by Nancy Bell.
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Returned to St. Louis Shakespeare for the 34th Season as Ariel in The Tempest. Directed by Patrick Siler, performances were held in October 2018.
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Ended the summer of 2018 in post-apocalyptic Rome as Cassius in Julius Caesar for The Shakespeare Project in Anniston, Alabama
Romeo & Juliet in Forest Park apart of the 18th Season for St. Louis Shakespeare Festival closed on June 24th, 2018. Thank you to everyone who came and saw us #InTheGlen!
I completed my work as a Teaching Artist/Actor for the 2018 Education Tour with St. Louis Shakespeare Festival in early April 2018.
Completed a staged reading of Marcus; or The Secret of Sweet, produced by SolidLines Productions, directed by Jackie Chambers in February 2018
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Played Gerardo in the regional premiere of Cardenio: Shakespeare's Lost Play, produced by St. Louis Shakespeare in the fall of 2017.
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"Fernando's long-suffering servant Gerardo (a mostly mute but very good Karl Hakwins, who conveys his inner dialogue through eye rolls and burning glares)"- Paul Friswold, Riverfront Times
Performed a SOLD OUT run of Lin-Manuel Miranda's In The Heights, produced by R-S Theatrics in St. Louis in July 2017.
PAST PROJECTS
Did a workshop production of The Thousand Natural Shocks written by Michael Saenz, based on his novel. This play was commissioned by St. Louis Shakespeare Festival for #SHAKE 38 and directed by Kern McFadden.
Starred as The Mechanic in Will Eno's, Middletown produced by Meramec Theatre
Closed the 2016-2017 Theatre & Dance season for The Conservatory of Theatre & Dance at Southeast Missouri State University as Puck, in A Midsummer Night's Dream
Assistant Director to Roxanne Wellington for the production of A Streetcar Named Desire for The Conservatory of Theatre & Dance at Southeast Missouri State University
Directed A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant & A Prayer by V (Formerly Eve Ensler) in conjunction with the Campus Violence Prevention Program at Southeast Missouri State University for V-DAY. Check out the Facebook live video below!
Directed a scene from the play, 'night, Mother by Marsha Norman for The Conservatory of Theatre & Dance at Southeast Missouri State University
Check out the video below!
Directed a scene from the play, 'night, Mother by Marsha Norman for The Conservatory of Theatre & Dance at Southeast Missouri State University
Check out the video below!