What a delight it was to read the HBJ article last week announcing that the new president & CEO for the Hobby Center is Mark Folkes! From his days at the Houston Symphony and then at local performing arts organization Stages Theatre, Mark is one of those people who everyone knows and loves; his passion for the performing arts and for giving back to our community is evident in all that he does. As a fan and sponsor of Stages for many years, I was fortunate to get to know Mark when he served as Managing Director from 2015-2021. Besides being great at what he does, he’s also a super nice guy!
Stages and Mark have been strong supporters and contributors, not only to the Houston Community but also to GHWCC and our Women Driving Arts Education Committee. During the pandemic, when in-person events were prohibited, we were searching for a place to live-stream an interview by Linda Lorelle of the beloved Lauren Anderson for the students of the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy (YWCPA), our committee’s partner school, to view. Without hesitation, Mark said, “Yes, Stages would love to host it!” The event went off without a hitch, with Stages’ Sterling stage setting the background for a true “Actors Studio”-style interview. Mark also helped us bring together a diverse, in-person panel at the YWCPA by supporting participation by Stages’ Inclusion, Engagement, and Training director, Eboni Bell, helping students hear first-hand about the wide variety of careers in the arts. And, through his and Stages’ generosity, YWCPA students were able to view the performance of ANN, the story of the colorful Ann Richards, giving them a glimpse of what life was like as the first elected female governor in the State of Texas. Any time we’ve reached out, Mark and Stages have always been ready to support our goal of bringing the arts and education about careers in the arts to students in need!
I ran into Mark at the opening of a new production at Stages last week and, after extending my heartiest congratulations, asked about his vision for the Hobby Center and the future of the arts in Houston:
“I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to join an institution that has been core to my own Houston experience. There are few things that I’m more fond of than sitting on the balcony at The Hobby Center overlooking the breathtaking skyline before a performance in Sarofim Hall. There are many similarities to when I first joined Stages! It’s an organization that I’ve been personally engaged with since first moving to Houston 14 years ago and have long desired an opportunity to be part of in a more meaningful way. I am beyond honored to step into this leadership role. There’s a tremendous opportunity to build on the first 20 years of The Hobby Center’s impact and continue to deepen the organization’s role in community serving as a hub for the performing arts, with musical theater at the center of what we do!
Working with the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce has been a treat. This amazing group has helped support Stages through its tremendous growth in recent years. I’ll continue to do what I can to partner with GHWCC in this new role.”
Best wishes to Mark for his new role and his continued success. We can’t thank him enough for his continual support, and we look forward to seeing the difference he will make at Hobby Center!