Sonoma Community Center hires Transcendence director

The Sonoma Community Center has hired Eric Jackson as the center’s new Fiber Arts Program director and Creative Programs manager. Jackson will fill the full-time position left vacant after the retirement of Margaret Hatcher, the long-time head and creative force behind the popular Fiber Arts Program, Dia de los Muertos Celebration and the eight years of Trashion Fashion.

“Working with our Ceramics and Fine Arts departments, Eric will explor and develop new creative classes and activities for the community,” said Community Center executive director John Gurney. “Knowing Eric’s background in the performance arts, costume design classes may emerge as an opportunity. Eric’s creativity will guide us and anything is possible.”

Jackson has been the creator and director of multiple Transcendence Theater Company shows – “The Ladies of Broadway” being the most recent, plus all of the “Fantastical Family Night” shows to his credit since 2014.

“We encourage all our staff to maintain their expertise and skills outside of the workplace,” said Gurney. “If Eric desires to be involved with other performance organizations including Transcendence Theater Company outside his role at the Community Center we are in support.”

Jackson recently worked with Sonoma Arts Live helping costume their current production of “Jeeves Intervenes.”

The Community Center will host a “meet and greet” with Jackson on Thursday, June 21, between 6 and 7 p.m.

“Not only does Eric bring creative and production experience but he really does know about the fiber arts including costume design,” said Gurney.

Jackson has instructed students in the performing arts as well as guest-lectured at universities from Birmingham to Ann Arbor. Jackson was with Transcendence for six years. During his acting career, he appeared on Broadway in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and in the original cast of “Young Frankenstein.” He holds a bachelor’s in fine arts from the University of Michigan.

The long time creative force behind the Trashion Fashion show and popular Fiber Arts program, Margaret Hatcher said: “It has been a unique and profound honor to be a part of creative programming at the center for the past 10 years. This is a very exciting transition. It will be wonderful to witness the energy Eric’s talents will bring to programming and events at the center.”

Jackson took reins on May 9.