SMITH HOKANSON MEMORIAL HALL

SHMH PROGRAMS

Smith Hokanson Memorial Hall is filled with activities all year. Summers are especially busy as well.  Programs include:

School Programs
Drama rehearsals and performances
Dance classes
Tech club
Fencing club
Cheering practice
Band practice

Community Programs
Community theatre
Summer camps and dance classes
Fundraising activities
Adult swing dance lessons
Massage classes
Lectures
Concerts
Holiday events
Friday night movies

Summer Event Series

Contact Norah Warren at nwarren@vinalhavenschool.org
for information or to schedule a class or event.

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THEATER MANAGER

Smith Hokanson Memorial Hall employs a Theatre Manager. The position is a combination of: House Tech, House Captain, Stage manager and Program Director.

Norah Warren currently fills this position. Norah has a BFA in theatre stage management from Boston University. She was hired by PIE to fill this position in 2004. In her free time, Norah enjoys working with the local theatre groups and volunteering in her children's classes.

TECHNICAL THEATER

The auditorium is a fantastic facility with over three hundred and fifty seats, a mezzanine for set and costume storage, a state of the art lighting and sound booth and a grand proscenium stage that makes large productions possible for a small school like Vinalhaven with a K-12 population of approximately two hundred and ten! The playing space on stage is supported by our very own cyclorama that not only allows for great lighting effects but also makes it possible to project LCD movies and other new media as sets for productions.  
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WHO ARE SMITH AND HOKANSON?

Kilton Vinal Smith 1909-1987  Born in Vinalhaven, Kilton followed in his mother’s footsteps-Albra Vinal Smith was a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and taught music in the Vinalhaven schools.  She also led local orchestras and dance bands.  Kilton graduated from Vinalhaven High School in 1927, attended the conservatory and in 1933 joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) as a trombonist, then becoming the BSO’s tuba player.

Leonard Hokanson was born on Vinalhaven in 1931. After he moved to Worcester at the age of 11, he returned as often as possible to Vinalhaven, where his grandparents and other relatives still lived. When Leonard was just a toddler, his musical talent was evident. His mother turned to her Vinalhaven schoolmate, Kilton Smith, for advice. Upon his recommendation, she purchased an accordion and taught Leonard how to play. By the time Leonard was 5 years old, he was playing for Swedish dances on the island. Kilton became a mentor for the young Leonard Hokanson and a lifetime friend (as well as best man at Leonard's wedding). Leonard Hokanson was internationally recognized as a recitalist, soloist, and chamber musician. He was a professor of piano at the School of Music at Indiana University in Bloomington and a permanent guest professor at the Tokyo College of Music. He was a founding member of the Odeon Trio and resident pianist for Bay Chamber Concerts in Rockport, Maine.  Throughout his life and career as a concert pianist, Leonard returned to Vinalhaven when time allowed and always felt that his roots were on the island. He was generous with his performances, both for Fox Islands Concerts (of which he was Artistic Director) and for various benefit concerts for island needs.

AUDITORIUM COMMITTEE

Norah Warren, chair
Margaret Qualey
Irene Dennis
Kristine Davidson

Rona Hokanson
George Joseph
Kathy Warren