Character guide
Lank Hawkins
from Crazy for You
Lank Hawkins is a supporting antagonist in Crazy for You, a rival suitor for Polly Baker's affection and a saloon owner with his own plans for the town's future.
- Show
- Crazy for You
- Premiered
- 1992
- Role
- Supporting
- Composer
- George Gershwin
Who is Lank Hawkins?
Lank runs a saloon in the same small town where Polly Baker's theater struggles to survive, and he has his eye on both Polly and on the fate of the town's remaining businesses. His presence gives Crazy for You a bit of an edge, a local rival whose interests do not always align with the theater loving heroes trying to save the day.
As a character rooted in the town rather than an outsider like Bobby, Lank represents a more grounded, sometimes gruffer counterpoint to the show's showbiz dreamers, and his rivalry with Bobby over Polly adds stakes to the central romance.
Lank Hawkins's role in the show
This is a supporting role rather than a lead, giving the actor a chance to bring texture and mild menace, played mostly for laughs, into the story without carrying the show's musical centerpieces. Lank's scenes tend to emphasize comic rivalry and small town color over extended solo numbers.
Audiences enjoy Lank Hawkins because every good musical comedy needs a credible obstacle for its central couple, and his blend of gruff charm and self interest keeps the plot moving while adding another flavor to Crazy for You's ensemble of small town characters.
Frequently asked
What show is Lank Hawkins from?
Lank Hawkins appears in Crazy for You, the 1992 musical set to George Gershwin's music.
Is Lank Hawkins a lead or supporting role?
Lank Hawkins is a supporting role in the show.
Who wrote the music for Crazy for You?
The music was composed by George Gershwin.
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