As Producing Artistic Director at Southern Rep Theatre until 2020, Hayes directed world premiere work by Steve Yockey including 'afterlife: a ghost story' and WOLVES, Andrew Hinderaker’s COLOSSAL, Joe and Andrew Doss’s SONG OF A MAN COMING THROUGH, Zayd Dohrn’s SICK, and produced writers such as Lisa D'Amour, Christina Quintana, Pamela Davis-Noland, Jim Fitzmorris, Michael Aaron Santos, and John Biguenet. Favorite producing highlight is Taylor Mac's THE LILY'S REVENGE in partnership with other New Orleans' producers and artists. Hayes served as TCG board member for six years (At-Large; Chair of TCG Governance Committee; Co-Chair Alumni Board). With Southern Rep she participated in TCG’s EDI Cohort training with ArtEquity. At NNPN: (Core Member Representative, Vision Committee, Chair (then Co-Chair) of Diversity and Inclusion Committee; numerous Showcase and other reading panels; Kennedy Center MFA program). She has earned recognition for her work in the New Orleans community, and was a 2016 finalist Stage Director and Choreographer Society’s Zelda Fichandler Award.