Patterson Repertory Theatre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Patterson Repertory Theatre is a nonprofit community organization based in Patterson, California, founded in 2003. Patterson Rep is dedicated to making the performing arts accessible to the people of Patterson and all of the West Side by offering live theatre, providing educational outreach programs that deal with important issues in an entertaining way, creating an outlet for the community's youth, making a contribution to the community's economy, culture and sense of pride, providing hands-on experience in all aspects of theatre production and management, as well as, offering acting and improvisation workshops to the community!
"Put away any prejudices you may have about the state of culture on the West Side... It's worth the half-hour drive from Modesto... " - Modesto Bee
Contents |
[edit] Mission
The mission of Patterson Repertory Theatre is to demonstrate live theatre's unique ability to educate, enlighten, inspire and entertain through educational workshops, community outreach and theatrical presentations. By bringing Performing Arts opportunities to the city of Patterson and her neighboring cities, PRT hopes to promote community pride, the human need for self-expression and the joys that theatre has to offer to everyone in the community and surrounding communities of Patterson, California.
[edit] History
Patterson Repertory Theatre started as a summer project in the summer of 2003. Tori Lee Scoles thought after all these years of living in Patterson, the people of Patterson had to drive to other towns to enjoy theatre. So as an experiment, Tori approached Patterson Parks and Recreation Director Adrienne Chaney with a proposal of mounting a summer acting workshop for teenagers in the park. Mrs. Chaney was excited and got her started. In the mean time, Colton Dennis was expressing his own desire to direct a play in Patterson. Colton chose a musical that both Tori and he loved, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. With the help of many, including Adrienne, they were on their way!
They were nervous on the first day of workshop, and had every right to be. Only one young girl showed up, but she had a friend! That friend had a friend and so on, until the Youth Theatre Workshop started getting numbers into the teens and twenties.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was such a success that Colton and Tori decided to go from Patterson Community Theatre, to the year round Patterson Repertory Theatre. They got to work soon after applying for non-profit status.
The first shows with the Youth Theatre were in the small park where the old Del Puerto Hotel used to stand (now it's the new City Hall) with only parents and passers by as audience members. The young actors did not mind and went about their work as any "old pro" would, mounting small one act plays, The Big Black Box and The Pot Boiler before moving into their new digs at Patterson High School Auditorium.
Through the hard work of many supporters, Patterson Rep now has an annual Art and Wine Gala that keeps growing in its size and attendance each year. They hope Patterson Rep continues to grow! With help from the community, businesses, volunteers, and audience members, they hope to someday grow to encompass not only a committed audience membership but also a place Downtown which Patterson Repertory Theatre can call a home of its own!
[edit] Future
These are exciting times for Patterson Rep! In the last few years they have seen tremendous growth, and within the next few years we hope to expand! Now nearing 2008, they predict that they will have a Performing Arts Center in Downtown Patterson within the next 10 years. A space where they can have a variety of events going on - performing arts classes, meetings, concerts, comedy, art exhibits, movies, you name it, they will have it! They intend to be the venue for the community. Patterson Repertory Theatre will continue to create quality theatre for Patterson and the West Side!
