University News

David Patrick Appointed Chair of WIU Theatre and Dance Department

August 5, 2008

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MACOMB, IL - - Longtime Western Illinois University Theatre Professor David Patrick was appointed chair of the University's theatre and dance department, effective Aug. 1, according to College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC) Dean Paul Kreider.

Patrick has served as department chair on four previous occasions during his 33 years at Western. They include January-June 2006 when a national search was conducted; January 2003-June 30, 2004, when chair Gene Kozlowski was named COFAC dean, following the sudden death of Dean Jim Butterworth; as well as January-June 1990 and August 1986-July 1987.

"I am pleased to serve Western Illinois University, the College of Fine Arts and Communication and the department of theatre and dance as the chair of this dynamic department," Patrick said. "Our students, faculty and staff practice the most collaborative of all the art forms in the nurturing environment of Western Illinois University. It is my intention to continue the tradition and excellence of theatre and dance that has been established in this department over the course of nearly 40 years."

The head of scenic design, Patrick has designed 186 shows since 1976, including scenery, lighting and one costume design for University Theatre, Summer Music Theatre and the Regional Touring Theatre Company (RTTC). He also served as technical director on a variety of those productions. Five shows with his scenic designs have been presented at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) regional festival, and two of those shows received national design awards: "Conquest of My Brother" and "Arsenic and Old Lace." In 1987, for the reopening of Western's newly-remodeled Hainline Theatre, Patrick brought in Cathy Rigby to portray "Peter Pan," for which he designed the scenery.

Patrick also manages the business affairs for departmental productions during the academic year and has served as the managing director for a number of years for Summer Music Theatre. His teaching specializations are scenic design, décor and drafting.

In the mid-1980s, Patrick wrote a ticket-selling program for the department's first computer ticketing system. He was instrumental in moving most Universitywide arts ticket sales to the Hainline Theatre Box Office, as well as getting the new online ticket sales program (wiuartstickets.com) operational in 2003.

A member of the Performing Arts Center planning committee, Patrick received the Bureau of Cultural Affairs Distinguished Service Award in 2005. He was named the COFAC Outstanding Teacher in 1994-1995, earned a Professional Achievement Award (1998) and Faculty Excellence Awards (1992, 1994) and was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society (1993).

Patrick earned his Bachelor of Arts degree (1972) in theatre, with a design emphasis, and his Master of Fine Arts (1974) in theatre design from The Ohio State University.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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