Glenn Patterson (center) in "The Music Man"
Glenn Patterson is well known for his devotion to two artistic disciplines: theater and music. He is the music director at Abingdon United Methodist, Abingdon, Virginia, and is heavily involved in Theatre Bristol – primarily as a director.
“I have been involved in theater since middle school as an actor and as a director since returning to the area in 1985. I taught in the theater department at Virginia Intermont for a number of years. I am proud of what we were able to accomplish in a setting where limited resources spurred our creativity and dedication to the work.
“My involvement with Theatre Bristol began as an actor, but quickly transitioned to directing. It is as a director that I am now almost exclusively involved in theater. I have directed at Theatre Bristol quite a bit in recent years and, for three years, directed at Abingdon High School. Each production has offered different challenges, but each share a need to work with those who are doing it for the love they have for it and for personal enrichment.
“At the same time, I have been directing music at Abingdon United Methodist for 30 years. The music we offer in worship asks of us our very best,” Patterson says.
Some highlights for Patterson include “Les Miserables,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Fiddler on the Roof” at Theatre Bristol, “Noises Off” at Virginia Intermont and his work at Abingdon United Methodist.
These stand out because of the challenges they presented. Each production was ambitious, had limited budgets and resources and no guarantees on who would participate.
“To do things that call on amateurs to do more than they have ever done before, knowing there will be hurdles and bumps in the road, and recognizing that it will take the best a whole team has to offer is brave. Maybe it’s a little foolhardy, but the success that comes when challenges are met is immensely rewarding,” he says.
He started singing in a children’s choir when he was about 4 and joined a boy’s choir at age 10. He acted in middle school, but it was really at Emory & Henry that he found his love of theater. He went to graduate school in theater for acting, but when he was offered the direction of “The Sound of Music” at Theatre Bristol, he discovered that he had more love for directing than acting, and he moved to the other side of the boards.
Patterson is directing “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” at Theatre Bristol. He is also directing music at Abingdon United Methodist and recently had the privilege of directing a Benjamin Dawson premier for Scherry Collin’s 60th anniversary at St. Thomas Episcopal.
“I never know what the future will bring. I will stay involved with the musical life of the church. As far as directing is concerned, a lot goes into deciding which shows are the best for upcoming seasons. I’ll be as anxious as anyone to see what opportunities arise.
“Communities are richer because of the arts. I doubt most people here realize how remarkable the art scene is for an area of this size. There are much larger places that can’t say they have a professional theater, a symphony, some amazing community theater, great choirs and vibrant visual arts. Of course, that isn’t the whole list. Arts make a difference in how we experience the world.
“Arts make a difference in how we see the world. Art is a creative activity, obviously. It’s one of the rare opportunities we have to do something that is new and personal to us. Of all the arts, theater is the most collaborative. It requires people with different skills, and it teaches people how to share a process of creation. It builds confidence and it stimulates thinking. Each show has challenges in common. They all need sets, costumes, actors and so forth, but each production has unique challenges as well. Meeting the challenges provides a sense of accomplishment that is hard to overestimate, Patterson says.
When asked about winning an AAME Arts Achievement Award, he said, “It’s a honor I hadn’t looked for. The previous winners are fantastic people who have accomplished great things in the arts. I’m humbled to join the list of winners.”
