Pat Towne is a 2008/2009 Ovation Nominee in the Book/Lyrics/Music for an Original Musical category for his work JOE’S GARAGE at Open Fist Theatre Company. He was previously nominated in 2006 for Best Direction of a Musical for his work in GOREY STORIES.

As an Ovation Award Nominee, LA Stage asked Pat the following questions:

What was the moment that first inspired you to pursue working in the theatre?

I was president of my theatre club in high school, but I was a math & physics major at Indiana Univ. and not doing very well at it. Late my junior year my heart got broken by my first true love – a woman to whom I had said, “If we ever broke up, I’d have to do something else with my life.”  That summer, I ran off to New York on a Wednesday so I could catch a matinee and an evening performance on Broadway then return the next morning.  The evening performance was Amadeus with Ian McKellen and I had never seen a performance like it in my life.  I was sitting in a math class in the middle of the first semester of my senior year not understanding a damn thing that was happening.  I started doodling on my notes and then I began to giggle.  That’s when I knew I would pursue theatre, but I think the moment of inspiration was seeing Mr. McKellen’s performance. I wanted to do that.

What do you feel made the production you were nominated for particularly successful, either overall or for you specifically?

Two words… Frank Zappa.  And for me, it was a chance to do my dream play.

What project or projects are you currently working on?

Taking Joe’s Garage across the globe.  A couple of things that I’m keeping secret ’cause I don’t want anyone to steal the ideas.  And I pray to Dionysis I am cast in Sacred Fools production of Forbidden Zone in the spring.  We’re living in the 6th dimension!

What do you love most about theatre in Los Angeles?

The commitment of the freaks who slave to make the theatre scene here more than just showcase central.  That such good theatre could happen here in a town that’s all about the mediated arts is inspiring.

What’s your dream project?

Did it last fall.  Music is the best!

Biography: PAT TOWNE most recently directed and co-adapted the world premiere of Frank Zappa’s Joe’s Garage, a rock and roll musical based on Zappa’s album.  The show was produced for the Open Fist Theatre Company and won two LAWeekly Awards.

A long time member of the Los Angeles theater community, Pat has also directed and starred in Gorey Stories, a theatrical adaptation with music of the works of Edward Gorey, for Sacred Fools Theater.  The show won 3 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards including Best Ensemble, Pat earned an Ovation Award nomination for direction, and the show won the Ovation Award for Best Musical/Intimate Theater (The Franklin R. Levy Award).

Pat is a founding member of the award winning Zoo District Theatre Company in Los Angeles where he served on its artistic board and as its company manager. He has directed and performed in several of its productions including the world premiere of Bulgokovís Heart of a Dog at the Franko National Theatre in Kiev, Ukraine (Zoo District was the first American theatre company to perform there).

Originally from Chicago, Pat was a founding member and general manager of the famed Annoyance Theatre.  The Annoyance is known for its creation of shows through improvisation, and rivals The Second City as the Mecca for learning improv.  Pat directed and taught there, and played the Clown in their production of Coed Prison Sluts – the longest running musical in Chicago history.  Pat also originated the role of Greg in the Annoyance’s production of The Real Live Brady Bunch, and eventually went on to direct the show Off-Broadway.

He has performed on stages across the United States and internationally, on film & television, and he has taught at The Second City Los Angeles, The Annoyance Theatre, and Tulane University in New Orleans.

For a full list of Ovation nominees, or for information about the Ovation Awards Ceremony on January 11th, click here!