Chicago stage credits include work with Ulysses Theatre, Bailiwick, and Timeline Theatre. Favorite roles include Mitchell Garabedian, in Sin: A Cardinal Deposed (original Chicago and Boston casts); Judas in Corpus Christi (Jeff Citation & After Dark Award: Ensemble); Frank O’Hara in the premiere of Too Live As Variously As Possible; and Felix Turner in The Normal Heart (After Dark Award: Performance). He appeared in the short film Telling Dad and directed the premiere of Katrina: State of Emergency. Patrick was a co-founding member of Ulysses Theatre Company and is the Managing Director of Strawdog Theatre Company.
Full Birth Name: Patrick James Rybarczyk (confirmation name: Michael)
Hometown: Toledo, OH
Age you became interested in theatre: 17, Senior year of high school (if you don’t count those awesome grade school plays)
Favorite show you worked on: Corpus Christi
Most memorable moment while working on a show: The standing ovation that we got on opening night of The Normal Heart from a group of older gay men, who thanked us after the show for telling their story.
Mentors or inspirations: My friend, Sean Hayes
On a show day, how early do you arrive at the theatre: Call time
Dressing room must-have: Starbucks coffee
A show and role you would like to do: “Man in Chair” (aka the Narrator) in The Drowsy Chaperone
If you were in NY for 4 hours what show would you see: Once
Favorite food: mashed potatoes
If you could meet a Broadway legend, living or dead, who would you meet: Elaine Stritch – you know she has some great stories
Worst costume: Probably some bad tights while doing Shakespeare
First stage kiss: senior year of college during The Playboy of the Western World (yes, I was the Playboy)
One lesson you have learned while working in the theatre: Even more than ever, to trust my gut on and off stage
Most unplanned moment or funniest unscripted moment that happened to you while onstage: During The Music Man, end of act one we’re all singing The Wells Fargo Wagon, and a loud “whoosh” happens. It turns out that someone accidentally opened the fire door at the top of stage. Did I mention it was raining outside? Let’s just say we had REAL trouble in River City. Thank goodness it was almost intermission.
Pre-show ritual: No rituals for me. I sort of just change things up show to show.
One piece of advice for those who are aspiring to work in the theatre: If you love it, stick with it.