Dorothy Patten (January 24, 1905 – April 11, 1975) was an American

theatre producer A theatrical producer is a person who oversees all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The producer is responsible for the overall financial and managerial functions of a production or venue, raises or provides financial backing, and hires ...

and

actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a Character (arts), character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek ...

Biography

Born in

Chattanooga, Tennessee Chattanooga ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. Located along the Tennessee River bordering Georgia, it also extends into Marion County on its western end. With a population of 181,099 in 2020, ...

to a wealthy family, Patten rejected the traditional role of a Southern socialite and hostess and set out for a life on the stage. Following the death of her mother in 1927, she left for New York City and attended the

American Academy of Dramatic Arts The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) is a private performing arts conservatory with two locations, one in Manhattan and one in Los Angeles. The academy offers an associate degree in occupational studies and teaches drama and related art ...

, getting her first break on the stage in '' Elizabeth the Queen'' in 1929. Patten was linked romantically with actress

Cheryl Crawford Cheryl Crawford (September 24, 1902 – October 7, 1986) was an American theatre producer and director. Biography Born in Akron, Ohio, Crawford majored in drama at Smith College. Following graduation in 1925, she moved to New York City and ...

in the 1930s, who, together with

Harold Clurman Harold Edgar Clurman (September 18, 1901 – September 9, 1980) was an American theatre director and drama critic. In 2003, he was named one of the most influential figures in U.S. theater by PBS.

and

Lee Strasberg Lee Strasberg (born Israel Strassberg; November 17, 1901 – February 17, 1982) was an American theatre director, actor and acting teacher. He co-founded, with theatre directors Harold Clurman and Cheryl Crawford, the Group Theatre in 1931 ...

, formed The Group Theatre in 1931. Patten financed several of the group's shows, and also acted in several of them. Patten and Crawford lived together and visited each other's family homes in Chattanooga and Akron. Patten returned to Chattanooga during WWII to assist her father with his work. After his death, she donated their family home to the

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UT-Chattanooga, UTC, or Chattanooga) is a public university in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States. It was founded in 1886 and is one of four universities and two other affiliated institutions in the ...

, and became a philanthropist to arts and theatre organizations in Chattanooga. The University's "Patten Performances", funded by her grant and named for her, have been ongoing for over thirty years. As of 2009, it was reported that they had brought theatre performances to over 100,000 people in Chattanooga and earned almost one million dollars for the University. After the break-up of her relationship with Crawford circa 1937, Patten became linked to Cecelia McMahon, who became her lifelong companion. Patten died in New York in 1975.

Notable productions

* '' Elizabeth the Queen'' * ''Big Night'' * ''Anastasia'' * '' Men in White'' * ''Subway Express'' * '' Success Story'' * ''

Waiting for Lefty ''Waiting for Lefty'' is a 1935 play by the American playwright Clifford Odets; it was his first play to be produced. Consisting of a series of related vignettes, the entire play is framed by a meeting of cab drivers who are planning a labor ...

'' * ''

The House of Connelly ''The House of Connelly'' is a 1931 Broadway two-act drama written by Paul Green, produced by the Group Theatre in association with The Theatre Guild and staged by Lee Strasberg and Cheryl Crawford. It ran for 91 performances from September 28, ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Patten, Dorothy Actresses from Tennessee American stage actresses American theatre managers and producers 1905 births 1975 deaths LGBT people from Tennessee American lesbian actresses 20th-century American actresses 20th-century American businesspeople 20th-century American LGBT people

Biography

Notable productions

References

Further reading

External links