Highlands Little Theatre

P.O. Box 691 Sebring Florida USA 33871 Tel: 863-382-2525

Patty Young - A busy lady and versatile singing actress
By: Roy Riedy

Patty Young's first role at HLT was the Mother Abbess in Frank Oberhausen's 1999 production of The Sound of Music in which she thrilled audiences with her divine rendition of "Climb Every Mountain." The role secured her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Fourteenth Zenon Ceremonies. Since her debut she has been involve in over a dozen more plays, both on and off stage, and has wowed audiences in every appearance.

In November of 1999, she showed that she was a game bird when, as Candy Starr, she appeared in John H. Lovelette's debut production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. She lit up the stage of the next play, Frank Oberhausen's Annie Get Your Gun, when she worked the spotlight; and worked backstage for Krista Flores' CAT presentation of Cinderella, Cinderella.

Patty returned to the stage in Sue McCollum's musical Bye Bye Birdie playing Mrs. MacAfee, the mother of an Elvis smitten daughter, a role that brought her a second Zenon nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The Fifteenth Annual Zenon Ceremonies gave her a chance to impress her peers when she sang "The Prayer" from the Quest For Camelot.

At Christmas time, 2000, Patty played a trio of characters in Mac Byron's "Extra Show" A Tuna Christmas. In March, 2001, she played Angel in Jim McCollum's ranchy musical Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, a role that brought a third nomination at the Zenons for Best Supporting Actress. In April Patty was elected to the Board of Directors of Highlands Little Theatre and in October, the Sixteenth Annual Zenon Awards gave Patty a chance to wow her audience again with "The Movie in My Mind" from Miss Saigon.

In March of 2002, Ms. Young shared the role of the Narrator with Tracy Pollard in Joe Willis' dazzling production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, roles that nominated both ladies for a Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Seventeenth Annual Zenon Awards in October.

In April of 2002, Patty was re-elected to a second term to the HLT Board of Directors. In August Melanie Boulay's wonderful Peter Pan opened for three weekends at the Lakeside Playhouse. The show was destined to win 8 Zenons, making it the second most awarded show in HLT history. One of those Zenons went to Patty Young for Best Producer of the Season.

In January, of HLT's Twenty-ninth Season, Patty played the role of Truvy in Peter Pollard's revival of the melodrama, Steel Magnolias, a role that was written for her. During the other plays of the season she worked with the serving team of Anthony's Lounge. At the Zenon Ceremonies at the end of the season Patty was a featured singer and sang "Memories" from the musical Cats; she also presented the Best Producer award, and found herself a nominee for the Best Actress Award in a Leading Part for her excellent portrayal of Truvy in Peter Pollard's Steel Magnolias.

During the Thirtieth Season Patty contributed to all five main stage productions: she worked in Anthony's Lounge during Melanie Boulay's delightful I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change; she was Mike Logsdon's Lighting Technician for his wonderfully overwrought Out Of Order; she was a member of the chorus in Jennifer Westergom's multiple Zenon winning The Scarlet Pimpernel; Peter Pollard's leading lady, Grandma Kurnitz, in his splendid production of Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers; and a sous chef during Tammie Pollard's impressive Jesus Christ, Superstar.

Patty did not go unnoticed at the Nineteenth Annual Zenon Awards either. She and Trey Griffin were the presenters of the Best Stage Manager Award; Patty entertained the audience with "Never Say Goodbye" from Sunset Boulevard; and graciously accepted the Best Actress in a Leading Part for her portrayal of Grandma Kurnitz in Peter Pollard's production of Lost in Yonkers.

In all Patty has been nominated at Zenon Ceremonies twice for Best Supporting Actress and twice for Best Actress, and won a Best Producer Zenon for Peter Pan, and a Best Actress Award for her role as Grandma Kurnitz in Lost in Yonkers, she has sung at all the events. She has also participated in the community show, Sounds of the Season for four years.

Off stage Patty has worked on stage crews, makeup, in Anthony's Lounge and in Gourmet. Her name has appeared in 25 play programs, 4 Zenon programs, 41 HLT Newsletters and 61 local newspaper articles for a total of 131 citations. She is still raising four children and has a day job. She is a very busy person and we at Highlands Little Theatre are grateful for the time and talent she has given to Highlands Little Theatre.

Patty won a third Zenon at the 21st Zenon Ceremonies in October, 2006. What follows is an update on what she has been doing since she received her second Zenon for her role of Grandma Kurnitz in Peter Pollard's production of Lost in Yonkers at the 19th Annual Zenon Awards in 2004.

Since the 30th Season, Patty has been involved in ten more productions and two Zenon Ceremonies. Her name has appeared in 16 HLT Newsletters and 37 local news articles for a total of 63 more citations for a grand total of 194 citations since she joined Highlands Little Theatre.

During the Thirty-first Season Patty's name appeared on all the season's programs as a member of the Gourmet team in addition to her job as the prop person for Peter Pollard's January, 2005, comedy, The Tale of The Allergist's Wife. At the end of the season Ms. Young was part of the entertainment for the 20th Zenon Awards and sang "No One But You" from We Will Rock You.

Patty was even more active in the Thirty-Second Season. In November she played the part of Maid Marian in Mike McMillian's medieval romp Hoodwinked; in March she was Joe Willis' Producer for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers; in April Patty was one of the singers in the "extra" revue, Broadway in Concert, directed by Melanie Boulay and Jennifer Westergom; June saw her the Assistant Director of Mac Byron's spoof Drop Dead; and in August Patty was the Music Director for Tammie Pollard's huge hit, Grease.

At the 21st Zenon Awards in early October, Patty sang "Once Upon a Time," from the musical Brooklyn and was awarded one of the few non-Grease Zenon, Best Producer for her work with Seven Brides For Seven Brothers.

Thank you Patty for your many selfless works and contributions, the theatre owes you a great debt for making our organization as good as it is today.