William R. Patton

Bill Patton was raised in Charleston, SC by his mother and step-father who provided him with a broad and liberal education. A restless youth, Bill bounced from Clemson to Baylor to Newberry before finally volunteering for the draft. Two years as an M.P. in the 82nd Airborne were followed by graduating from Duke University. A Masters in Theology from Lutheran Seminary lead to Bill becoming a Chaplain at Duke and later earning a M. Div. in Pastoral Counseling from Duke Divinity School. Bill, himself a playwright, directed over a dozen theatrical pieces including plays by David Mamet, Sam Shepard, Edward Albee, and Wendy Wasserstein. Bill also directed an off-Broadway production of Tennessee Williams’ “Kingdom of Earth, and was honored by Mr. Williams, who took him and the cast out for drinks. Bill served as Artistic Director of Force 13 Theatre in New York City.

A teacher, an actor, director and playwright, Bill eventually earned an M.F.A. in Directing from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. He has taught at some of the most prestigious schools on the East Coast – Southampton College, Hampton Day School, Harcum, St. Paul’s and the College of Charleston. However, Bill’s talents were never limited to the Fine Arts. A Gymnastic Champion who coached for 25 years, Bill later coached and competed in a national Spring Board Diving Competition for 60-65 yr. olds. A commercial fisherman and diver in Alaska, Seamanship Instructor, Lead Clinical Counselor and Executive Director in a residential treatment facility for at-risk youth are all titles he’s carried throughout his lifetime.

Bill currently resides in South Carolina. He has been writing for the past several years including four plays which were produced and performed at N.Y.U. and Southampton College. His most recent piece is a one man show, “One For The Road,” which he performed at Firehouse Theatre, Richmond, VA, Bridgehampton, N.Y., Easter Theatre Festival, NYC, Piccolo Spoleto, Charleston SC, and Art Works, Beaufort, SC.