2008 Woodie Awards
Theater pioneer's legacy lives on at UMKC
Jennifer Bhargava
Issue date: 1/30/06 Section: Culture
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Theater was Patricia McIlrath's passion.
The late director's dedication to the performing arts helped her found the Missouri Repertory Theatre (now the Kansas City Repertory Theatre) and the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Theatre Department.
However, when McIlrath was a budding gem in the field of theatre, Kansas City was the last place anyone thought she'd end up.
After receiving a doctorate from Stanford University, she settled in her hometown due to her dying father's request.
"Patricia's move to Kansas City sent shockwaves through the scholarly world," said Felicia Londre, UMKC professor and close friend. "People wondered why she was 'throwing away' her career. They didn't understand it."
In 1954, the 37-year-old joined the staff of what was then the University of Kansas City as an assistant professor of speech and theatre.
Early in her career, McIlrath began directing plays on campus that featured a mixture of professional artists, students and community actors.
One of her productions brought her to New York City, where she learned a lesson which changed theater history.
"She made one of her productions, 'Electra,' into an off-Broadway performance and it was so difficult for her, she made so many mistakes," said Londre. "It led her to think it was not right to send theater students out in the world unprepared."
Her bittersweet experience in New York City gave her the idea to create a professional theater training program - the Missouri Repertory Theatre.
"I thought Kansas City could provide an atmosphere to do what would later become a professional theatre that would be totally connected with the university and yet be separate - a university that did all it could to help professional theatre and all the professional arts flourish," said McIlrath in a January 1989 issue of Forum magazine.
The Rep began as a summer program but in 1964 started its first complete season.
While she was busy directing her program and building up the Theatre Department at UMKC, McIlrath was also establishing lifetime friendships.
The late director's dedication to the performing arts helped her found the Missouri Repertory Theatre (now the Kansas City Repertory Theatre) and the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Theatre Department.
However, when McIlrath was a budding gem in the field of theatre, Kansas City was the last place anyone thought she'd end up.
After receiving a doctorate from Stanford University, she settled in her hometown due to her dying father's request.
"Patricia's move to Kansas City sent shockwaves through the scholarly world," said Felicia Londre, UMKC professor and close friend. "People wondered why she was 'throwing away' her career. They didn't understand it."
In 1954, the 37-year-old joined the staff of what was then the University of Kansas City as an assistant professor of speech and theatre.
Early in her career, McIlrath began directing plays on campus that featured a mixture of professional artists, students and community actors.
One of her productions brought her to New York City, where she learned a lesson which changed theater history.
"She made one of her productions, 'Electra,' into an off-Broadway performance and it was so difficult for her, she made so many mistakes," said Londre. "It led her to think it was not right to send theater students out in the world unprepared."
Her bittersweet experience in New York City gave her the idea to create a professional theater training program - the Missouri Repertory Theatre.
"I thought Kansas City could provide an atmosphere to do what would later become a professional theatre that would be totally connected with the university and yet be separate - a university that did all it could to help professional theatre and all the professional arts flourish," said McIlrath in a January 1989 issue of Forum magazine.
The Rep began as a summer program but in 1964 started its first complete season.
While she was busy directing her program and building up the Theatre Department at UMKC, McIlrath was also establishing lifetime friendships.
