Jere Van Patten

Jere is an AriZoni Award winning actor who has appeared in over 45 stage productions throughout the valley! He is a graduate of the Southwest Shakespeare Conservatory, and is currently represented by the FORD/Robert Black Agency. He has attended Master Classes in New York City as well as in Phoenix and has worked with such theatres as: Phoenix Theatre, Southwest Shakespeare Company, Hale Centre Theatre, Valley Youth Theatre, Theatre Works, and even theatres in the Chicago area.  He was last seen as "Dromio of Ephesus" in The Comedy of Errors with Soutwest Shakespeare Company and just finished recording with the London Symphony Orchestra for Spire Music's latest project Lamb of God which will be released September 10th and will have performances at ASU's Gammage Auditorium September 10 - 11, 2010.  For more informtion visit the Spire Music website at: www.spiremusic.org.    

Jere taught K – 8 Drama and discovered how much he loved directing and working with kids.  A few of his favorite shows he’s directed during that time were You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Bugz, The Little Lost Astronauts, Sideways Stories fromWayside School, and Much Ado About Nothing.  Jere was also one of the directors of "The Magic of Musical Theatre Workshops" for Mesa Community College's summer music theatre program from 2002 - 2007. 

In 2005 Jere opened the doors of his own acting studio: The Actor’s Ink and has been teaching private and group acting instruction ever since.  He was just named Director of Theatre for Premiere Performing Arts Academy in Gilbert which will be opening this fall!  Check out their website for more information at www.premiereperformingarts.com. 

At Arizona State University Jere had the opportunity to direct Broken Hearts and is now in advanced directing courses there under the mentorship of William Partlan.  He most recently submitted his original play, The Cure for Culture for their 10 Minute Play Contest and will be looking forward to that later this spring!