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Meredith PattersonMusical actress
Date of Birth: 24.11.1975
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Meredith Patterson: Biography of a Broadway Star
- Pursuing Her Dreams on Broadway
- The Road to Success
- Success on Broadway and Beyond
Meredith Patterson: Biography of a Broadway Star
Early Life and Passion for DanceBorn in 1975 in California, Meredith Patterson was the youngest of four children in her family. Dance was a significant part of her family's life, with her mother, brother, and two sisters all being involved in the art form. From a young age, Patterson showed a keen interest in dancing, even mimicking her family's dance moves at the age of two and a half. At thirteen, she stepped onto a stage for the first time, albeit a school stage. Patterson played the role of a cower-girl from Nevada who falls in love with a wealthy gentleman in a school musical. Even her first role was about love, as Patterson jokingly recalls.
Pursuing Her Dreams on Broadway
By the time Patterson was thirteen, she had been singing and attending drama classes for several years. She had no doubt about her future career path and, on her eighteenth birthday, received a coveted gift from her parents - a ticket to New York City, where she hoped to become a Broadway star. However, the road to Broadway was far from easy, lasting a challenging seven years. Initially, Patterson not only failed to shine but also worked as a coat check attendant and spent freezing nights on the floor in cheap rooms infested with cockroaches. "I slept in strangers' tiny rooms and was the third wheel in situations where three was a crowd," the actress revealed in an interview. "But I didn't want to give up; it would have been too easy to quit and leave. I always believed that things would work out."
The Road to Success
Upon her arrival in New York City, Patterson pursued her education, graduating with honors from The American Musical & Dramatic Academy. Constantly attending various auditions, Patterson's persistence paid off when she finally caught the eye of casting directors. She was offered a role, followed by another, and soon landed a role in the Broadway production of "The Green Bird." From there, her career took off, thanks in large part to Patterson's exceptional talent.
Success on Broadway and Beyond
Patterson's most significant work on Broadway came in the musical "42nd Street." Initially, she danced in the ensemble for three months, but when the leading lady left the production, Patterson took over the role. Interestingly, she also played the same role in Moscow, becoming the principal performer in choreographer Randy Skinner's production in 2002. "42nd Street" tells the story of a theater where a musical is being rehearsed, and a relatively unknown actress named Peggy Sawyer (played by Meredith Patterson) becomes a star after the lead actress injures her leg. Alongside her rise to stardom, Patterson's character also finds love. The musical, which first premiered in the 1930s, made a comeback on Broadway in the new millennium. It won the Tony Awards for "Best Musical" and "Best Choreography."
In addition to her work on Broadway, Patterson has acted in Los Angeles and has appeared in over a dozen film and television roles. She is also actively involved in fighting against Huntington's Disease, a devastating genetic neurological disorder. Patterson supports "The Huntington's Disease Society of America" (HDSA) by donating proceeds from her concerts, and her album "MerieNYC," released in limited quantities, is also a charitable endeavor. Patterson is married to fellow Broadway actor Shonn Wiley, and they reside in Los Angeles.
