P. A. Wray
Patti is currently a DG Ambassador for Central-Western Virginia, she is owner of Looking Glass Productions, LLC, she is co-director of Virginia Playwrights Forum (VPF), co-facilitator of the Playwrights Lab at Live Arts, a member of Z’s Playwright Lab, Richmond’s Playwrights Forum and International Center for Women Playwrights. She co-founded and co-owned The Venue on 35th, a 49- seat store front performing arts center in Norfolk, Virginia, as a home for VPF in 2007. She was the executive producing director at The Venue. In 2017, she turned over the operations of The Venue to another entity so she could focus on her writing. Prior to opening The Venue, she served on the board of directors at Generic Theater in Norfolk for six years. She was a principle in the founding of Hampton Roads Theatre League and a citywide festival of new plays, Norfolk Summer Play Fest, 2011 and 2012. Patti’s stage plays have been produced widely in Virginia, her play Nat Turner’s Last Struggle, was produced by Conejo Players Theater in Thousand Oaks, California; Celebration Arts in Sacramento, California; Very Little Theater in Eugene, Oregon; Metropolitan Community College, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and has been a feature in two Juneteenth Celebrations in Virginia. No One Knows Her Song, was produced at Zeiders American Dream Theatre’s 2022 Proteus Festival in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Patti considers The Venue on 35th (The V) a highlight and cornerstone in her career as a writer and theatre artist. It was multi-genre, open, diverse and safe; a place where the Black struggle and rising were often expressed. Patti found inspiration for her life’s work there – writing transformative, historically based plays. Her developing play series titled, River of Struggle Plays, begins at the beginning of race-based slavery in Virginia, and ends in modern times. It currently has four completed pieces – three of which have been produced, and four in development. She has been recognized for her work; is often asked to give interviews and speak on panels. She is also asked to work with other artists on projects concerning truth in history and healing from the wounds of slavery.