Patricia B. Snyder
- Director
Patricia Snyder is a versatile professional, serving as a writer, producer, director, teacher, and the founder of the New York State Institute for the Performing Arts (formerly known as ESYTI and ESIPA). Born Patricia Di Benedetto, she grew up in a close-knit family of Italian immigrants. At the age of 15, her future husband William Snyder transferred to her high school. Bill, deeply involved in the theatre, introduced Patricia to an atmosphere she likened to the pageantry of Catholic High Mass. She enrolled in acting classes and soon received a full scholarship to Syracuse University to major in voice. However, her father urged her to turn this down, considering it a selfish pursuit, and encouraged her to choose a career focused on helping others.
Undeterred, Patricia decided to become an English and drama club teacher, intending to use this as a fallback for her theatrical pursuits. She attended the University of Albany from 1958-1962, earning a Bachelor's degree in English and Education. Subsequently, she pursued further education at Syracuse University, obtaining Masters degrees in the arts.
In her initial teaching year, Patricia began creating handbooks showcasing various ways for teachers to connect with their students. These handbooks gained attention and paved the way for her to teach theatre at the State University at Albany, New York. Despite facing challenges in a predominantly male faculty, this "play lady" persevered and founded the Empire State Youth Theatre Institute in 1974. That same year, she and her students performed "The Wizard of Oz" in Moscow as part of an exchange program, which was documented in a WRGB-TV documentary. Later, her program took over The Egg, an unusual performing arts building at The Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza in Albany.
Known for both discovering new talent and bringing back established names, Snyder commissioned and produced the infamous "Raggedy Ann" musical at The Egg. This play, with music by Joe Raposo ("Sesame Street") and written by William Gibson ("The Miracle Worker"), became a cultural exchange phenomenon in Moscow after the end of The New Cold War in January 1986, and it went on to become a standard on the Russian stage. Despite a brief and unsuccessful Broadway run (not produced by Snyder), the musical became an American cult classic. Three years later, she personally ventured to Broadway to produce another short-lived musical that also began at The Egg, this one titled "Hizzoner!"
In 1996, NYS Theatre Institute began a venture with The Warner Music Group to develop five new musicals for family audiences. The first of these, A Tale of Cinderella (1998), was directed by Snyder, toured all of the major cities in New York, and was taped for broadcast on PBS and a release on home video. She also launched Family Classic Audio, an audiobook series that racked up 10 awards and many more nominations.
After an illustrious career producing over 200 stage productions, 40 of which she directed herself, the NYSTI program was shut down in 2010, and Snyder was out of a job. The next year, she assumed the role of creative director at The Creative Place International/iTheatre in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she continues to work today.
Undeterred, Patricia decided to become an English and drama club teacher, intending to use this as a fallback for her theatrical pursuits. She attended the University of Albany from 1958-1962, earning a Bachelor's degree in English and Education. Subsequently, she pursued further education at Syracuse University, obtaining Masters degrees in the arts.
In her initial teaching year, Patricia began creating handbooks showcasing various ways for teachers to connect with their students. These handbooks gained attention and paved the way for her to teach theatre at the State University at Albany, New York. Despite facing challenges in a predominantly male faculty, this "play lady" persevered and founded the Empire State Youth Theatre Institute in 1974. That same year, she and her students performed "The Wizard of Oz" in Moscow as part of an exchange program, which was documented in a WRGB-TV documentary. Later, her program took over The Egg, an unusual performing arts building at The Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza in Albany.
Known for both discovering new talent and bringing back established names, Snyder commissioned and produced the infamous "Raggedy Ann" musical at The Egg. This play, with music by Joe Raposo ("Sesame Street") and written by William Gibson ("The Miracle Worker"), became a cultural exchange phenomenon in Moscow after the end of The New Cold War in January 1986, and it went on to become a standard on the Russian stage. Despite a brief and unsuccessful Broadway run (not produced by Snyder), the musical became an American cult classic. Three years later, she personally ventured to Broadway to produce another short-lived musical that also began at The Egg, this one titled "Hizzoner!"
In 1996, NYS Theatre Institute began a venture with The Warner Music Group to develop five new musicals for family audiences. The first of these, A Tale of Cinderella (1998), was directed by Snyder, toured all of the major cities in New York, and was taped for broadcast on PBS and a release on home video. She also launched Family Classic Audio, an audiobook series that racked up 10 awards and many more nominations.
After an illustrious career producing over 200 stage productions, 40 of which she directed herself, the NYSTI program was shut down in 2010, and Snyder was out of a job. The next year, she assumed the role of creative director at The Creative Place International/iTheatre in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she continues to work today.
