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Arts & Entertainment

Pat Padrick: Helping Children and Theater Come Together

A love for children and a love for theater is something that local resident Pat Padrick shares with many.

Four years ago, at Simpson Elementary School while volunteering with the school play, Patricia “Pat” Padrick remembered her deep love for the theater and discovered her new love for working with children. The following summer she combined those two loves and began a summer drama camp for children which soon grew into what is now The Actors Edge Performing Arts Program for children and adults.

A 17 year resident of Peachtree Corners, Padrick grew up in New Jersey. Active during her youth in community theatre, upon high school graduation she was bound for New York City to pursue her passion for the theater. She attended an acting conservatory, became an Equity actor and lived and worked in New York for the next seven years. 

Ready to take a different life direction, upon visiting her parents who had since moved to the Atlanta area, she decide this was going to be her new home. Down she came to marry, adopted two lovely children, worked in mortgage banking and began working on a college degree. Padrick was pleased and surprised when theater once again became a part of her full and busy life. 

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For the first two years of her new venture Padrick taught alone at The Actors Edge, hiring acting counselors to work during the summer camp. Now the business has expanded to include another acting teacher, a vocal coach, dance instructor and an improv instructor. Previously meeting at the Red Clay Theatre in Duluth, The Actors Edge has now moved to the Notre Dame Academy which is also in Duluth. 

Padrick says “Performing arts education helps children on so many levels that have nothing to do with acting. It improves self confidence, poise, public speaking ability and a sense of comfort in their own bodies.” She also smilingly points out that directing children’s theater is organized chaos with a fine balance between self expression and self control.

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Currently, The Actors Edge produces one play a year. Padrick feels strongly about making live theater available to and affordable for the community and she prices her tickets accordingly. They are $10 for adults and $8 for children. 

Not only does Padrick teach acting to children, she also does private coaching and teaches public speaking classes to adults through her other business called Corporate Command Performance. For information  you can e-mail corpcommandp@comcast.net.  Information about the Actors Edge can be found online at the www.theactorsedge.com.

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