Patrick A. Kelsey, MBA, MFA, Performing Arts Administrator


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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Patrick A. Kelsey was born and raised in Indiana. He attended Ball State University and successfully completed a double major in both Technical Theatre, from the College of Fine Arts, and the award-winning Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management program, from the College of Business. He was awarded numerous scholarships and worked part-time to put himself through school. While studying theatre at Ball State University, he trained as a scenic designer and received a scenic design award from the American College Theatre Festival for an original play entitled The Fourth Chair. As an Entrepreneurship major, Patrick received the Ernst & Young Outstanding New Venture Plan for his small business plan for a dinner theatre entitled The Illustre Theatre.

Immediately graduating from Ball State University in 1994, Patrick moved to New York City -- having only once visited The Big Apple for Graduate School interviews -- to pursue a terminal graduate degree from Columbia University, in order to combine his lifelong interest in both business management and the performing arts with the intention of eventually entering academia. He was once again awarded scholarships and an assistantship in order to attend Columbia. Throughout his entire academic career, he was involved in numerous organizations, both academic and professional, holding leadership roles in many.

While attending graduate school, PACE Theatrical Group -- which was purchased by SFX Entertainment, which was purchased by Clear Channel Communications, which later became Live Nation, and is now know as Key Brand Entertainment) -- recruited Patrick and he spent the next five years working in the commercial theatre. He quickly assumed the post of Director of Operations for the largest touring circuit in North America and eventually the General Manager of the Hilton Theatre (previously known as The Ford Center for the Performing Arts and helped to open the Broadway revival of the Tony awarding winning production of 42nd Street in 2001). He earned his Master of Fine Arts in 1999 authoring a thesis entitled Beyond the Great White Way: American Commercial Theatre in Mexico and South America.

After leaving Clear Channel, he assumed the post of General Manager for the arts education company Camp Broadway. In 2004, Patrick was awarded full tuition for his second Masters degree, a Master of Business Administration from Nyack College, of which he completed in May 2005 authoring a thesis entitled Theft Of Shareholder Wealth: The Fiduciary’s Responsibility To Human Capital Investment. As a result of his scholarly endeavors, he earned the Dean's MBA Scholarship Award and later served as Adjunct Professor teaching general business and communications to undergraduate students in a Christian liberal arts environment.

Currently, in addition to being a husband and father of two beautiful daughters, ages 20 and a newborn, Patrick is a performing arts administration professional. His current post is Development Director of the $2.3M Off Broadway theatre production company The Irish Repertory Theatre, Inc. located in New York City. He previously served as Managing Director of the theatre company until 2008, when experiencing high development staff turnover, he opted to step down as administrator of the company to focus his time solely on fundraising. He also serves as Executive Director and Founder of the Performing Arts Administration Institute, Inc., a 501(c)(3) dedicated, among other things, to educate and train individuals in performing arts administration, which will be publicly launched fall 2010.

He recently served as Managing Director & Managing Partner of Manhattan Artist Representatives, LLC., a management agency for classical singers from 2007 - 2010; He also recently served on the Board of Directors and as General Manager of Golden Door Productions, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization from 2002 - 2008.

Patrick is a proud member of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, Free & Accepted Masons in Shakespeare Lodge #750, where he served as Master during the 2008-9 year, and, among other community activities, helps to coordinate blood drives through the Masonic Blood Donor Program, where he serves as Vice-Chair of the State-wide program committee. Patrick, aside from helping to coordinate blood drives, he is a regular donor, registered as a bone marrow donor, and is registered to donate needed organs to anyone in need at the time they may become available.

The underlying foundation behind Patrick’s character style is the constant and never ending pursuit for personal and professional excellence without deviating from extremely high individual, Christian, and Masonic moral conduct and integrity.