Patricia White 1948-2025
A Guiding Light for Emerging Voices in Theater
By: Susan Hall - Aug 15, 2025
Berkshire Fine Arts interivewed Pat White five years ago.
Jonathan Slaff provides a full biography.
Patricia White, the long-time company manager of Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT) and a well-known figure in Black Theatre, died August 10 after a brief illness. She had been hospitalized briefly and released for physical therapy to a nursing home, where she passed.
"Pat," as she was widely called, was well-known throughout the theater community as a director, mentor, producer, backstage coordinator, grant writer, box office manager and administrator. Her comprehensive understanding of the theatrical process helped shape countless productions and careers.
Her theater career began at the tender age of 17 with an internship at The American Place Theatre, where she worked under producers Wynn Handman and Julia Miles on productions of soon-to-be-noted Black playwrights. These included Ed Bullins ("The Electronic NI…" and others), Phillip Hayes Dean ("The Stye of the Blind Pig"), Charlie Russell ("Five On The Black Hand Side," directed by Dr. Barbara Ann Teer) and more.
At the Public Theatre, she ushered for the historic Pulitzer Prize-winning "No Place To Be Somebody" by Charles Gordone and later became Assistant House Manager.
Pat served as Project Coordinator for the Frank Silvera Writer Workshop off and on for 13 years, working with such remarkable talents as Amiri Baraka, Kimako Baraka, Amina Baraka, A. Marcus Hemphill ("Inacent Black and The Five Brothers") and Richard Wesley ("The Last Street Play," later named "The Mighty Gents" on Broadway).
A natural mentor and advocate, she became a guiding light for emerging voices in theater, dedicating herself to expanding the reach of diverse narratives and elevating underrepresented voices.
In December 1994 her ultimate mentor, Woodie King, Jr., hired her as Company Manager of New Federal Theatre (NFT). Among her most-noted projects, she managed the successful 20th Anniversary production of Ntozake Shange's "for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf." For over 35 years, she wore many hats at NFT: director, mentor, producer, backstage coordinator, grant writer, box office manager and administrator. Her comprehensive understanding of the theatrical process helped shape countless productions and careers.
Her career directing projects included "The Sty Of The Blind Pig" in NFT’s historic 2010 Great Black Plays & Playwrights Series, Marvin Schidkarut’s "Root of Aggression," "Fallen Angel" at the Producers Club for Under the Spell Productions, and a reading of Cesi Davidson’s "Eric and Theresa Deconstructed" with Kene Holliday. She staged Tess Onweme’s "The Missing Face" in NFT's African Project in the 2000-2001 season.
She began her directing career at the Frank Silvera Writers Workshop with the world premiere of "Linty Lucy" by Rudy Gray, followed by "What Ever Happened to Amos ‘n Andy?" by William Electric Black and "Toussaint: Angel Warrior of Haiti" starring Audelco Awards winners Antonio Fargas and Tony Chase. In 2009, she was nominated for a Vivian Robinson AUDELCO Pioneer Award for Innovation in Directing and Sound Design, and won in the categories of Directing and Management for Black Theater.
"Pat" was born in Brooklyn in 1948 to Martin White, a Naval Officer, and Adelle Randolph White. She was the beloved middle child between siblings Carolyn and Martin (also known as IM Nur). After her father's sudden passing when she was just seven, Pat and her family relocated to Louisiana and Mississippi. There she continued her elementary education before the family eventually returned to New York. She completed her schooling at P.S. 140 and later attended JHS 142 in Queens, where she discovered a passion for music and learned to play the French horn. Her talent and dedication earned her admission to the prestigious High School of Performing Arts. She went on to City University of New York, where she earned a B.A. in French Literature. She was deeply enamored with French writers and philosophers, becoming an avid reader of Charles Baudelaire, Albert Camus, and Frantz Fanon.
In her theater career, Pat was a pillar of support to theater organizations and artists and a fierce champion for authentic representation and storytelling. Her decades-long dedication helped build a more inclusive, vibrant theatrical world--one that will continue to reflect her love, vision, and tireless spirit.
A memorial service is scheduled for Monday, August 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM at the SGI-USA, 7 East 15 Street, New York, NY 10003. It will be livestreamed on Zoom at <https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85398562675?pwd=BrayVa70bq9IJRX9PyDuEhM69FpbYb>. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions can be made to New Federal Theatre.