The loss of Patti McKenny

"Patti McKenny, a Chicago playwright, librettist and lyricist who was a vocal advocate of the development of homegrown musicals, died June 28 of a heart ailment [at age 57] in her northside Chicago apartment, friends and colleagues reported.

She was a founding member of Chicago Musical Theatre Works (CMTW), a collective of Windy City musical writers who sought to establish Chicago as a place where musicals were developed. The group's efforts included public readings of new works. Recently, an offshoot group would meet for critique sessions of their dawning works...

For 30 years, she collaborated on industrials, plays, musicals and other projects with writing partner and fellow Northwestern University grad Doug Frew, who is now executor of her writing. They shared book and lyric credits and worked with various composers over the years...

McKenny and Frew's musical about George Sand, Becoming George, with composer Linda Eisenstein, was chosen for the Pages to Stages development program at the Kennedy Center and premiered in spring 2006 at Metro Stage in Alexandria, VA..."

Singer Kat' Taylor,
Producer Brad Thacker
and Patti McKenny




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http://www.playbill.com/news/article/119140.html