Theater has always been a home for me, a place I could be myself while inhabiting my wildest dreams. That's why I write music, direct, perform, and do all manner of activities to bring stages to life with integrity, professionalism, and a deep care for the stories we tell.
A six-time Speranza Foundation Lincoln City Fellow and two-time SALT Award winner, Patrick Burns is a playwright, composer, director, and performer whose work has been seen off-Broadway, on national tours, and at regional theaters nationwide. He created From Foster Care to Fabulous, winner of the Planet Activist Award, and wrote Lady in the Moon and Life Sentence. He has also served as Production Manager at Broadway Sacramento and taught at CSU Stanislaus, CSU Sacramento, Adelphi University, St. Mary’s College of California, UC Davis. He lives in Sacramento, CA but works everywhere.
News & Recent
-
California State University, Stanislaus – Musical Theatre faculty, 2026–2027 academic year, teaching voice, musical theatre, and music directing.
-
Saint Mary’s College of California – Production Manager for the 2026–2027 academic year.
-
Shrek the Musical | Sierra Repertory Theatre – Music Director, Fall 2026.
-
Lincoln City Fellowship Julian Residency & Retreat – Returning as a 2026 Fellow for a weeklong writing residency developing a new play.
-
Ready Player Three – Published and available for worldwide licensing through Plays for New Audiences.
-
East Bay Children’s Law Offices – Youth Voices Consultant and newly appointed member of the Board of Directors.
-
Available for select music direction, creative producing, composition, and new work development projects.
Recent Work
-
The Drowsy Chaperone – Music Director, University of California, Davis, February 26–March 7, 2026
-
Thursdays in Juvie: Season 2 – Composer, premiered Summer 2025
-
Pippin – Music Director, California State University, Sacramento, April–May 2026
Recent Awards & Fellowships
-
2025–2026 Creative Growth Fellow, City of Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture