Patricia Barrier
Rochester, MN
Biography

I come to writing without an MFA or even a major in English. I come to playwriting from a background in community theatre as actor, singer and dancer and bring the passion of that form of communication. I also bring the background of many years in Family Medicine which has infused my observations of people with compassion, empathy, humor and surprise. I have been writing seriously for about 7 years and have wrtten 7 one act plays. My favorite genre is comedy as a good laugh opens the heart and mind as much as a good cry. 

Plays

by Patricia Barrier

Leukemia, kielbasa and bowling connect Lenny, a recent widower and bartender and Eric, a young medical student. As Lenny reads obituaries and Eric tries new recipes, an unlikely friendship develops as each man confronts painful losses in different ways. 

Cast:
Lenny Podulski - 70s, a recent widower Eric Goldberg - 20s, a medical student and Edward’s twin brother Edward Goldberg - 20s, unemployed actor and Eric’s twin brother played by same actor as Eric Lenore Goldberg - 50s, socialite, Eric and Edward’s mother and Stuart’s wife Stuart Goldberg - 50s, successful doctor, Eric and Edward’s father, Lenore’s husband
by Patricia Barrier

Shawn and Tomas, 2 young and cocky EMTs, meet Mildred - an elderly woman who calls 911 to rescue her from loneliness. Soon the EMTs find themselves rescued by Mildred’s undaunted and quirky spirit. 

Cast:
Mildred - black, 80s, straight - feisty and independent Shawn - black, 30s, gay - an EMT -troubled and afraid of intimacy Tomas - Latino, 20s, gay - an EMT - happy and wants folks to just get along
by Patricia Barrier

Edward and Klee are seeking the perfect living space in an elite condominium where they not only get to pick the perfect cabinets but also the perfectly genetically engineered baby. In this process, harsh truths are disclosed and the sinister and unsavory consequences of perfection are revealed. 

Cast:
Edward: male, white 50-60 years old Klee: Female, white, 30-40 years old Mike: male, white and an artificial intelligence, 20-50s
by Patricia Barrier

A farce in one act

Estranged members of a Midwest family return to the family farm to scatter the ashes of their parents. Differences dissolve as more boxes of ashes are discovered and secrets are revealed.

Cast:
Mary: the youngest sibling, 40s, female, white and avoids conflict Carla: 40s, white, transgender, formerly Carl, the middle brother Terri: the oldest sibling, 50s, white, and a born again Christian snake handler Uncle Charlie: their mother’s brother, 70s, white, male and living in Thailand as a Buddhist Bernice: 70s, black, female and the lover of their mother’s sister Floyd: Mary’s fiancé, 40s, male and East Indian Lucius: ageless and timeless, a large stuffed snake
Cast:
by Patricia Barrier

Mary wants to write poetry. Roxy’s welding class was full. Nicole hopes her labor doesn’t start during class. Patricia wants to get off parole. Lisa wants to be admired. When these women join Portia’s creative writing class, personalities clash and Portia’s plan is overturned. When a serious crisis develops for one member, unpredictable alliances form and transformative possibilities emerge. 

Cast:
Portia - 50s, writing group teacher, a poet Mary - 30s, shy and conservative Roxy - 40s, bold and loud Nicole - 20s, sweet and pregnant Patricia - 50s, been around the block, sister to Lisa Lisa -50s, arrogant writer and college professor, sister to Patricia

Successes

My short play "According to the Animals" was presented at the Spirituality Center in Rochester MN on Dec 2 and Dec 3. 

My ten minute play "Food for Thought" was a semifinalist for the Minnesota Shorts Play Festival.

My monologue "Taco Tuesday" will be performed on 1 Aug 22 as part of Roland Tec's Some One Speaking monologue series. 

My monologue "Fifty Years Later" was a semifinalist in the PlayGroundExperiment Faces of America Monologue Festival #3.

My 10 minute play "First Flight" was a semifinalist for the 14th Annual Minnesota Shorts Festival.