Cranford Playwright Shares Emotional Story In Upcoming NYC Play

CRANFORD, NJ — Cranford native John Patterson has always had a passion for the performing arts. Now the 22-year-old writer and actor is unveiling his very intimate and emotional story in a short play, titled “Verisimilitude.”

The play was accepted into the New York Summerfest Theatre Festival and it will be premiering at the Hudson Guild Theatre, 441 West 26th St., in New York City in July. Patterson will be directing and also acting in the play.

Patterson’s love for the performing arts started at a young age.

“Since I was like 2, I would memorize Disney movies and perform them in my living room,” Paterson told Patch.

Growing up Patterson continued to follow his passion. He attended the Union County Academy for Performing Arts in Scotch Plains where he wrote a few plays and also performed.

He concentrated on the acting side of his career for about four years before taking a step back.

“I had always written a lot in high school but I didn’t feel it was as strong as my acting,” Patterson said. “I got a lot of feedback on my writing and now I am exploring it more.”

Last year Patterson went “through difficult experience” that really changed him as a person.

“It made me a lot more confident and comfortable in my own skin,” Patterson said.

Using that experience as inspiration, Patterson wrote his short play “Verisimilitude” last year, which he classifies as a little avant garde.

“We spent a lot of time studying different types of avant garde theatre, so when I thought about creating a work specifically for the stage, my mind went back to that,” Patterson said. “In telling this story, it freed me to explore these emotions in more abstract ways.”

The title of the play means the appearance of being true and real. The play follows a young man who has to differentiate from the appearance of truth and actual truth.

“The idea is the difference between the way the world feels we should be and expectations in order to belong and that tension of belonging and being your most authentic self,” Patterson said.

Patterson, who works at the Cranford Library, is hoping viewers will be able to relate to his story.

“I am hoping people will see themselves in it and identify with the character’s struggle,” Patterson said. “ I hope that me being so vulnerable with myself that it will encourage others to be vulnerable and share their own stories because there is a lot of healing in that.”

Verisimilitude is about 25 minutes long and it will be paired with another short play that's in the festival. For the price of one ticket, the audience will get to see both shows. Performances will be on July 13 at 9 p.m., July 15 at 1 p.m. and July 16 at 6 p.m.

For more information on Patterson, his work and to buy tickets for his play visit JohnPattersonOfficial.com.

(Images provided: John Patterson)

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