Conversations with Patrick Pribyl

Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrick Pribyl.

Hi Patrick, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story is one that winds through a lot of places, but always finds its way back to storytelling. I’m the youngest of seven sons, raised in a big family where humor, chaos, and conversation were part of daily life. Both of my parents were high school English teachers at Blue Valley Northwest, so language, literature, and performance were woven into my upbringing from the start.

I attended Rockhurst High School, and it was there that I really began to find my voice through theater. That passion took me to Pace University in New York City, where I studied acting and was immersed in the heart of one of the world’s great storytelling cities.

As I was working as a performer in undergrad, I found that my true calling was in directing and arts education. I now serve as the Theater Director at Providence School of the Arts, a small Christian school in Kansas City where I teach students from pre-K through 10th grade, and I serve as the assistant Theater Director and manager of the Rose Theater at .my Alma Mater, Rockhurst. I also am on the board of l Courtyard Shakespeare, a company that focuses on education and bringing area high school, college and professional actors together in July to collaborate on a Shakespearean show every year. Last year I had the great honor of directing Romeo and Juliet with the incomparable Mackie Bailey and this summer I have the unbelievable opportunity to direct Macbeth with one of my best friends, Hersh Ellis

What’s brought me here isn’t just a love of theater — it’s a belief that storytelling can change lives. I’ve directed everything from Shakespeare to contemporary drama to children’s musicals, always with an eye toward community, risk, and meaning. Along the way, I’ve navigated some of my own struggles — including addiction and the loss of both of my parents in the past three years — and I’ve found in theater a space not just for escape, but for healing, reckoning, and transformation.

Now, I get to help create spaces where students, actors, and audiences can confront big questions, take creative risks, and hopefully leave a little more awake than when they arrived. I feel incredibly grateful to do this work — and to still be learning, still growing, and still telling stories.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road — but I think the bumps are what gave me direction. Like a lot of artists and educators, I’ve had to navigate uncertainty: financial instability, burnout, and the constant balancing act of trying to do meaningful work while making ends meet. But some of the hardest struggles were more personal.

For a long time, I wrestled with addiction — and for a while, it was winning. Getting sober in my early 30s changed everything. It forced me to rebuild, not just my career, but my sense of purpose and connection. I also lost both of my parents in the span of just a couple years. That grief continues to shape my work, especially when I direct or write about family, legacy, and forgiveness.

There have also been creative struggles — failed projects, missed opportunities, shows that didn’t quite land — but every one of those taught me something. And in a strange way, I’m thankful for the hard seasons, because they gave me empathy. I bring that into the classroom and rehearsal space every day. I know what it feels like to fight through something, and I try to create spaces where others feel safe enough to do the same.

The road hasn’t been smooth — but it’s been honest. And it’s led me to work I believe in, surrounded by people I respect. So I’ll take the bumps.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I wear a lot of hats, but at the heart of everything I do is storytelling — whether it’s on stage, on canvas, or in the classroom. I’m a theater director, educator, writer, and visual artist. I currently teach theater to students from pre-K through 11th grade at Providence School of the Arts, a small, school in Kansas City. I also have directed for Courtyard Shakespeare, a company of which I’m a board member, where we stage bold, collaborative productions of classical work — often reimagined through movement, design, and contemporary context.

Outside of the theater, I’m a painter and woodworker. I didn’t start painting until I was 29, but it quickly became an essential part of my creative life. I’m primarily a soft top painter, and I share my visual work through @patpribylpaints. I also work with wood — building furniture, props, and custom pieces from reclaimed and found materials. These creative outlets have helped me process grief, celebrate recovery, and stay grounded.

An important part of my creative process is constantly learning and growing — and I’m lucky to have some spectacular friends and mentors who help make that possible. Anthony McMurray, the theater director at Rockhurst High School, has been a true inspiration and the most giving collaborator I’ve ever had the chance to work with. So has Hersh Ellis, a gifted director whose vision, perspective, and heart have deeply shaped my work. I’m grateful to be part of a creative community that pushes me to be better — not just as an artist, but as a person.

What sets me apart is the range of spaces I move through — directing professionals, teaching kindergartners how to play pretend, building props, cleaning stage combat gear in my garage, or painting late at night when the house is quiet. But at its core, it all comes from the same place: a love of process, a respect for people, and a deep belief that art — in any form — can be transformative.

I hope I’m best known for creating spaces where people feel safe enough to take creative risks. Whether that’s a student performing their first monologue, an actor wrestling through a vulnerable scene, or someone connecting with a piece of visual art, I try to meet them with honesty, curiosity, and care. That’s what I’m most proud of — that the work invites people to feel more awake, more human, and maybe a little less alone.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Far too many people to count. But honestly the person who deserves most of the credit is my dad. He was a tremendous teacher, coach, and leader. After having six sons become soccer players, he didn’t bat an eye when I turned in my football pads for jazz shoes in high school. He taught me patients, how to lead, and the importance of a well structured pun. Unfortunately we lost him this past December, but his spirit very much lives on.

Pricing:

• For courtyard Shakespeare : we are entirely donation based
• For paintings: please contact me @patpribylpaints

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @patpribylpaints
• Other: https://gofund.me/3c69bc71