9-5-17 Interview

9-5-17 Steve Patmagrian grew up in an artistic household, but he resisted going into the arts until, on a lark, he and some friends went backstage at The Players and Steve was captured by the idea of creating something from nothing. He volunteered to do set work for the Players in his first year of high school and worked on every show straight through graduation. After Graduation he was appointed designer and technical director He had found what he was meant to do. But there is no easy way to define or label Steve’s career. Having attended Ringling School of Art and Design Steve has been a set designer, stage manager, sound and lighting technician, event planner, videographer, technical director combat instructor. New Atmosphere Productions, Steve’s studio and special events Production Company, had a 25-year run staging imaginative happenings for Sarasota Film Festival, Mote Marine, Historic Spanish Point, Sarasota Memorial Hospital and other area nonprofits. He has created custom props and sets for The Golden Apple, Venice Little Theatre, The Players, Manatee Players, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasolo, The Starlite Room and the Asolo. Listen to this charming, funny, unique man describe a life which cannot be categorized only admired.

3-5-13 – Audio Interview

Jgar Hellwig discovered very young that he was “different;” he liked to invent characters, have conversations with the trees and talk to his imaginary friend. Even though his family was “not artistic,” they appreciated, enjoyed and encouraged his talent as a performer and by the time he was twelve he was playing the guitar and entertaining his family and friends with his remarkable voice, which he understood even then, was his “ticket.” Although he had a teacher who criticized his voice Jgar was able to overcome this criticism and continue to do the thing which brings him not only work and recognition but extraordinary pleasure – sing. Listen to him tell his story and hear that remarkable voice in a cut from his CD. Also come see and hear him as the outrageous Miles Gloriosous in the delightful and hilarious Manatee Players production of “A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to the Forum.”