About Mary Pat Sutherland

A Celebration of Life (Historical Memorial Excerpt)

The following is an excerpt from the program for “A Celebration of Life: Mary Pat Sutherland,” a memorial service held at the Eisenhower High School Auditorium, January, 1991.

Mary Pat was born and raised in Sheboygan, WI. Her love of the performing arts may have had its beginning with her mother, who was a Radio City Rockette, in New York. Mary Pat’s zest for the theater began in earnest when she enrolled at Mount Mary College in 1965 as a drama major.

Because of her youthful looks, she was cast in the leads of several major children’s productions. Upon graduation in 1969, Mary Pat was hired as an English and Drama teacher at Eisenhower High School in New Berlin, WI.

It was during her first year of teaching that she met and started dating her future husband, Rick, who was teaching at New Berlin West High School.

In 1976, Mary Pat entered her first One-Act Play contest, a statewide high school drama competition.

She entered thirteen more times after that during the past twenty years. On nine of those occasions, she and her casts advanced through the three levels of competition and earned the honor of performing at the state finals.

Four times, Mary Pat was honored with the outstanding director award, most recently in 1986. Numerous students under her direction received outstanding actor awards.

In 1979, Mary Pat started a new venture – the student/faculty play. This unique idea combined the acting talents of students and staff in the same show. This activity proved to be a very enjoyable experience for all involved – student, staff, and audience (see image below from the 1979 student/faculty production ‘Curious Savage’).

Despite her directing talents, the yearn to perform was asking for a chance to show itself again.

In 1979, Mary Pat began her stage career in community theatre with the Waukesha Civic Theater, branching out to the Village Players in Mukwonago, 1985.

Mary Pat’s roles ranged from Goldie Hawn’s part in Butterflies Are Free to Tony Randall’s role in the female version of The Odd Couple.

Fond Memories from Patti Punzi

Mary Pat Sutherland was my high school drama teacher. Even though I had some experience on stage as a young dancer and doing a bit of theater in elementary and middle school, my passion for theater grew exponentially when I reached high school. It wasn’t until my sophomore year of high school, when she was both my drama teacher and English teacher, that I had enough courage to audition for a play. I knew I was up against tough competition, especially with all of the juniors and seniors auditioning, but I did the best I could. On the day the cast list was posted, there was my name as a supporting role in the play.

I couldn’t believe it. I was cast over other actors who had more experience, yet Mrs. Sutherland saw something in me and gave me the opportunity. And what an opportunity it was. The play was called The Desperate Hours and it was a student-faculty production. This meant there would be students and staff from the high school cast together in the play. Having the opportunity to work with and be mentored by the adults in the cast was something I’ve never forgotten, and it’s the foundation upon which Wisconsin Theater Arts was created. Over the next few years of high school, I learned so much about the world of theater—the skills and lessons that molded me into the actor (and teacher) I am today.

Mrs. Sutherland’s philosophy that “there are no small parts, only small actors” highlighted that every performer is essential, fostering a deep understanding of ensemble work as the ultimate team sport, a lesson that has stayed with me ever since.

As a teacher and director, I’ve passed on that same lesson to countless young performers. Without realizing it, I was passing on her legacy. She was also a mentor who offered a listening ear, and as a teacher, I’ve aimed to provide that same welcoming space for my students.

Now, with over 30 years in the arts, I owe my career to that remarkable mentor who passed away too young in 1990. Her legacy lives on, and as a friend recently noted, she would be proud. My response to that is, “THANK YOU, Mrs. Sutherland, for showing me YOUR world.”