MiraCosta Theatre Instructor Eric Bishop Receives Patté Award for Outstanding Direction

MiraCosta College Theatre Instructor and Director Eric Bishop has won the Patté Award for "Outstanding Direction" for the MiraCosta production of "Electra." The award is MiraCosta's first major theatre award bestowed by the San Diego professional theatre community.

“Eric is extremely talented and committed to the success of our students and of theater at MiraCosta College,” says MiraCosta College Interim Superintendent/President John Hendrickson. “Again, our faculty put MiraCosta College on the map and Eric's recognition is a tremendous compliment to the entire college.”

MiraCosta College staged “Electra” in September and October, 2007.  “Electra” is a gripping tale of murder and revenge that deals with familial betrayal, cold-blooded murder and civil war.  Bishop took a unique approach to the direction of the play by having it performed in a 100-seat “black box” style configuration.

“This was a truly modern way to present a Greek tragedy,” explains Bishop.  “These tragedies were originally performed in front of thousands of people.  We did the exact opposite—we created a more intimate experience for the audience and the actors.”

The Patté Awards for Theater Excellence were created by Pat Launer to celebrate the amazing diversity of San Diego theater; to offer some well-deserved, tangible recognition to local theater artists; and to give something back to the theater community.  Additional information about the awards is available at http://www.patteproductions.com. For those who missed the ceremony, it will be televised Feb. 2nd at 7 pm on Channel 4 San Diego on both Cox and Time Warner Cable.  Photographs of Eric Bishop receiving his award can be downloaded for print at www.miracosta.edu/photos.