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Patricia Dahlquist
Biography

Patricia Dahlquist studied Theatre and Education at UBC for five years, ballet for nine years, violin for ten years, singing for twelve years and has been singing professionally for thirty-five years. She was in her Master’s program in Theatre when she decided to go professional. Since then she has sung in show rooms with her sisters in a group called The Frames of Mind, has traveled with Haygood Hardy and The Montage, including an appearance in the New York Playboy Club and the National Arts Centre as a warm-up act for Carmen Macrae, sung with players from the Toronto Symphony and the Boss Brass, worked with Jimmy Dale, musical director of the Sonny and Cher show, worked as a warm-up act for Gino Vinelli’s cross-Canada tour, appeared in a concert with Larry Gatlin at the Canadian National Exhibition, appeared on stage at Ontario Place between sets at the Prince Hotel in Toronto, and appeared in a show written for the Imperial Room, the premiere show room in Canada.

Patricia’s discography to date:

~ “This is Patricia Dahlquist” for CBS, Producer Bob Gallo Juno Award 1976


~ “Patricia Dahlquist” for CBC, Producer John Williams


~ “Big Bird and Oscar. Camping in Canada” Kids Records for Sesame Street, Producer Bill Usher


~ “Fly In My Soup” Fly in my Soup Productions, Producer Perry Smith


~ “The Diamond Tooth Gertie Show” for LPV Productions, Producer Larry Vezina


~ “Baskets of Joy” for Albion Sound, Producers Micheal Walker, Marcia Meyer and Patricia Dahlquist

As an actress, Patricia appeared in Vancouver’s old Arts Club on Seymour Street in Come Blow your Horn, Boeing Boeing and Electra. Then in Toronto she starred in a string of musicals; Dames at Sea directed by Alan Lund, Oh Coward! with Gordon Thomson from Dynasty, Sweet Reasons written by Sandra O’Neil and David Warrick, Tonight at 8:30, Nine O’clock in Newfoundland produced by Marlene Smith, Praise! opposite Brent Carver written by David Warrick, Pippin, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Mame. During that time she appeared in Cabaret shows with her accompanist James Maybank in an extended run at Les Copains and a variety of other venues as well as over 200 national commercials, ad campaigns and industrial shows.
Back in Vancouver she appeared as Nancy in Oliver and Mona, again, in the Best little Whorehouse in Texas at the Theatre Under the Stars, Angry Housewives for three years at the Arts Club on Granville Island, Six Women with Brain Death and Breakfast with Les and Bess opposite Elliott Gould at Stage West then headed off to headline in the Diamond Tooth Gertie Show in the casino in Dawson City, Yukon for three years. She has appeared most recently in the highly acclaimed Menopositive! The Musical JJ McColl’s timely hit.

In her years at the UBC theatre dept. Patricia studied directing and since that time has spent many years directing musical revues, teaching scene study and acting-on-camera, directed Lovers and Other Strangers for S’Paradigm Theatre, Dames At Sea and Nunsense for the Guild Theatre in Whitehorse, Yeoman of the Guard for the Fraser Valley Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Producing and Directing Gala ’98 and Surrey Sings! for the Arts Council of Surrey and music directed Little Shop of Horrors for Brookswood Secondary School in Langley. Film credits include The Street, Bitter Ash, Sweet Substitute all written and produced by Larry Kent, The Commish, two episodes of X-Files, Outer Limits, Super Dave’s All Stars, Shari Lewis’ Musical Pizza, Cold Squad, First Wave and MOWs Frostfire, Exxon Valdez, Beauty and Blackwoods.

Since 1982 Patricia has been producing and teaching her very successful Stepping Out Performance Class in Toronto, Vancouver and the Yukon. (CLICK HERE for more information on Stepping Out classes.) Most recently, Patricia has written a full-length Children’ Opera, “The King who Wouldn’t Sing” (CLICK HERE for more information on the Children's Opera) Look for an upcoming book on singing and listen for a new song headed for the Olympics sung by the Soulifters.

Media reveiw quotes

St. Catherine News:
“Now that vamp… and this one is a dandy. Mona Kent, played with the sharpest edge to her spoofing of the genre by Patricia Dahlquist, tall, beautiful and undulating, familiar on the Toronto scene… Her satire is tremendous… she is hilarious.”

Toronto Star:
“ Dahlquist more than lived up to her Juno Award….She has a warm stage presence and a strong voice that she uses well.”

Record week:
“…A strong stage presence combined with her ease and confidence. She is a naturally funny person.”

Evening Out – Toronto Star:
“Patricia Dahlquist is a truly big name star and should be a real drawing card for the constellation hotel.”

Globe and Mail:
Dahlquist … sweeps onto the tiny stage like a peacock – all glitter, drape and golden slipper. Miss Dahlquist has lots of charm and spirit.”

Q 107 Review by Brian Master:
“ Patricia Dahlquist…. Turns in a witty and graceful performance.”

Toronto Tonight:
“ The cast is superb, from Guilio Kukurugya”s Sherriff Ed Earl… with Patricia Dahlquist’s Miss Mona. Both these fine performers manage to bring depth of character to their roles without losing sight of the light- hearted tone of the show.”

Globe and Mail:
“ Looking somewhere between Morgan Fairchild and Dinah Christie, Patricia Dahlquist gave Madam Mona style and charm.”

Toronto Sun:
“Dahlquist looks absolutely smashing. …she reminded me of a beautiful long - stemmed rose.”

“Mame, happily, is the still emphatically sexy Patricia Dahlquist, emerging from many months of splendid service as the Whorehouse madame…”

The News/ Post:
“In the title role, Patricia Dahlquist sings and dances well, but what endears her to the audience is her air of innocence in a world of sophistication… It’s quite remarkable.”

“She sings well too, and generally lights up the stage with her presence.”

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