Meet Patrick Osteen

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Patrick Osteen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Patrick below.

Hi Patrick, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I think my sense of purpose has changed a lot throughout my life. Fortunately, my purpose seems to be finding more outward outlets in the last several years. Specifically, how a professional theater company I have helped create can improve its surrounding community. Most of my early career was spent making theater for larger organizations in larger communities with an abundance of theater investment. I find so much more satisfaction and purpose creating theater and teaching in underserved communities.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Well, I’m Patrick. I grew up in a small town in North Carolina called Asheboro, which is home to the largest natural habitat zoo in the world. I encourage you to visit!

I fell in love with theater and ended up attending UNCSA for drama. Soon after graduating, I received an opportunity to audition for a puppetry role in the national tour of War Horse. I got the job and hit the road for a few years. When that show ended, I began working on creating my own productions and ultimately co-founded RhinoLeap Productions, a non-profit professional theater company in my hometown.

A few years later, I was hired as a puppeteer on another tour, this time with Cirque du Soleil. I left RhinoLeap in capable hands and ran away with the circus.

In late 2019, I returned home and reconnected with RhinoLeap Productions. The company had been doing well, but then 2020 happened. We scrapped and innovated through the pandemic, developing a video department producing low budget video projects to keep us financially afloat.

These days, I am the Artistic Director of RhinoLeap Productions. My main focus is performing, but I often take on a myriad of roles depending on the needs of each show. RhinoLeap is entering its 10th year, and I am incredibly grateful to work for a company that I helped start—one that I believe fills a vital need and makes our community stronger.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Flexibility has been paramount in my journey. I have been surprised by what opportunity looks like. Very differently than I had imagined. Willingness to adjust my expectations has helped traverse those differences.

Even while saying that, I have found managing expectations to be important for successful collaboration. Even good news can be bad if you haven’t managed expectations.

And certainly resilience. Not that you have to do the same thing till it works but rather keep trying in different ways to problem solve with eyes focused on the goal.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

My folks exposed me to so many different skills growing up. It allowed me to discover such niche passions that have added to my abilities as a theater maker and a person. I am forever grateful to them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Rhinoleap.com
• Instagram: RhinoLeap Productions