Character guide
Patrick Dennis
from Mame
Patrick Dennis is a lead character in Mame, Jerry Herman's 1966 musical, playing the orphaned nephew raised by his flamboyant Aunt Mame from childhood into adulthood.
- Show
- Mame
- Broadway premiere
- 1966
- Role
- Lead
- Music by
- Jerry Herman
Patrick Dennis on stage vs screen
Broadway compared with the 1958 film Auntie Mame and the 1974 film Mame
Young Patrick won a Tony on Broadway: Frankie Michaels originated the boy in 1966 and took the award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, with Jerry Lanning as the adult Patrick. On screen, Jan Handzlik repeated his Broadway role from the play as young Patrick in the 1958 film Auntie Mame, with Roger Smith as the grown-up Patrick.
The 1974 film of the musical cast Kirby Furlong as young Patrick and Bruce Davison as adult Patrick, opposite Lucille Ball. In the musical, young Patrick sings My Best Girl with Mame.
Who is Patrick Dennis?
Patrick is sent to live with his Aunt Mame in New York after his father's death, and the show follows him growing up under her unconventional guidance, from a wide eyed child exposed to her glamorous world to a young man navigating his own choices about how to live. His relationship with Mame anchors the show's emotional core.
As Patrick matures, tension emerges between Mame's free spirited values and the more conventional life Patrick sometimes seems drawn toward, giving the show's later scenes real stakes around what he has learned from her upbringing.
Patrick's role in Mame
Patrick is a lead role that spans the character's childhood and adulthood, often played by two different performers, a young actor for the early scenes and an adult actor as the story moves forward in time. The role requires charm and sincerity to make Patrick's bond with Mame feel genuine across the show's time jumps.
Frankie Michaels originated the role of young Patrick on Broadway in 1966 and won a Tony Award for the performance, becoming the youngest competitive Tony winner in history. Audiences remember Patrick as the emotional anchor of Mame's story, the nephew whose love for his aunt never wavers even as he grows into his own person.
Patrick Dennis: frequently asked questions
What show is Patrick Dennis from?
Patrick Dennis is a lead character in Mame, which opened on Broadway in 1966.
Is Patrick Dennis a lead or supporting role?
Patrick is a lead role, following his upbringing under his Aunt Mame from childhood into adulthood.
Who wrote the music for Mame?
Jerry Herman wrote the music and lyrics for Mame.
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