JOE PATRICK WARD 

Author, Composer, Lyricist

of "The Grave White Way"

For THE GRAVE WHITE WAY, Joe was nominated for an L.A. Ovation Award (Best Original Musical).  Before making its theatrical debut at the Hudson Backstage Theatre, the show was presented at the famed Cinegrill Club (in the Roosevelt Hotel). Currently, the show is being workshopped by the Director's Company in New York in preparation for a New York run.

Joe wrote both music & lyrics for the hit Off-Broadway musical HYSTERICAL BLINDNESS AND OTHER SOUTHERN TRAGEDIES at the Soho Playhouse.  The show also played to sell-out crowds in Los Angeles, Richmond, and Fort Worth (in a production he directed).  

Joe wrote the songs for the smash L.A. hit  JUDY'S SCARY LITTLE CHRISTMAS (2003 Ovation Award Winner-Best Actress, Connie Champagne, L.A. Weekly Nominee-Best Original Musical, and Backstage West Awards- Best Musical), which played for two sold-out runs in Los Angeles , as well as another successful run in Portland .  The musical previously had two succesful workshop readings in New York, both directed by Leonard Foglia (Broadway's "Master Class") and starring Isabel Keating (Broadway's "The Boy from Oz").

Joe most recently composed songs for Del Shores’ hit play THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A TRAILER TRASH HOUSEWIFE (2003 L.A. Drama Critics Award-Best Play, NAACP Awards- Best Play, and L.A. Ovation Winner-Best Actress, Beth Grant).  The show has been optioned by the producers of Broadway's "Hairspray", and is slated for an off-Broadway production in 2004.  

Joe also musical-directed and appeared in the original cast of  Del Shores' other award-winning play, the smash hit SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES.  He is currently writing music for the film version (and will reprise his role for the movie).

Joe has written music for numerous other Los Angeles stage shows, including SHE'S A HANDFUL, PLUM PINK PEDICURE, DESPERATE FOR MAGIC and THE LAST BROADCAST.   He wrote the book, score and lyrics for the musical IN SHERWOOD, which he directed in a production mounted by the Southern California Music and Theatre Company. 

He created music and lyrics for the cult favorite THE PATTY POLKADOT SHOW, as well as THE JOE VARIETY SHOW.  He also wrote the songs for SAY 'YO HO HO', a pirate show for young adults which premiered at California State University Northridge and played at the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland.

Mr. Ward has also written songs for several new films in development at Warner Bros.  He was the headwriter and composer/lyricist for Propaganda Radio, an original comedy broadcast that played on National Public Radio.  His songs have been sung by a variety of Broadway performers, including John Raitt, Loretta Devine, Jason Graae, Susan Egan, Davis Gaines, Ken Page, Billy Barnes, Mary Bond Davis, Harry Groener, Stephen Schwartz, Sharon McNight, Yeardley Smith, Richard Kline, Gregory Jbara, Valarie Pettiford, Suzanne Blakeslee, Roxie Lucas, Patrika Darbo, Robert Mandan, Camille Saviola, Guy Haines, Kelli Bishop, Marilyn Sokol, Kristine Zbornik, Kay Cole, and Billy Porter. 

Joe is also Co-Producer of the independent film LOST IN THE PERSHING POINT HOTEL.  Joe is a member of ASCAP and The Dramatists Guild.