Tennesee-born Patricia Neal brought her broad cheekbones and wide mouth with its great grin to Hollywood after her Tony-winning performance in "Another Part of the Forest" (1947). The husky-voiced actress had worked at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, studied at Northwestern University's drama department with Alvina Krause and joined Krause's theater company in Eagles Mere, PA before trekking to New York. Though Hollywood couldn't quite figure out how to package her talents, Broadway's arms were always open, and Neal returned again and again to the New York stage during the early part
Joined amateur theater group The Tennessee Valley Players
1942
Left high school; joined the Barter Theatre, Abingdon, VA, as understudy/assistant stage manager
1943
Enrolled at Northwestern University to study drama
Joined Alvina Krause's theater company in Eagles Mere, PA
1945
Left university; went to NYC; understudied Vivian Vance in John van Druten's "The Voice of the Turtle"; replaced Vance for two weeks during play's Chicago run; adopted stage name Patricia Neal
