Meet Patrick Dewane:
WWII Storyteller and Performer
Uncovering the Past. Inspiring the Present.
A Family Legacy That Sparked a Theatrical Journey
Patrick Dewane is a storyteller, historian, and performer with a mission—to connect people with history in a way that feels personal, relevant, and unforgettable. Through The Accidental Hero, his critically acclaimed one-man show, Patrick shares the gripping true story of his grandfather’s World War II experience—a tale of courage, fate, and liberation that had been hidden for decades.
Storytelling That Blends History, Theater, and Heart
Patrick’s journey into this show wasn’t planned. For years, he had built a successful career in New York and the Midwest as a writer, producer, and performing arts professional. But everything changed when he discovered a box of forgotten war memoirs, film footage, and documents left behind by his grandfather. As he pieced together the incredible story of a Czech-American soldier unknowingly liberating his family’s homeland, Patrick realized this was a story that needed to be told—and he was the one to tell it.
From Hidden Documents to Center Stage
Patrick took his decades of experience in show business and transformed his grandfather’s story into an immersive theatrical experience. What started as a simple family history project quickly became a powerful stage production that has captivated audiences across the United States and Europe. He thought he had known his grandfather. Was even a pallbearer at his funeral. And now the truth that had been hidden for years has caused a sensation.
More Than Just History—An Unforgettable Journey
Unlike traditional history lectures or documentaries, The Accidental Hero is a dynamic blend of live performance, multimedia, and personal storytelling. Patrick doesn’t just recount history—he brings it to life by playing over a dozen characters, making the audience feel as though they are part of the story. His unique ability to blend humor, emotion, music and historical depth creates an experience that resonates long after the curtain falls.
Respected by Veterans, Historians, and Audiences Worldwide
Patrick’s work has been embraced by military groups, educators, and theatergoers alike. His performances don’t just entertain—they educate, inspire, and spark meaningful conversations about history, identity, and the power of personal stories.
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Why Audiences Connect with Patrick’s Performance
Everyone in the family called him “The Colonel,” but Patrick’s grandfather, Lt. Col. Matt Konop, never spoke about World War II. Patrick had begged for stories, but his grandfather stayed silent—right up until his passing in 1983. As a pallbearer at his funeral, Patrick believed they had buried his stories along with him.
Twenty years later, everything changed.
Patrick’s sister Jane discovered an unpublished manuscript in a family basement. What they unearthed was astonishing—an untold story of war, identity, and fate. That discovery became the beginning of a life-changing journey that would take Patrick across the U.S., to the Czech Republic, and back to his own cultural roots.
As Patrick pieced together the stunning story of a Czech-American soldier unknowingly liberating his ancestral village during WWII, he realized this was no ordinary war story. His grandfather’s first language had been Czech—the only language spoken on the family farm in Wisconsin—and when he arrived in his grandmother’s hometown, he was the first American the townspeople had ever seen. Fluent in their dialect, they believed they had been liberated by “one of our own.” They carried him through the streets on their shoulders like a folk hero.
Patrick turned that history into The Accidental Hero, a 90-minute one-man show that has played at venues from Ford’s Theater in D.C. to a pub in Two Rivers, Wisconsin—his grandfather’s hometown. Performing this story each May in the Czech Republic since 2012, Patrick says the Czechs now treat him like Elvis. They made his grandfather an Honorary Citizen, and gave Patrick a Medal of Honor for bringing Matt Konop’s story back to the country where it happened.