LESLIE — Patrick Terry came home for Christmas, to his parents’ home in Leslie, and at year’s end, had many good stories to tell of his career in the city where everything happens — the Big Apple.

A project he has worked on for quite a while is the play “Driving the Saudis.”  The play tells the story of a Los Angeles woman named Jayne Larson who became, for a brief time, a limousine driver (one of many) for the Saudi royal family when they visited Los Angeles in 2010. The play won the Best Solo Award at the New York International Fringe Festival, a real coup for Terry, who was the producer of all the New York shows. He had found the story as told by Larson in 2008, and was excited to be a part of its success.

Since then, Terry has produced his first full-length film, “The Jew of Malta,” which premiered at the Quad Cinema in Greenwich Village in the city. The director was Doug Moore, a professor at the New School, and the production was a work of the Academic Film Company — Films for the Humanities. In this same series was “True West,” by Sam Sheppard, which had a week’s run off-Broadway during the summer of 2012.

When not acting and producing, Terry still books his Magic House performances, which support him as he works toward a full-time career in theater.  Now a member of the famous Players Club, known as the site for many Mark Twain appearances, Terry performs there with his show “Magic Hour” once a month. Those who are familiar with Terry’s story will remember that he and his brother James had a brief career with magic in the Americus area, and Patrick Terry continued developing his magic performances after they followed different career paths.

“I still live in the same apartment in New York, still have the same roommate,” and still, he says, has a variety of jobs that support him as he makes his way up the career ladder. One of his early internships was with Jon Stewart of The Daily Show; more recently he has worked as Erica Jong’s assistant; and this past year he managed the production office of the Hampton’s International Film Festival, now in its twentieth year. Dealing with a variety of film makers to coordinate the entire production, Terry worked with a staff of 65, in a festival that boasted over 100 films.

What is the source of discipline that keeps him focused and committed? Among other things, he says, “I competed in the Junior Olympics in Chicago in karate,” noting that he was involved in the sport from ages 6 to 11, earning a Black Belt. He said he and his siblings learned discipline at an early age — learned how to stay focused on a goal, how to play, but also how to work.

So Patrick Terry comes home at Christmas to visit the family that helped shape his values, and to seek out teachers and friends who encouraged him, inspired him and cheered him on as he participated in school and community theater. He does not forget his roots, and is quick to thank those who remain here in Americus, who are an important part of his past. After 10 years in New York City — four at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and six pursuing his career — Terry knows who he is and where he came from. And the hometown folks are always glad to see him.