Celebrating Cailin Heffernan

Boomerang’s 25 year history is the result of the hard work of so many incredible people. One of those people is leaving New York this month to return to her roots in Galveston, TX.

Cailin Heffernan and Henry Aronson

Cailin Heffernan has been Associate Artistic Director for over a decade, and an incredible collaborator for nearly 20 years. She has directed some of our most successful productions including the Anna Christie and Beyond the Horizon by Eugene O’Neill (a specialty of Cailin’s), Venus Observed by Christopher Fry, The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard and the musical Loveless Texas, written by Cailin and her equally talented husband Henry Aronson.

Amanda Jones and Brian Robert Burns in “Cymbeline”

Peter Picard and Sheryl McCallum in “All for Love”

Kristen Vaughan, Thea McCartan and Samantha Ives in “Venus Observed”

Aidan Redmond and Synge Maher in “The Real Thing”

Cailin’s presence has always been both an inspiration and a comfort. She began working with us in 2003, just as the company was starting to figure out who we were and what kind of work we wanted to make. She would fearlessly take on any project…new plays, weird plays, classics, lost classics, bad plays, unfinished plays. There wasn’t anything (still isn’t) that Cailin can’t direct.

Dunsten Cormack, Jennifer Larkin and Aidan Redmond in “Anna Christie”

The ensemble of “Venus Observed”

Vince Gatton and Jennifer Larkin in “To Fool The Eye”

Cailin is now deeply involved in her own writing, including further development of original musicals and novels. I’m certain that her creative output will continue far into the future.

Chris Ryan, Synge Maher, Cailin and Michael Hardart at Rock-n-Roles

Tim Errickson, Sue Abbott, John Hurley, Cailin and Danielle Demisay

Amanda Berry, Sara Thigpen, Hannah Jane McMurray and Natalie Roy holding Michael Russinik in “Love’s Labour’s Lost”

Dan Renkin, Erik Bryan, Timothy Babcock and Jason Loughlin in “Love’s Labour’s Lost”

Amanda Jones, Sara Thigpen, Natalie Roy and Hannah Jane McMurray in “Love’s Labour’s Lost”

And while so much of this post is a look down memory lane at faces and projects we fondly remember, the biggest take away is that excellent artists with a dedication to craft, to people, to process and to theatricality can make really special things. Cailin has done that for Boomerang for over 20 years, and much of the success we’ve had can be directly linked to her tenure with us. That’s not a coincidence, folks.

These pictures are merely a small sampling of her work over the years, creating and nurturing countless moments of clarity, insight and joy.

Hannah Hartmann and Michael Russinilk in “Cymbeline”

Tom Frank and Ric Sechrest in Rock-n-Roles

Loveless Texas premiere presentation at Playwrights Horizons

Brian O’Halloran and Warren Kelley in a reading of “Goodnight Sunshine”

Both Cailin and Henry will be missed tremendously, and wish them all the best. (Henry deserves a whole other post about his contributions over the years, which are substantial). Wish them well, if you see them, for a job extremely well done.

Our loss is Texas’s gain.

The Boomerang Community: Amanda Tudor

As part of our Holiday fundraising campaign, we’ve asked members of Boomerang’s artistic family to write about our company and what makes us unique for them. We hope that you will recognize our distinctive contribution to New York City theatre with a financial gift this holiday season. You can make any size tax-deductible donation here.

But don’t take our word for it…

In a city of millions where the competition is stiff and fierce, communities are few and far between.  Most “communities” want something from you without much to give back.  Most theatre companies I’ve worked for, want my support without supporting me.  To most companies, I’ve become another one of the millions in competition.  But not Boomerang.  Boomerang is unlike any other community I’ve been a part of; they’ve taken care of me.

Here are my top 3 reasons, after 5 years, I still donate to Boomerang:

1. Boomerang brings Shakespeare for FREE to the masses

Every year in the park, Boomerang puts on quality Shakespeare in interesting and fun ways. They share the work with tourists and natives alike.  Children get exposed to new work, picnics get to be feasted and shared and communities are built.  Stop by for 5 minutes or stay for the whole show.  It’s like a pop up shop of awesomeness and Shakespeare.

l to r: Jonathan Dewberry, Catherine McNelis, Amanda Tudor and Jason Loughlin in Boomerang’s THE TEMPEST in Central Park (2010)

2. I’m supported by the company

The shows I’ve done in the past 5 years have been amazingly supported by the company.  Namely Tim Errickson has been to see my plays and has been there to laugh the loudest.  Always the supportive friend, he genuinely cares about my career and my successes…even if they’re not associated with the company.  My Kickstarter campaigns are donated to, Facebook posts responded to: I am supported by my community.

3. New plays and playwrights are given a chance

New plays, just like new actors, need an ally.  And Boomerang is that ally.  Every year, new plays are given a workshop setting, a public reading and support of the company.  What an amazing resource for actors as well! Working on new works, perhaps teaming up with new playwrights, and creating more work for themselves.

This is my community: the group of rockstars that want to create and lift up the theatre.  I hope this season you’ll give back to the community that gives so much.  Be a part of this community with me, help us continue to bring theatre to the people and people to the theatre.

You can make a tax-deductible donation here

Happy Valentine’s Day from Boomerang Theatre Company

Artwork for Love’s Labour’s Lost

For anyone who hadn’t seen the remarkable artwork for LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST, here it is again. Stefano Imbert has outdone himself this season, which includes this piece and the art for A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. LLL is directed by Boomerang Associate Artistic Director Cailín Heffernan.

LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST opens August 14th in Bryant Park at 7pm. The production runs until August 30th.

Would you like to make a donation to support the show? We value your financial support now more than ever.
Thank you in advance!

@boomerangtheatr
#BoomLLL

First Rehearsals for LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST

On Monday July 14th, we began rehearsals for our upcoming production of LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST,directed by Boomerang Associate Artistic Director Cailin Heffernan. I wanted to share a few pics from the table read. Yes, there are a lot of people in this tiny room!

LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST runs August 14th-30th in Bryant Park (42nd Street and 6th Avenue)

Would you like to make a donation to help support this production? Please click here!