Aurora Produtions Founder Gene O'Donovan Announces Retirement

Gene O'Donovan, founder of Aurora Productions, one of Broadway's major companies for theatrical production management and technical supervision, has announced his retirement from his position as President of the company. O'Donovan founded Aurora Productions in 1994 and he remains with the company both as a consultant and to foster additional business development. Ben Heller, currently Vice President of Aurora, succeeds O'Donovan as President of the company.

"With more than 40 years on and off Broadway and 20 years at Aurora, I've had a great run," O'Donovan commented. "But it's not a load-out just yet. I am delighted to hand the reigns to Ben Heller, who I've had the pleasure to work alongside for more than 10 years. I know that he will lead the company in exciting new directions. At the same time, I am pleased to remain at Aurora as a consultant and to develop future work for the company."

"Gene has been my mentor and my friend, and I'm honored to follow in his footsteps," Heller said. "Theatrical production continues to grow in challenging and increasingly more sophisticated ways and I look forward to leading Aurora as we help creative theatrical artists achieve their visions."

Gene O'Donovan's passion and commitment to the theater has grown steadily for over 40 years. Gene was the founder and President of Hudson Scenic Studio from 1980 until 1994 when he left to pursue Production Management on a full time basis as Aurora Productions. Gene teaches, inspires and shares his theater experience in Production Management at SUNY Purchase and Columbia University. Gene is married to Linda Batwin O'Donovan (principal of Batwin+Robin Productions). They have five children and six grandchildren.

Ben Heller has been at Aurora Productions since 2003. Prior to joining Aurora, he was the Production Manager at Manhattan Ensemble Theatre as well as a freelance Off Broadway manager and stagehand. Ben is a graduate of NYU's Production and Design track in the Drama department at the Tisch School of the Arts. He has guest lectured at NYU, The Broadway League, and Broadway Master Class. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and daughter.

Since 1993, Aurora has supervised over 200 Broadway and Off Broadway shows, associated tours, as well as international productions in London's West End, Europe and Australia. Their production management philosophy is to provide the creative team and production staff with the best possible tools and support to realize their goals, while also providing the general managers and producers with the most efficient and fiscally responsible methods to do so. Aurora is represented this fall by The Book of Mormon (Broadway and National Tours), Once (Broadway and National Tour), Matilda, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, This is Our Youth, Indian Ink, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Amazing Grace, A Delicate Balance, The Real Thing, The River, The Elephant Man and Honeymoon in Vegas.