Social Worker and Professional Actress Mary Heffernan Stars in THE GLASS MENAGERIE at JPAC

As a child born with physical and learning disabilities who wore a brace on her left leg until she was eight, Mary Heffernan discovered her passion for music and acting watching Disney Sing-Along songs. When Disney's "The Little Mermaid" came out she was mesmerized. "Part of That World" was a song she could directly relate to.

Her mother recognized her vocal gifts and began taking her to open call auditions in Chicago starting in fifth grade. Despite making it through to call backs each time on the strength of her singing voice, Mary would always be eliminated at the dance call once casting people could see that her left side was not as coordinated as her right when asked to point her toes.

In high school she worked on a routine all summer and made the JV Pom Squad at Loyola Academy. But when competition season came the squad was marked down in points because Mary couldn't quite straighten her left arm in a way that would please the judges. The girls on the squad would whisper that she was the reason for theiR Lowered scores and by her sophomore year, the coach cut her from the program. Mary began to withdraw.

As the years went by, Mary approached every situation; academics, sports, dance, computer skills and even her relationships with friends and boys knowing that she would be disadvantaged. After all, it seemed peculiar to others that someone who basically looked "normal" could only type with one hand or might worry constantly about riding a bike or driving a car for fear of having a seizure without warning.
Like autism, diabetes or mental illness, Mary Heffernan was born with nearly "invisible disabilities" that are not always clear to others. This makes every task a serious challenge. Kids and young adults like Mary are at high risk for anxiety and depression because people can not readily see or recognize their disabilities but they nevertheless discriminate against them. They are forced to approach every situation as an outsider with feelings of fear and insecurity.

When Mary was released from the ICU following a stroke at birth, the neurologist told her parents that the emotional isolation Mary would likely face in her life as an epileptic with mild cerebral palsy would probably have a more negative effect on her long term mental health than the disabilities themselves. He was right.

But through tenacity and perseverance Mary has triumphed and has gone on to obtain a Master's Degree in Social Work helping others. In addition, she found an acting role she can play with credibility in The Glass Menagerie. Tennessee Williams brilliantly captured the fragile world that disabled children and adults like Mary navigate like no other playwright has before or since. And Mary Heffernan will be playing the role of Laura as herself, on stage, living out her dreams of being a professional stage actress.
The Glass Menagerie runs November 3-18, 2017 at the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center in Cicero.

For tickets visit http://jpactheatre.tix.com/schedule.aspx?orgnum=5331&framed=true.

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