Currently performing as Liza Minelli
in Once in A Lifetime:
The London Palladium Concert
Mary Heffernan is a Chicago based actress, recording artist, vocalist and social worker. Mary suffered a stroke at birth that left her with mild cerebral palsy and epilepsy. But Mary has never allowed her disabilities to define or limit her. She comes from an artistic family of professional performers and she too, has been active in the arts her entire life.
Mary began performing vocal solos in Chicago public school holiday concerts and talent shows. She sang solos in both Spanish and English. In high school, Mary was Loyola Academy Jazz Band vocalist and performed the National Anthem at major sporting events, including those attended by Michael Jordan and a very large crowd (Michael was there watching his two sons play basketball). Mary also played “Little Red” in Into the Woods and featured roles in other Loyola musicals, was a member of the National Thespian Society, and the Honors Chamber Choir. Her thespian group was selected to perform short plays by Oscar Wilde at the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival. She also was a Junior Varsity Ramblerette, performing on the pom cheer squad and took jazz dance lessons at the Norwood Park Dance Studio.
Mary graduated from Elmhurst College in 2014 with a BS in Communications and double minor in Musical Theatre and History. She studied private voice with Chicago Lyric Chorus Member, professor Scott Uddenberg while at Elmhurst and performed her Senior Vocal Concert at Irion Recital Hall in 2014 as well as a concert at Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel of musical theatre selections. She also performed in Oklahoma and My Fair Lady in the ensemble for H.O.T.T. Productions (Helping Others Through Theatre) and studied dance with professor Amy Lyn McDonald.
During her summers in college and graduate school, Mary began performing big band music at select performances with the Robert Benson Orchestra and The Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra for Chicago’s Summerdance at Grant Park. During the Christmas holiday season she performed at Freedom Hall in a Classic Family Christmas Concert and a show at the Wilmette Theatre and at various other venues.
Mary began her graduate studies at Dominican University in Social Work in 2014 and received her Master’s (with an emphasis in geriatrics) in May of 2017. While in graduate school, Mary continued to perform in musicals (including She Loves Me (directed by John Chambers at Edge of the Woods Theatre in Chicago) and recorded songs with her family’s professional ensemble, Nancy Hays & The Heffernans. The group appeared on WCIU’s You and Me This Morning TV talk show in 2014 and 2016, and ABC 7 News Morning Show in December of 2018 as musical and speaking guests. Mary also gave performances performances at The Danish Home of Chicago and Central Baptist Village senior communities, where she was also working as a Life Enrichment Assistant and Social Services Representative. In 2020, Mary worked as an Activities Assistant and performed at Harbor Chase in Naperville for special programs for senior residents.
In 2017, Mary was cast opposite her mother in the staring role of Laura in Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie at Jedlicka Performing Arts Center. The character of Laura is that of mildly disabled sister loosely based on Tennessee’s own sister, Rose. Mary was uniquely qualified to play this role, and received high critical acclaim--one chicago theater critic referred to her character as "perfection" (see press section).
In 2019 Mary appeared in the review "Mid-Mod Holiday Musical Extravaganza" with the Wheaton Drama Group as a soloist and ensemble member. She also went back into the recording studio with Nancy Hays & The Heffernans. The family band was featured on iHeart Radio's 95.5 FM Backyard Country Show throughout 2020 and will be releasing more music in 2021.
Most recently. Mary appeared in a featured role in Beauty and the Beast, and alongside her own mother in Judy, Liza and More…A Mother’s Day Concert. They appeared at Theater of Western Springs and at Le Piano in Chicago on Mother’s Day weekend 2022 and were featured in an article in The Chicago Tribune. The duo received critical acclaim and continued with more performances of the Judy and Liza Palladium Tribute Show at theatre venues in Chicago and New York. In addition to shows with her mother, Mary looks forward to many more opportunities to continue to perform in the future.
in Once in A Lifetime:
The London Palladium Concert
Mary Heffernan is a Chicago based actress, recording artist, vocalist and social worker. Mary suffered a stroke at birth that left her with mild cerebral palsy and epilepsy. But Mary has never allowed her disabilities to define or limit her. She comes from an artistic family of professional performers and she too, has been active in the arts her entire life.
Mary began performing vocal solos in Chicago public school holiday concerts and talent shows. She sang solos in both Spanish and English. In high school, Mary was Loyola Academy Jazz Band vocalist and performed the National Anthem at major sporting events, including those attended by Michael Jordan and a very large crowd (Michael was there watching his two sons play basketball). Mary also played “Little Red” in Into the Woods and featured roles in other Loyola musicals, was a member of the National Thespian Society, and the Honors Chamber Choir. Her thespian group was selected to perform short plays by Oscar Wilde at the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival. She also was a Junior Varsity Ramblerette, performing on the pom cheer squad and took jazz dance lessons at the Norwood Park Dance Studio.
Mary graduated from Elmhurst College in 2014 with a BS in Communications and double minor in Musical Theatre and History. She studied private voice with Chicago Lyric Chorus Member, professor Scott Uddenberg while at Elmhurst and performed her Senior Vocal Concert at Irion Recital Hall in 2014 as well as a concert at Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel of musical theatre selections. She also performed in Oklahoma and My Fair Lady in the ensemble for H.O.T.T. Productions (Helping Others Through Theatre) and studied dance with professor Amy Lyn McDonald.
During her summers in college and graduate school, Mary began performing big band music at select performances with the Robert Benson Orchestra and The Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra for Chicago’s Summerdance at Grant Park. During the Christmas holiday season she performed at Freedom Hall in a Classic Family Christmas Concert and a show at the Wilmette Theatre and at various other venues.
Mary began her graduate studies at Dominican University in Social Work in 2014 and received her Master’s (with an emphasis in geriatrics) in May of 2017. While in graduate school, Mary continued to perform in musicals (including She Loves Me (directed by John Chambers at Edge of the Woods Theatre in Chicago) and recorded songs with her family’s professional ensemble, Nancy Hays & The Heffernans. The group appeared on WCIU’s You and Me This Morning TV talk show in 2014 and 2016, and ABC 7 News Morning Show in December of 2018 as musical and speaking guests. Mary also gave performances performances at The Danish Home of Chicago and Central Baptist Village senior communities, where she was also working as a Life Enrichment Assistant and Social Services Representative. In 2020, Mary worked as an Activities Assistant and performed at Harbor Chase in Naperville for special programs for senior residents.
In 2017, Mary was cast opposite her mother in the staring role of Laura in Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie at Jedlicka Performing Arts Center. The character of Laura is that of mildly disabled sister loosely based on Tennessee’s own sister, Rose. Mary was uniquely qualified to play this role, and received high critical acclaim--one chicago theater critic referred to her character as "perfection" (see press section).
In 2019 Mary appeared in the review "Mid-Mod Holiday Musical Extravaganza" with the Wheaton Drama Group as a soloist and ensemble member. She also went back into the recording studio with Nancy Hays & The Heffernans. The family band was featured on iHeart Radio's 95.5 FM Backyard Country Show throughout 2020 and will be releasing more music in 2021.
Most recently. Mary appeared in a featured role in Beauty and the Beast, and alongside her own mother in Judy, Liza and More…A Mother’s Day Concert. They appeared at Theater of Western Springs and at Le Piano in Chicago on Mother’s Day weekend 2022 and were featured in an article in The Chicago Tribune. The duo received critical acclaim and continued with more performances of the Judy and Liza Palladium Tribute Show at theatre venues in Chicago and New York. In addition to shows with her mother, Mary looks forward to many more opportunities to continue to perform in the future.
