Irish arts champion Georganne Aldrich Heller remembered

Georganne Aldrich Heller, who passed away on March 23, was president of Irish Theatre & Film Production, a production company devoted to presenting the work of Irish playwrights in New York, London, and Dublin.

Outside the world of Irish theatre, she was not nearly as well known or feted by the Irish community as she should have been.

If you have been to any major new Irish plays in Manhattan over the last two and a half decades, you’ll have noticed her name popping up repeatedly in the production credits.

In fact, her credits read like a who’s who of contemporary Irish playwriting, but she rarely received the gratitude due to such a champion of new Irish writing for the stage.

The following is a tribute written by two people who knew and worked with her extensively, actress and playwright/filmmaker Laoisa Sexton and Irish Arts Center Vice Chair Pauline Turley.

Georganne Heller: A big life, a class act

A gargantuan champion of Irish theater's blinding light has gone out, with the passing of the trojan "Godmother of Irish Theater in New York"— the extraordinary, quintessential New Yorker, Georganne Aldrich Heller.

Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Godmother, Fairy Godmother to many, Friend and Sister to many, Fashion Model, Sportswear Designer, PR Guru, Visual Artist, Theater and Film Producer, Mentor, Warrior, and Novelist—yup, she even wrote a book in her nineties called "Midnight Ramblings." Indeed, it would be the length of a novel to list all her incredible achievements and accolades here, and knowing Georganne she'd say "Fuggedaboutit."

But we must mourn her, so large a presence she was, her beaming inspirational light guiding and nourishing many of our lives. We feel such a deep loss, and hold tight to the memories we shared with her.

Georganne with former Irish President Michael D. Higgins and wife Sabina.

Much beloved, she lived life on her own terms, we were just mere mortals lucky enough to be in her orbit. Anyone who knew Georganne was blessed to share her joie de vivre, her mischief, her wicked salty sense of humor, her intelligence, wit, kindness, endless curiosity and the undeniable craic she brought to every adventure whether in theater, or in life.

Many of us have stories we'd love to share. I remember she told me, when she was married to film producer Paul Heller ("Withnail and I, "Enter the Dragon") about the time she had dinner with Fellini and his wife Giulietta—yes that Fellini and that Giulietta! - in their garden in Rome.

Fellini took her for a stroll to show her his roses he had grown. She thought he was very nice, but had no clue who he was (until years later of course), or in LA when Frank Sinatra pushed her into a swimming pool at a party for a joke- some joke he ruined her brand-new suede suit, or when she was handing out theater fliers on the Falls Road in Belfast in the eighties, and got questioned by the British Army, whom she politely asked to come see the show!

Let's just say, this woman led a big life. She collected many friends and colleagues over the years, and was fiercely loyal, keeping them close and dear all her life—there are too many to mention here, but we join them in mourning the deep sorrow of her loss. 

Her authenticity, determination and strength of spirit radiated larger than life, her kindness and grace will be remembered forever. Beautiful, statuesque Georganne, a class act, with her diamond cut cheekbones and a smile to rival the lights of Broadway, and break any man's heart. When she walked into a room, heads whipped around-awestruck! This was no ordinary woman. 

Irish Arts Center Vice Chair Pauline Turley and Geroganne Aldrich Heller

Vice chair of the Irish Arts Center, Pauline Turley met Georganne in the late '90s when she started working at the Center and says— "We did my first play together, she took me under her wing, we laughed and dreamed and loved each other for three decades, shared so many milestones, she was a mentor and a sister to me and loved seeing me become a wife to my husband Charlie and a Mother. She was thrilled to become Godmother to my two daughters and many happy hours were spent with them. Lily said the other day— I miss her too much."

Georganne was a board member for over 25 years at the IAC, and was so proud watching it grow under Pauline's and later Aidan Connolly's strong unwavering direction, evolving from a small arts center, to the beacon of Irish Arts it is today, where it welcomes New Yorkers, Irish artists and diasporas in a beautiful new building in Hell's Kitchen.

A huge champion of women, Georganne was a founding member of Women in Film and NY Women in Film and Television, and a member of International Women's Forum, and in her early years, she also served as cultural director for the Borough of Manhattan for five years.

Her father, Larry Aldrich, was the founder of The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Connecticut, where she served on the board. Georganne was also an accomplished artist in her own right; her work was exhibited and sold in many prominent galleries throughout Beverly Hills. 

Georganne with ex husband and lifelong friend Paul Heller.

Truth be told, she was a work of art herself, she lived for art, and worked with a huge diverse range of artists both in the US and across the pond. An exceptional person, who recognized exceptional people, with an uncanny knack for finding new talent and work before anyone even knew about them, or it.

When I met her, I was just another Irish actress fresh off the plane treading the streets of New York, hustling and auditioning for acting work with nothing but dreams to sustain me. She’d say to me— “you've a few things going against you; 1. You're an actor 2. You’re female and 3. You're Irish!” She knew how hard it was for female artists and would always support you, no matter what little dark dinky black box you were performing in on the lower east side, she’d be there, sparkling and shimmering and cheering you on. 

I remember she even came down to DC when I was opening in a play there, just showed up unexpectedly! Later, when I started writing plays, I remember her curled up on the floor on a rug reading my script, she didn't put it down until she finished it. Then she got all fired up, and produced it, didn't ask anyone their opinion, just followed her gut, put her foot on the peddle and full force ahead! 

She produced my play "The Last Days of Cleopatra" in New York and later in Dublin. She was so proud of me. It's true, she had a special love for Irish theater- her New York smarts and sensibilities tapped into our unique black humor, dry lyrical wit, and the crazy mad takes we have on this crazy thing we call life.

Playwright and actress Laoisa Sexton and Georganne Aldrich Heller

She'd quote lines from my plays, and laugh, she lived to laugh, she never took herself too seriously, that was her charm, I used to do impersonations of her and she loved it. One day, we were walking in the hot sweltering New York August sun, I said “get in under that tree”, she asked why, I said— "it will cool you down". She went under the tree, stood there for a moment and said “how wonderful, who knew?” We laughed so hard!

She was the consummate New Yorker. I lost my own Mam, when I was really young and Georganne took her place for me, I lost my Dad before lockdown and she guided me through that difficult time too. As anyone can attest, you could talk to her about anything and everything, so many summers, and winters across time and oceans together. She always made me feel like I had a family no matter where I was in the world.

Perpetually curious about people, she took chances nobody else would, always plotting and scheming. Her inquisitive nature, and boundless energy kept her interested in everything and everybody. Moving effortlessly between circles—whether it was important business colleagues, celebrities or well-known people with powerful cache, or unknown artists, poets, theater folk, filmmakers, Makers—she loved Makers!

She wholeheartedly believed in art, artists, new ideas and got behind the dreamers with a burning passionate commitment. She loved bringing people together, connecting likeminded people so they could collaborate and make work together. Her pioneer spirit brought an eclectic selection of new Irish and fresh modern plays from the shores of Dublin, Belfast, London and Paris to the New York stages.

Passionate Irish arts producer and supporter Georganne Aldrich Heller

Some earlier theater productions include "Remembrance" with Frances Sternhagen and Milo O' Shea that transferred to Broadway, Joseph O'Connor's "Red Roses and Petrol," which she later produced as a film with Malcolm Mc Dowell, Kenneth Branagh's "Public Enemy," Tony Kavanagh’s "The Drum," Billy Roche's "Poor Beast in the Rain," Peter Sheridan's "Mother of all the Behans" with Rosaleen Linehan, Jimmy Murphy's "Kings of The Kilburn High Road," Marie Jones's "Night in November," Geraldine Hughes’s "Belfast Blues," Conor Lovett’s "Molloy," Paul Walker's "Ladies & Gents" that performed in Central Park's Toilets to wild critical acclaim directed by the late, great Karl Shiels. I was part of that cast along with John Keating and we remember her fondly bringing us (the cast) up hot coffee and bagels, we were doing a play in a freezing cold loo in the middle of freezing cold March! She always went that extra mile and she knew how to make actors happy—feed them!

Presenting a special award in her name at Dublin Fringe to Malaprop Theater Company, she also worked with many ground breaking Irish companies including Dublin’s acclaimed Dead Centre and Conor Lovett and Judy Hegarty’s Gare St. Lazare from Paris, to premiere their wonderful plays to American audiences. Theater highlights include new writing like Mikel Murfi's "The Man in the Woman's Shoes" and JP Murphy's "The Prophet of Monto."

She cherished working closely with Jim Culleton and the prestigious Fishamble Theater Company in Dublin, on Olivier Award winning Pat Kinevane’s solo shows; "Silent," "Forgotten," "Underneath," "Before and King." She brought many of these plays to the Odyssey Theater in Los Angeles and also presented solo American plays; "Who's Your Daddy?" "Kevin Flynn: Fear of Heights," 'Piaf," and "Garden of Alla." Even as her light dims, her new play "Picasso" will open there next month, with her name on the credits.

Georganne Aldrich Heller.

A highlight of her personal achievements, she was thrilled to be recognized for her work by our renowned former President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. The first time she met him, standing beside him at a glittery event, she told me he turned to her and said " Who are you? I want to know you." —he was quite right of course, anyone would, her luminosity shone, and when she gave you her attention, you radiated in her presence.

She met artist and sculptor Roland, or Sir Bob as we like to call him, and they enjoyed an exciting colorful life, over a decade traveling together, holding hands, making art and splitting their time between New York and Los Angeles. We were thrilled she found love after Norman, her late husband, and we are so grateful to him for taking such good care of her, she called him her “saint.” I asked Bob if he wanted to add anything to this, and he said he was overcome with his “unending, enormous love for her.”

She adored Samuel Beckett's quote: “I can’t go on. You must go on. I’ll go on” ... so onward we must go with shattered heavy hearts because we know she would want us to, and she'd be disappointed in us if we didn't. Her tenacity and impact on the Irish Arts scene in New York is phenomenal, and all the people who loved her are a testament to her legacy, and what a legacy she leaves behind. A rich fabric of people from all walks of life, joined together forever in our mutual love and respect for her. There will never be another like her, she was one of a kind.

A Legend in our midst. Georganne we love you, we will never forget you— you are unforgettable and your spirit lives on through all of us.. Thank you for all you did, thank you for loving us.

A memorial for Georganne will be held at the Irish Arts Center in June, date to be announced.

“Georganne was a major figure in Irish theatre and film, and a champion of Fishamble’s work. She was instrumental in bringing our productions to American audiences. She was one of a kind and it was a great privilege to know her and be her friend, we will will miss her so much” ~ Jim Culleton, Fishamble Theater Company

“One of the most dynamic and kindest people we have ever known “- Clodagh, Interior Designer