Benefit Reading for Boomerang Theatre on 2/13!

As Valentine's Day rolls around, thoughts turn to romance, the perfect mate and "happily ever after." The Boomerang Theatre Company takes its turn at waxing romantic with a one night only benefit reading of Jay D. Hanagan's FIRST KISSES on Sunday, February 13th, at 7pm at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, located at

Directed by Cailin Heffernan, FIRST KISSES is the remarkable and touching story of one very special couple over the course of more than 60 years. A span which includes love, marriage, birth, death, grandparenthood and of course, a first kiss. 16 different actors will portray the two characters during various periods of their lives. This reading will mark the New York Premiere of the work.

The evening is a benefit for Boomerang Theater Company's capital campaign for a permanent performance space in a revitalized Lower Manhattan. Boomerang is a non-profit theatre dedicated to presenting new, classic and neglected plays.  Their 2004 season consisted of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," as well as Eugene O'Neill's "Beyond The Horizon;" the New York Premiere of Jason Sherman's "Patience," and the World Premiere of Kelly McAllister's "Burning The Old Man." The company's 2005 season will begin in June with a free outdoor production of a Shakespeare work, followed by three more shows in the fall.

Jay D. Hanagan's plays have been produced in numerous U.S. cities, as well as in Canada and the United Kingdom. Several of his one-act works have been produced in various New York theatre festivals including, the Samuel French Annual Off-Off Broadway Original Short Play Festival, the Riant Theatre Company Strawberry Festival, and Love Creek. He has been published by Riant, Dramatic Publishing, and Samuel French. Jay has also won a Theatre Association of New York State Merit Award for Outstanding Playwriting.

Cailin Heffernan most recently directed the productions of "Beyond the Horizon" and "The Substance of John" for Boomerang. Other works she has directed and/or choreographed in New York include "Gardens of Frau Hess,"  "Banat el Emir;" "La Commedia,"  "Yentl" and "Dr. Valentine's Delirium Waltz." Regional credits include "Barnum," "Brigadoon," "The Color of Flesh," "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," and "Billy Bishop Goes To War". Cailin is also the Founding Artistic Director of Manhattan Dance/Theatre, a company which focuses on developing new plays, musicals and theatrical dance pieces containing a linear storytelling element.

Tickets for the Benefit Reading of FIRST KISSES are $70 and $25 and can be purchased as of January 31st by calling 212-279-4200, or by going to www.ticketcentral.com.

More information on the reading, and on the Boomerang Theatre Company, is available at www.boomerangtheatre.org or by calling 212-501-4069.

Directions to the Lucille Lortel Theatre: Take the 1 or 9 trains to