Press Release, Colin Sheehan Events

Colin Sheehan, often dubbed Branford’s arts impresario for his theater work on every level, wears another hat for which he is just as well known: philanthropist.

The New York City native will serve as emcee Sept. 23 at the Pine Orchard Yacht & Country Club for Branford Compassion Club’s 25th Anniversary Gala, which includes dinner, silent and live auctions and entertainment by Grammy Award winner Julie Gold (“From A Distance”).

The feline rescue and adoption organization (branfordcompassionclub.org), with a shelter at 2037 Foxon Road, North Branford, was started in 1997 by Eunice Lasala, Annmarie Lorello and Friskie Wheeler to control the area’s feline homeless population through education about spay-neutering, and to rescue and rehome adoptable felines. It has since grown to more than 150 members who work daily at the shelter and its seven area feral colonies.

“Funny, I am highly allergic to cats, but ‘Cats’ was my first musical on Broadway. But, when Eunice asks you to do something, you have to say yes,” Sheehan quips. “I appreciate them from afar. Plus, a lot of BCC members have supported my endeavors, whether when I was a child or teenager, whether doing benefits, doing Broadway cabarets … a lot have been in audiences of mine. Why not come there and help make money for a good cause?”

Sheehan is currently the Arts, Culture & Special Events Coordinator for the Town of Branford, Artistic Coordinator and Director of Public Relations at Legacy Theater and the co-founder and co-artistic director with Mike Martone Jr., of Branford Parks & Recreation Shoreline Theatre Company. The latter, which is in its fifth year, had a full schedule of productions this summer, including “Chicago the Musical,” “The Wizard of Oz” with a cast of 60 eighth-graders and younger, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” most performed at Walsh Intermediate School.

Sheehan grew up and attended Branford schools, performing in musical theater and the arts since bit by the acting bug at the age of 5, when his backyard was his stage, and he was “always the director, producer, and usually the star of the show…”

A theater hyphenate, he lists himself as director on his resume, but is just as comfortable in front of the curtain. An active participant in Branford High School’s renowned theater department, he received a B.A. in theatre and speech performance at Wagner College and has shared directing duties for current musicals at his high school with Martone, most recently “Anything Goes.” He has produced, directed, hosted and performed all over the world, on Broadway, television and many cruises and resorts, and has been raising money for arts programs since he was 3.

He was chairperson of the Branford375 Committee, overseeing the many events celebrating the town’s 375th anniversary in 2019. After the Pulse club mass shooting in 2016, Sheehan, Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove and director Toni Cartisano oversaw the lighting of the town hall and lining of the streets with rainbow flags in a tribute that drew nearly 1,000 people with only a few hours’ notice.

He is “a proud Branford Community Foundation board member and godfather/uncle to Claire.”

Sheehan’s theater and philanthropy events may be found on his website colinsheehanevents.com.