This is an article from EVE Magazine December2001/January2002 issue:

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me."
Based on this quote from O’Connell & Company’s long running production of DIVA by DIVA, executive director Mary Kate O’Connell is destined for a very long life. For it would take years for this one woman dynamo to exhaust the extensive list of talents that she regularly exhibits as a singer, actress, entertainer, director, programmer, promoter, event coordinator, community leader, fund raiser, and most importantly from her perspective, an aunt.The expressive brown eyed, blond hair beauty views her wide ranging abilities as nothing more than favors granted. "I guess I think that at some point when we’re being created we’re given certain gifts. I’m just lucky that I have been able to recognize my gifts." Her sense of self-knowledge cultivated at an early age, "As a little girl I always loved music. In fact music was a big part of life around our house. My cousin Aileen and I were famous for standing in front of a mirror with our ‘wooden spoon’ microphones
and singing show tunes."
The Irish American household of O’Connell’s youth was comprised of husband, George D. (Buffalo’s City Comptroller), wife Beatrice and their brood of seven - Dan, Tom, Kevin, Terry, Dennis, Mary Kate and Patti. "We grew up close. We weren’t the Waltons, never will be, never were. But we were raised with an intense devotion to family, community and church. Our parents taught us that family is not just about blood relations, but also extends to include others." It is this ingrained societal focus that has ultimately influenced the formation of O’Connell’s theater troupe. "Our mission at O’Connell & Company is simple. We present top quality shows to a wide ranging audience. Theater that really makes a impact them. We strive to treat them to something that simply affects them during the run of a performance and beyond." O’Connell admits that her philosophy borders on being Pollyanna-ish. It’s a comparison she welcomes. "O’Connell & Company is never going to be “edgy.” We’re not in the market to be an edgy theater company. What we’ve tried to do instead is build a theater that people can really count on, just the way, I hope, that they can count on me. The long running career of this forty-something theater Diva has encompassed a variety of stages from off, off Broadway to Tonawanda, performed under wide
ranging dinner theater, cabaret, musical, comedic, and occasionally, dramatic spotlights. Yet despite her longevity, O’Connell resolutely strives to keep her career challenging, her performances fresh. "There is an old adage that says actors should keep their performance new and fresh because each audience is seeing it for the first time. And while it sounds rather sophomoric, it really is true. Entertaining is a great responsibility. People are laying down cash money in good faith and trusting that they will be entertained." To which, with a gleam in her eye and a lilting laugh, she impishly adds, "Even lawyers let you come in for a free consultation before they charge you!"
It is her boundless sense of Irish humor that has sustained and supported O’Connell through the theatrical ups and downs of her professional life as well as a variety of personal difficulties. In 1975 her father died, unexpectedly, of a heart attack. "With Daddy’s death, our family’s nucleus just blew apart. It was really just a tough time for all of us." Five years later, another crisis struck the then twenty-six year old actress, leaving scars both within and without."I think when someone gets hurt that viciously there is a chance that they will become a recluse. The good news is that so far, for whatever misguided bizarre reason this individual decided to attack me; there was a stronger person, a soul, a power that he couldn’t touch. Someone I am still discovering." "He" being an unidentified person who brutally bludgeoned O’Connell with a blunt instrument while she lay sleeping in the home of friends. The resultant injuries requiring one hundred and eighty eight stitches, from her temple across the crown of her skull, to close the gaping wounds, as well as re-constructive surgery to replace part of her left ear. Medical mending that was overshadowed by the doctor’s preliminary prognosis that the patient probably would not survive.
O’Connell speaks with remarkable candor and calm while recalling the incident. "The whole thing left me emotionally crippled with questions and fears, but at some point you either have to embrace it as something that happened and move forward, or let it rule your life." Her choice of forward motion facilitated by those closest to her. "I have loving and supported family and friends who gave me a sense of safety, but also helped me reclaim my independence."
Today, some twenty years later, O’Connell acknowledges the incident and subsequent life changes with a respectful understanding. "It was a huge turning point in my life. It made me a different person." Her outlook shaped, in part, by a belief in destiny. " I honestly feel there is a master plan in life. That we are all destined for certain things. I had no control over what happened or why I am still here. Perhaps I’m an example for someone I don’t even know. But I do believe that we all have a greater purpose than we ever identify. Greater than fame or headlines."
While acceptance is O’Connell’s attitude of choice, her positive outlook cannot diminish the difficulties she continues to endure as a result of the violent assault. "Since the attack, I’ve suffered from post traumatic stress syndrome that prevents me from continuous sleep. I also have a serious hearing loss in my left ear that sometimes creates a high pitched ringing noise which can make me anxious and nervous, especially if I’m worried that I am not singing the right notes." Remarkably, since that time, O’Connell has managed to hit all the right notes in establishing her Cabaret in the Square Theatre at Snyder Square (Harlem and Main Streets.) " I took on the challenge of running my own theater with the encouragement of my brother Danny and because it gave me the opportunity to do productions and have a company that genuinely represented me. A place where I could offer quality theater at an affordable price, with genuinely nice, talented people in the performing group."
O’Connell is one of only three women in Western New York to manage her own theater company within its own performance venue (the others being Meg Quinn of Theater of Youth and Lorna Hill of Ujima Theater Company). The entertainment entrepreneur contends that this accomplishment should be noted outside the boundary of gender. " I’m very proud of what we three have been able to accomplish as women, but then I stop and think about the limitations we put on ourselves by even relating gender to the accomplishment."
Women and accomplishment are two interrelated, primary concepts within O’Connell’s life to which she is totally committed. "There is great power in women. We are the ones who give birth, the ones who are the power of the first lady, the mother of invention, Mother Nature. So if we strive to combine women’s power within the power of our shows, then with any luck that will re-enforce the power of the possibilities and help to challenge the limitations women put upon themselves."
Proving a willingness to re-enforce her words with actions, in 1999, O’Connell formulated a new type of theatrical entertainment in celebration of National Women’s Month. She christened her creation, "DIVA by DIVA" and dubbed it, "a gender specific but not gender exclusive event." A most apt description based on the continuously supportive, cross section of Western New York men and women who attend the production in sold-out droves."DIVA is very important to me because it’s a wonderful opportunity to get a positive message about women out to audiences." The blueprint for the production engineered from her personal ideals. "It wasn’t something I copied from anyone. Rather, from the start, it was an ongoing, totally awake vision, celebrating things that mean the most to me….home, health, community, family, great music and wonderful quotes." The premise of DIVA revolves around a small central cast of professional singers and actresses supplemented by an ever-changing retinue of guest DIVAS who hail from all walks of life. (A sampling of recent guests included Key Bank executive, Marsha Henderson, community leader, Kate Masiello and Arts Council Director, Celeste Lawson). The “Divas du jour”, as O’Connell calls them, come together one hour before curtain at which point they are given the show's scripts. (which by the way, change with every performance). From there on, the spontaneity of DIVA by DIVA picks up steam and continues nonstop until the curtain drops some ninety minutes later.
O’Connell devotionally characterizes this theatrical creation she has borne. "On a weekly basis we redefine the word DIVA she’s not a person who needed to be attended to and massaged, rather someone who hopefully all women will aspire to be and all men will want to be with. Someone who has great confidence and respect for herself and others, someone who shares and enjoys sharing, and someone who contributes and draws from her community and her family."
With devotion to community and family serving as the major guideposts in her life, it is not surprising that this creative woman judges the evolution of O’Connell & Company by the same markers. "We are still a young theater, still working within the framework of our five year plan, which to me means that we are still a vision in progress. However, this theater is a life to me, not a business plan. I’ve created it based on very personal choices that I’ve made over the years, relative to who I am and how I was raised."
The individual most directly responsible for that upbringing was O’Connell’s mother, Bea, "Mom was always a huge barometer for me. She was an extraordinary role model and just a beautiful person." The passing of her mother last December has left a large void in the devoted daughter’s life, "When mom died, I lost my best friend. I can’t even imagine that life is still going on without her." It is a personal gap the busy actress attempts to fill by spending sporadic non-theater moments with nephew George and niece Katy. Visits which she humorously characterizes as "drive-by auntings."
As for any desire to nurture her own brood, O’Connell employs her ever-ready sense of humor when considering such life options. "Sure I wanted to get married and have children…. I also wanted to be a nun!" Which, after a hearty giggle, she amends, "I’d love to be married or with someone special, but I’m not in the sort of business that affords me the opportunity to easily meet people and develop a relationship."
The opportunities that O'Connell's career does afford revolve predominantly around constantly renewed theater productions and the influx of fresh audiences. Both standards that she is striving to improve with this year’s advent of O'Connell & Company's first full theater season. Leading the way are old reliables, "DIVA by DIVA" and "Nuncrackers" augmented by new productions of "SHEbop" and "Six Women with Brain Death." O'Connell profers a conditional enthuiasism over box office response. "While we are working to expand the number of theatergoers at the Cabaret in the Square and stir up more interest, I am encouraged that more people are finding us and realizing that we are programming with care and creativity." Care and creativity are precisely what O’Connell employs within all of her life’s realms . "I think my journey has taken me to a greater level of understanding to appreciate every moment and all possibilities." As for other's assessment of her accomplishments O’Connell speaks softly and simply, "I hope that people see me as a good person who treats others fairly…. and as someone who loves."A quintessential Diva...by anyone’s measure of talent.