CASA 0101 Theater Presents World Premiere of A CAT NAMED MERCY by Josefina Lopez, Now thru 2/23

With the topic of health care on the minds of millions of Americans around the country, CASA 0101 Theater, 2102 East First Street (at St. Louis Street), Boyle Heights, CA 90033 will kick off the new year (tonight, January 31 - February 23, 2014) with a World Premiere play written by award-winning playwright and screenwriter, Josefina López entitled A CAT NAMED MERCY, a dark comedy about Catalina Rodriguez, a Latina Licensed Vocational Nurse working at Elysian Estates Nursing Home who gets her hours cut, becomes uninsured and is in desperate need of an emergency operation. With the help of a cat she names Mercy, she is divinely guided to do the unthinkable to save her life.

Under the direction of Hector Rodriguez (of South Pasadena), actress Alex Ximenez (of East Los Angeles) stars as Catalina Rodriguez, leading a cast of 14 actors playing 32 roles. The ensemble cast includes: Blanca Araceli (of Cypress Park) as Mama Rodriguez/Spirit of Mama Rodriguez; Michael Cota (of Culver City) as 911 Dispatcher/Cameraman; Rebecca Davis* (of Glassell Park) as Doctor DuBois/Health Insurance Agent/Manager/Surgeon/Prison Inmate; Susan Davis* (of Sherman Oaks) as Kitty Randolph/Spirit of Kitty Randolph; Alex Denney (of East Hollywood) as Brad Randolph/Spirit of Mr. Randolph (Kitty's Husband); Maricela Guardado (of Inland Empire) as Spirit of Marga Rodriguez/Spirit of Mrs. Smith (Harold's Wife)/TV Reporter; Henry Madrid (of Belmont Shores) as Harold Smith/Spirit of Harold Smith; Carmelita Maldonado (of Boyle Heights) as Belinda Ortiz (Social Worker)/Prison Guard; Maria G. Martinez (of Pico Rivera) as Martha Encarnación/Spirit of Martha Encarnación; Bill Reyes (of Irvine) as Voice of Judge (Voiceover); Marquel Skinner (of Redondo Beach) as Kate Scott/Angel/Prison Inmate/Surgeon Nurse; Beatriz Eugenia Vasquez (of Hollywood) as Mercy (Cat)/Pacifico (Cat) andMinerva Vier* (of Lincoln Heights) as Joy Acosta/Filipina Lady. *Members of Actors' Equity Association, The Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Director Hector Rodriguez said: "A CAT NAMED MERCY is a dark comedy about health care. I hope to illustrate how, in our country, our health depends on having insurance and the dire consequences of not having health insurance. I also plan to personalize the struggle people confront when trying to care for a loved one suffering from a serious illness who doesn't have health insurance. My goal is to use comedy to present such a serious and profound issue that will affect everyone in an entertaining way."

Discounted Preview Performances will be presented on Friday and Saturday, January 24 and 25, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, January 26, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. for $10.00 per person. Opening Night is Friday, January 31, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. The play will be presented for a four-week run on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 5:00 p.m. from January 31 - February 23, 2014 at CASA 0101 Theater, 2012 East First Street (at St. Louis Street across the street from the Hollenbeck Police Station), Boyle Heights, CA 90033. Question and Answer Sessions will be held with the playwright Josefina López following the performances on Sundays, January 26, February 2 and February 9, 2014. Representatives from Covered California will be in attendance to answer questions at Saturday performances during the run of the show.

Tickets during the four-week run are $20 per person for General Admission; $17 per person for Seniors; and $15 per person for Students/Boyle Heights residents. Discounts for Groups of 10 or more will be available at $15 per person. This show is recommended for mature audiences. Advance reservations are highly recommended. Theatre patrons can get a $2 discount by presenting their Metro Bus Cards at the Box Office when buying tickets. Metro bus stations are located on First Street in Boyle Heights at both Soto Street, and at Boyle Street (Mariachi Plaza), within a short walking distance to the theatre.

Free Parking is available on several streets surrounding the theatre. Free Parking is also available on Fridays and Saturdays only at the Boyle Heights City Hall Parking Lot located at 2130 East First Street (at Chicago Street) by entering the lot from Chicago Street; the lot is closed on Sundays. For tickets, please call the CASA 0101 Theater Box Office at 323-263-7684, E-mail tickets@casa0101.org, or buy online at www.casa0101.org. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/casa0101theater.

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