ArtWeek: “Jab” Premiere

MAC Theater Playwrights Incubator Presents JAB
written by Kate Herlihy

Friday, May 16 at 7:30pm
Saturday, May 17 at 7:30pm
Sunday, May 18 at 2:00pm

in the MAC’s Anne Braitmayer Webb Theater
$10 per person

an ArtWeek SouthCoast event

Jab is the story of Marissa facing her ultimate match. She’s trapped in the cycle and pain of an abusive marriage that has taken every part of her. A knock on the door from a seemingly nosy neighbor ends up being her greatest gift; being brought to an all female kickboxing group. Hesitantly, Marissa tries and ultimately finds her hidden strength, power, and self again through each jab, hook, and cross. When it’s time for her ultimate match, you’ll want to be front row.

Playwright: Kate Herlihy
Mentors: Holly Cipriani and Jess Wilson

Director: Jess Wilson
Stage Manager: Tony Ferreira
Fight Director: Garrett Olson
Intimacy Director: Jess Wilson
Light Design: Steven McManus
Set Construction: Ron Biever

Cast in order of appearance:
Marissa: Victoria Dreier
Hawk: Tim Moynihan
Millie: Michelle Letourneau
JJ: Andrea Bergner
Aubrey: Susan Salvesen
Cal: Caroline Lane
Father (remembered): Tony Ferreira
Mother (remembered): Holly Cipriani

The MAC Theater Playwrights Incubator (MTPI) is pleased to present a new play by emerging playwright Kate Herlihy. Herlihy is an actor, playwright, director, and dancer completing her BFA in Theatre Performance and Production at Texas State University. She is an alum of Walnut Hill School for the Arts where she studied all aspects of theatre performance and technical theatre. Her time as a writer began at Walnut Hill under Ronan Noone and has since studied dramatic writing with people like Jonathan Bernstein, Caitlin Turnage, and Syd Rushing, all of whom have been influential and integral parts of shaping who she is as a writer. While this is her first play to be produced she’s had various staged readings; A Mind in Riot (The Performing Arts Project, 2022), Révérence (Critic’s Choice for Best Play at James W. Price 10-Minute Play Festival, 2023), and You’re Not… Are You? (Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region 6 Finalist, 2024).

Through her writing Kate emphasizes all aspects of humanity and doesn’t shy away from the vulnerabilities and complexities that humanize her characters; embracing their flaws and all for audiences to see, relate with, and feel for. Kate is ecstatic for Jab to be making its debut, especially in her home state and is very grateful for the MAC’s Playwriting Incubator as a kick off to her career in theatre.

Mentors for this year’s MTPI program include Jess Wilson and Holly Cipriani. There will be an informal discussion/Q&A session with the mentors, director, actors, and playwright following each performance.