Madonna of the Cat

By Sue Mach

New Release

World Premiere Performance

21ten Theatre
2110 SE 10th Ave, Portland OR

Nov 1 – 23, 2025 (Thurs – Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm)

Directed by Gemma Whelan

Cast:

Hermione: Crystal Ann Muñoz / Paulina: Maria Porter / Donna: Luisa Sermol / Perdita: Emma Greene / The Bear: Bruce Burkhartsmeier

Creative Team:

Scenic Designer: Alex Meyer / Costume Designer: Janelle Sutton / Lighting Designer: Sophina Flores / Sound Designer: Lawrence Siulagi / Composer: Stephanie Schneiderman / Props Designer: Skylar Vayda / Movement Director: Adam Fleming / Stage Manager: Ava Violet Schmidt

About the Book

In Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, 16 years pass between the end of Act III and the beginning of Act IV. Madonna of the Cat imagines those lost years, examining themes of friendship, motherhood, and forgiveness, as well as empathy for a certain bear . . . the principal of the Bard’s most famous stage direction, “Exit, pursued by a bear.”

Sue Mach’s plays have been produced at Theatre for the New City in New York, the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, Portland Repertory Theatre, Artists Repertory Theatre, Third Rail Repertory Theatre, Icaras Theatre Ensemble, Portland World Theatre, CoHo Productions, and Clackamas Community College. She was awarded a fellowship from Oregon Literary Arts, as well as the Oregon Book Award for her play, The Lost Boy, which was also part of Portland Center Stage’s JAW/West development series.  Additionally, Sue has received grants from the Regional Arts and Culture Commission, the Oregon Arts Commission, and the Oregon Council for the Humanities.

Nov 1 – 23, 2025 (Thur – Sun)

Madonna of the Cat

World Premiere

Written by Sue Mach
Directed by Gemma Whelan

Cast (in order of appearance):

HERMIONE Crystal Muñoz
PAULINA Maria Porter
DONNA Luisa Sermol
PERDITA Emma Greene
BEAR Bruce Burkhartsmeier

Designers:

Scenic Design Alex Meyer
Costume Design Janelle Sutton
Lighting Design Sophina Flores
Sound Lawrence Siulagi
Props Skylar Vayda
Movement director Adam Fleming
Original music composed by Stephanie Schneiderman