Story perspectives

Cat Cohen Debuts “Broad Strokes” on Stroke Journey

7/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

Cat Cohen opens her solo show “Broad Strokes” at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, running through September 25 2026.
The 65-minute show blends stand-up, cabaret and songs with David Dabbon about Cohen’s 2023 stroke that required a repaired heart hole.
Alex Timbers directs the production, which features a gothic-castle set by Derek McLane.
Critics describe the pacing as slight and the musical numbers uneven, noting audiences respond to Cohen’s brash persona.

History

Historical Context

After Larry Kramer founded the Gay Men's Health Crisis in 1981 and launched ACT UP in 1987, his 1985 Off-Broadway play The Normal Heart dramatized the early AIDS crisis and proved a model for activist theater. In 2023, Cat Cohen’s solo show Broad Strokes at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, directed by Alex Timbers, echoes that legacy by turning her stroke experience into a public call for awareness.

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Story summary

Cat Cohen opens her solo show “Broad Strokes” at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, running through September 25 2026.
The 65-minute show blends stand-up, cabaret and songs with David Dabbon about Cohen’s 2023 stroke that required a repaired heart hole.
Alex Timbers directs the production, which features a gothic-castle set by Derek McLane.
Critics describe the pacing as slight and the musical numbers uneven, noting audiences respond to Cohen’s brash persona.

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