Award-winning playwright and screenwriter Josefina López has written a new play funded in part by a 2013 grant from The California Endowment. The play’s subject matter addresses health care and The Affordable Care Act.     “A Cat Named Mercy” is 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.

The story line of the play is extremely topical, given millions of Americans talking about health insurance these days. Staff members from Covered California will be in attendance at Saturday performances throughout the play’s run to answers questions theatergoers may have about current health care insurance.

The play will be presented by CASA 0101 Theater in Boyle Heights from Jan. 31 through Feb. 23.

Tickets during the four-week run are $20 for general admission; $17 for seniors; and $15 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.

Free parking is available on several streets surrounding the theatre and available on Fridays and Saturdays only at the Boyle Heights City Hall Parking Lot located at 2130 E. First Street (at Chicago Street) by entering the lot from Chicago Street; the lot is closed on Sundays.

For tickets, call the CASA 0101 Theater box office at (323) 263-7684, email tickets@casa0101.org, or buy online at www.casa0101.org.

  Ed KRIEGER