MARY JANE at Bridge Street Theatre

Bridge Street Theatre Brings Amy Herzog’s Acclaimed Drama Mary Jane to the Stage, May 22 – June 1, 2025

A Quietly Extraordinary Portrait of Motherhood, Resilience, and Community Comes to Catskill, NY

In the world of contemporary American theatre, few playwrights have established themselves with the nuance, clarity, and emotional intelligence of Amy Herzog. From "4000 Miles" to "Belleville" and "The Great God Pan," Herzog has crafted plays that dive deeply into the everyday struggles of modern life with subtlety and compassion. Her 2017 drama "Mary Jane" stands among her most lauded works—a quiet tour-de-force that confronts illness, caregiving, and the sustaining power of human connection. Now, this tender and deeply affecting story arrives at Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill, New York, running from May 22 to June 1, 2025.

Directed by Zoya Kachadurian, Bridge Street Theatre's production of "Mary Jane" features a remarkable all-female cast performing eight roles across the play’s two acts. At the center is Amy Crossman* as Mary Jane, a single mother navigating the nearly impossible day-to-day responsibilities of caring for her chronically ill two-year-old son. With a regimen of feeding tubes, medications, and relentless doctor’s appointments, Mary Jane’s life might seem impossibly bleak—but Herzog’s script reveals a woman of remarkable resolve, humor, and warmth.

Her journey is shaped not only by her inner strength, but by the women who enter her orbit and help hold her together: neighbors, nurses, doctors, social workers, spiritual guides. Each one is portrayed by an ensemble of actors who double in roles: Roxanne Fay (Ruthie/Tenkei), Marianne Matthews* (Sherry/Dr. Toros), Renee Hewitt (Brianne/Chaya), and Clarissa Hernandez (Amelia/Kat).

Designed with sensitivity and simplicity, the production features sets and sound by Carmen Borgia, lighting by John Sowle, and costumes by Michelle Rogers. Hannarose Manning serves as Stage Manager.

Originally premiered by Yale Repertory Theatre and subsequently staged by New York Theatre Workshop, "Mary Jane" was hailed by The New York Times as “a heartbreaker for anyone with a heart,” and by Time Out New York as “beautifully unsentimental and devastatingly real.” In 2024, the play made its Broadway debut at Manhattan Theatre Club starring Rachel McAdams, reintroducing audiences to Herzog’s quiet brilliance. Now, Bridge Street Theatre brings that brilliance to the Hudson Valley.

Bridge Street Theatre, located at 44 West Bridge Street in Catskill, has established itself as a haven for daring, thought-provoking theatre in the region. Known for championing works that challenge and uplift, the company continues its tradition with "Mary Jane."

Performances run Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. Tickets are $30 for general admission and $16 for students. For tickets and additional information, visit BridgeSt.org or call the box office at 518-943-3818.

As Mary Jane herself might tell you, some burdens are too heavy to carry alone. But with grit, grace, and the help of those around us, even the most impossible days can be faced head-on. Don’t miss this moving, masterfully acted portrait of motherhood and quiet heroism—a play that gently breaks your heart and then teaches you how to keep going anyway.

Authors

• Amy Herzog