PLEASE NOTE EVEN IF THE INITIALS ARE THE SAME, THE CONTRIBUTORS ARE DIFFERENT
"Another spectacularly uncomfortable yet powerful show from Stray Cat Theatre. It was a unique and interesting experience seeing their final show tonight. Whenever I see a show at Stray Cat I know both the quality and the message will be exceptional." - SR
"Such a stunning production - my favorite from Stray Cat Theatre! (Christine Ward) is a STAR! (Mantra Rostami) was absolutely wonderful! (Payten Christopher McLeod) - so complicated and beautiful." - instagram
"Not to sound despondent or preachy….but the world is a bit of a shitshow (understatement) - and one of the many ways we counter that is with art and community. In my mind, theater is the perfect combination of the two. This season continues to be sublime in shows/acting/direction/production - and most of all - resonant." - BU
"Wow! Wow! Wow! Stunning production! A difficult topic handled so well....Go see it!" - MH
"I had the pleasure of seeing this show tonight and I highly recommend you take yourself...thank you Stray Cat Theatre you have an amazing show and wonderful group of actors. That final monologue was one to remember." - HI
"This was so good wtf. Thank you, Stray Cat Theatre!" - SH
"Once again, Stray Cat brings us a powerful evening of theater!" - DT
"There is still time to see How To Defend Yourself by Stray Cat Theatre at TCA. An incredibly powerful and well-acted play that examines the different ways members of a community understand and react to trauma. What does Consent look and feel like? Go see it!" - LP
"It’s a brutally challenging but important conversation that needs to be had. - JG
"Tragedy tomorrow, HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF tonight. A powerful piece and an excellent production by @straycattheatre. Don’t be fooled by the comfort and beauty of their riverside home at the @tempecenterforthearts, this show is a gut punch and essential topic of our time. Just a few more days to see it." - RH
"The talent on this stage is unreal." - CB
"Very powerful!" - DW
"Hell Yeah! Outstanding work from everyone." - GE
"You should go see it. It's important." - JG
“…this became a production that impacted me greatly and each interconnected story is performed so so well. there’s still time for you to catch HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF!!” - RD
"Great show @straycattheatre with some incredible moments directed by @elizabethbroeder and a stellar cast...Well worth your time and attention. Bravo!" - JG
"We saw How to Defend Yourself with Stray Cat Theatre last night.
First of all- Go see it. Obviously.
I had to sit with my thoughts on this one but any big feelings aside, this play has brave actors doing beautiful and hard work and they should be so proud of themselves. Their work deserves to be seen.
The work from the entire production deserves to be seen.
For me it was funny and familiar and playful and deeply sad.
The scene that stuck out the most for me was Nikki talking about what she was going to do... Without giving anything specific away but maybe if you've seen it or when you do... she just says something along the lines of, "go home. watch tv. think of you guys..." etc. The resolution is that there is no resolution there and that was that.
Oh, and I officially will see anything directed by Elizabeth Broeder.
I would say more but no spoilers from me. " - MN
"Not an easy ride but a compelling, well paced, beautifully inhabited performance. Elizabeth Broeder did a masterful job, Maren Maclean clearly created safety that enables the audience to feel danger..." - BF
“Do yourself a favor, and don’t miss this one. It’s rare that my wife and I have to stand outside our car processing and doing grounding exercises after a stunning production. It’s even more rare for my wife to walk out with tears still flowing, and more rare still for them to throw the bird to the artistic team on the way out — truly the highest praise either of us could offer.
This piece is important. And in the incredibly talented hands of Elizabeth Broeder and the team at Stray Cat Theatre, it has teeth. Don’t miss out.” - MS
“Go see this play. Please, do not miss this…Spectacularly done.” - AB
“Opening Night of yet another relevant and powerful production by Stray Cat Theatre! Cast so well, with all new creative artists displaying their talents. Simple set design was a good choice. Major kudos to Maren Maclean as intimacy and fight coordinator for mentoring these actors to be so effective. No spoilers from me...” - LP
"Stray Cat Theatre delivers another fearless and deeply resonant production with HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF. This is the kind of theater that lingers not because it is loud, but because it is honest. The play centers on a group of college students who begin taking self-defense classes after a sexual assault occurs on campus. What unfolds is not a straightforward narrative about violence, but a layered exploration of fear, anger, survival, friendship, and the complicated ways we process trauma. The script is sharp, often unexpectedly funny, and deeply observant about how young women navigate safety in a world that constantly asks them to calculate risk. Stray Cat handles the material with remarkable balance. The staging feels intimate and immediate, pulling the audience into the rehearsal room turned sanctuary, where these characters wrestle with what it means to feel powerful in their own bodies. Ensemble work is especially strong. Each actor brings nuance and vulnerability, allowing the humor to land naturally while never undercutting the emotional weight. What makes this production so successful is its refusal to offer easy answers. Instead, it invites reflection. It asks uncomfortable questions about autonomy, complicity, and the myths we are taught about protection - and in true Stray Cat fashion it sparks conversation long after the lights come up. Another bold, thoughtful win for one of the valley's most consistently daring companies." - MD