Broad Strokes (musical)

Broad Strokes is an upcoming autobiographical cabaret musical by American comedian Cat Cohen about her experience having a stroke at age 30, featuring musical numbers. The production premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2025 and is set to make its Off-Broadway world premiere at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in July 2026.

Plot

The musical is autobiographical about Cohen's experience suffering from a near-death stroke when she was 30 caused by a hole in her heart and how it changed her perspective on life. The production combines comedy and musical cabaret elements to tell the reflective story.

Production history

2025 Edinburgh Fringe premiere

Cohen had a history of perrforming at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, appearing in 2019 and was set to perform in 2023, before suffering from her stroke. She eventually debuted her work, Come For Me in 2024 after recovering. Broad Strokes, inspired by this experience, had its world premiere as part of the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland at Pleasance Courtyard, where it received rave reviews. Cohen wrote and selected the music alongside David Dabbon, with lyrics and book by Cohen. The Guardian gave the show five stars, lauding the show as "a rich, perfectly formed show", and "a comic triumph." Similarly, A Younger Perspective gave the show a positive review, calling it "a truly exceptional gem."

2026 Boston production

Ahead of its 2026 Off-Broadway premiere, the play premiered at Huntington Theatre Company directed by Alex Timbers and starring Cohen. The production ran from June 4 through 6, 2026 at The Calderwood Pavilion.

2026 Off-Broadway production

The play is set to make its Off-Broadway debut at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in 2026, with previews beginning July 14 ahead of an opening on July 27, 2026. Timbers and Cohen and both returning, and the production is set to run through September 5, 2026.