(She/Her/Hers)

Managing Director
molly@wamtheatre.com

Molly Merrihew, Managing Director (she/her)
Molly is an arts executive, consultant, and nonprofit leader with over a decade of experience in the nonprofit theatre and the for-profit arts and entertainment sector. She has worked collaboratively with organizations, artists, and clients ranging from grassroots ensembles, multimillion-dollar non-profit institutions, and for-profit creative enterprises. Molly is a proud advocate of the Berkshire arts community, and her consulting work has also brought her to Boston and New York City. She has a track record of success in strategic planning, meaningful relationship building, and overcoming organizational challenges in the arts. She loves crafting strategy, empowering teams, and collaborating on new fundraising and communications initiatives that help people fall in love with storytelling and the creative arts.

From activist-art in found-spaces, to large scale Shakespearean festivals, and award-winning audiobook launches; Molly is energized by passionate artists, creative thinkers, and an innate curiosity to meet new people and learn new things. Recent work experience includes spending the past three-years at WAM Theatre as Managing Director bolstering WAM’s mission of creating opportunities and access for voices from historically marginalized communities. Molly spent eight-years at Shakespeare & Company (Lenox, MA) working in PR and Marketing. She was their Director of Public Relations for six years and during that time deepened national and local press relations resulting in major features and frequent coverage in The New York Times, Boston Globe and Wallstreet Journal among other major media outlets. While at Shakespeare & Company she was also a committee member for Strategic Planning and Property Development.

Molly’s journey with WAM actually began in 2014, when she spent four years in the role of Artistic Associate curating and producing “Fresh Takes” a monthly play reading series celebrating new works by women identifying playwrights. She also remained dedicated to WAM’s mission after this role and served on the Strategic Planning and Hospitality Committees for two years. Before moving to the Berkshires, Molly worked at the Florida Studio Theatre (Sarasota, FL) in a variety of capacities including communications and patron services. In addition to her full-time work, Molly has led consulting projects for artist projects and organizations in a variety of roles including lead strategist, project manager, grant reviewer, and copywriter.

Molly has an M.S. in Arts Administration with a Graduate Certificate in Fundraising Management from Boston University. She graduated with a B.A. in Theatre and English-Creative Writing from the State University of New York at Potsdam where she now regularly serves as a Women & Leadership Alumnae Mentor. Additionally, she took courses in Documentary Theatre and Stagecraft at Liverpool Hope University in Northwest England. More recently, Molly completed the ‘Transformational Leadership Program for Non-Profit Leaders’ a weeklong training at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health (Stockbridge, MA). She is the co-chair of Berkshire County Development Alliance, a member of the Berkshire Business & Professional Women association, and a BRIDGE Race Task Force member. She enjoys investing in the future of the creative industry through mentoring arts management and business students through various workshops and courses, most recently including Northeastern, MCLA, and SUNY Potsdam. Molly loves soaking up the vibrant arts scene and dense forests of the Berkshires; you may cross paths with her if you are taking in a show at a local theatre, wandering through a new art exhibit, or hiking one of the many beautiful trails of Berkshire and Columbia County.