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Erin Patrick assumes the role of Managing Director at WAM. The Board of Directors of WAM Theatre, in partnership with Artistic Director Genée Coreno, announces a leadership transition as Managing Director Molly Merrihew steps into the role of Executive Director at Shakespeare & Company. WAM Theatre is proud to promote General
Patrick will oversee WAM’s production management and daily operations, working in close partnership with Coreno to support the organization’s continued artistic and organizational growth. Coreno will continue to lead the institution's steady growth as a cultural leader and activist institution centering gender equality and growing impact for women and girls in the Berkshires and beyond.
“It has been one of the great honors of my career to serve WAM Theatre,” said Merrihew. “WAM is a remarkable organization grounded in artistry, activism, and community, and I am profoundly grateful to the staff, artists, board, and audiences who make this work possible. Their collective efforts continue to expand creative opportunities for women and girls in the Berkshires and beyond, and have deeply shaped me as a leader. I carry these stories and experiences with me as I step into this new role.”
Coreno shared, “Molly was an extraordinary partner in guiding WAM through a period of growth, innovation, and deepened community connection. She leads with both rigor and heart, and her strategic insight and care have shaped WAM in lasting ways. This transition reflects something we believe deeply in: the importance of investing in the continued legacy of the Berkshires as a place where women thrive in leadership."
Coreno continues, "there is nothing more powerful than witnessing the women in your life claim their vision and purpose—carrying their ideas and instincts into lived reality. While I will miss Molly, deeply, I feel a profound sense of excitement and pride in watching her step into this next chapter at Shakespeare & Company. Her leadership will be transformative.”
During her six-year tenure as Managing Director, Merrihew co-led WAM Theatre through a period of expanded programming, strengthened governance, and deepened engagement across the Berkshires community. Her leadership has helped advance WAM’s mission of creating theatre for gender equity, and building a strong legacy of arts activism in the Berkshires.
“I have tremendous confidence in Genee's artistry and leadership, and it has been a joy to work alongside her these past three years," Merrihew said. "Kristen van Ginhoven (WAM’s Founding Artistic Director and current Executive Director at SAGE Center), and Genee have deeply impacted my work and journey as an arts leader, they continue to inspire me daily. The strength and commitment of WAM’s current team and board is felt deeply– we are in thoughtful and capable hands in Genee and Erin, and I’m excited about WAM’s future and the continued expansion of its mission, impact, and reach."
“Over the past six years, Molly has been at the heart of WAM Theatre’s strength and growth. She joined us on the eve of the pandemic and helped lead us through that moment with determination and care, and later played a key role in guiding the organization through an important leadership transition. She has been a passionate voice for women in theatre and a dedicated arts advocate in the Berkshires," said Board Vice President Carolyn Butler. “Molly has left an indelible mark on WAM, and while we will miss her deeply, we are thrilled for her as she steps into this next chapter. We look forward to continuing to work alongside her in new ways—and above all, we are grateful to call her not just a remarkable leader, but someone we truly love.”
Merrihew’s appointment at Shakespeare & Company reflects the strength and interconnectedness of the region’s cultural ecosystem. “The Berkshires are home to an extraordinary community of arts organizations that uplift one another through collaboration and shared purpose,” Merrihew said. “I am deeply committed to that spirit of partnership and to ensuring that our collective work continues to flourish.”
“Erin brings a powerful track record in arts leadership, the perspective of a local business owner, and a sharp financial lens—already transforming WAM’s budgeting to fuel both stability and bold artistic growth, while also moving our values into practice across programming and production. Her leadership signals not just continuity, but momentum, and we are thrilled to welcome Erin Patrick as she carries WAM forward with the strength and steadiness the role requires,” said Artistic Director Genee Coreno.
“I am so proud to be able to step into leadership at WAM at this key moment of growth and deepening for the organization,” said Erin Patrick, Incoming Managing Director. “Now more than ever it feels vital to engage deeply in amplifying women’s voices and investing in women’s vision, opportunity, and leadership. I believe the team at WAM is uniquely positioned to carry that mission forward into our new chapter.”
“I am thrilled that Erin Patrick will bring her gracious, clear, and realistic approach to her new role as WAM’s Managing Director of Operations, Finance, and Production,” said Board President Deb Brothers. “Her strong collaborative skills and her dedication to WAM’s mission of advocating for women's and girls' stories in the theatre have rightfully earned her this advancement. Erin leads with assurance and confidence, having already proven her immense value as WAM’s General Manager. She is the ideal person to guide the organization's continued growth as our Managing Director in this next chapter."
WAM Theatre looks ahead to this next chapter with excitement, as Patrick partners with artistic leadership to advance WAM’s mission at the intersection of arts and activism.
MOLLY MERRIHEW
Molly is an arts executive and nonprofit leader with more than 15 years 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 to 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. 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. Molly is the incoming Executive Director of Shakespeare & Company. Recent work experience includes spending the past six years at WAM Theatre as Managing Director. Previously, Molly spent eight years at Shakespeare & Company working in Public Relations and Marketing. Molly also spent four years in the role of Artistic Associate, curating and producing the WAM Theatre Fresh Takes Play Reading Series. Before moving to the Berkshires, Molly worked at the Florida Studio Theatre in communications and patron services. In addition to her full-time work, Molly has led consulting projects for artist organizations and projects in a variety of roles including lead strategist, project manager, and fundraising support. Molly holds a Graduate Certificate from Cornell University in Human Resources, an M.S. in Arts Administration and 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. Most recently, Molly completed the Transformational Leadership Program for Non-Profit Leaders at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. Connect with Molly on LinkedIn or on Instagram at @Mollycreative. She looks forward being a supporter for WAM Theatre for years to come.
ERIN PATRICK
Erin brings an expertise in both theatre administration and business management to her position at WAM with a strong history of pairing community engagement and vision with values based financial management. She has worked extensively as a stage manager, production and operations manager, and theatre educator in the Berkshires and nationally. She spent 4 years as the Production and Operations Manager at Chester Theatre Company and several seasons with Barrington Stage Company as an Artistic Mentor in their Playwright Mentoring Project and for the last 10 years has been on faculty at Westfield State University. She was previously based in the Washington DC area where she spent 3 years as the Production Manager for Dance at the University of Maryland and worked extensively in that rich theatre community as a stage manager. Her business acumen was developed and sharpened as the owner of multiple restaurants and hospitality businesses in Chester MA for more than ten years. Erin has a BA in Theatre and English from the State University of New York at Oneonta and an MFA in Stage Management from the University of Iowa.
ABOUT WAM THEATRE
WAM Theatre is a professional theatre company based in Berkshire County, MA, that operates at the intersection of arts and activism. Now celebrating its 16th Season, WAM creates theatre for gender equity and has a vision of theatre as philanthropy. In fulfillment of its philanthropic mission, WAM donates a portion of proceeds from its Mainstage productions to organizations advancing gender equity. Since its founding in 2010, WAM has donated more than $105,000 to 26 local and global organizations. WAM Theatre is widely recognized for its positive impact on cultural and community development and is a certified women-owned and operated business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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