Shakespeare & Company Names Molly Merrihew Executive Director
Merrihew, former managing director of Wam Theatre, joins artistic director Allyn Burrows at the Lenox, MA company.
Shakespeare & Company's Board of Directors has appointed Molly Merrihew as the organization's new Executive Director, who takes the helm just as the Company approaches its 50th anniversary. Merrihew has spent the last decade as an advocate and leader of the Berkshires arts community.
Merrihew, most recently Managing Director of WAM Theatre, has been appointed Executive Director following a national search. She will partner with Artistic Director Allyn Burrows to guide the organization's programs and operational work.
For Merrihew, the role marks both a return and a continuation. Earlier in her career, she spent eight years at Shakespeare & Company in marketing and public relations before joining WAM Theatre, where she went on to serve as Managing Director and previously as Artistic Associate.
During her six years in leadership at WAM, Merrihew helped oversee a period of growth that included expanded programming, strengthened governance, and deeper community engagement, while advancing the company's mission of gender equity through theater.
"Molly brings strong strategic leadership and a deep understanding of this community," said Board Chair Beverly Hyman. "We're pleased to welcome her to Shakespeare & Company."
Burrows pointed to Merrihew's collaborative approach. "We are truly thrilled to welcome Molly back to the Shakespeare & Company team in an even more robust capacity as Executive Director," he said. "Molly knows the company well, and she brings a crucial skill set to help steward us toward new horizons."
Merrihew said she sees Shakespeare & Company as a longstanding anchor of the region's cultural life.
"I'm honored to join the organization and to work with its staff, artists, and Board alongside Allyn," she said. "There's a strong foundation here, Shakespeare & Company is an extraordinary cultural institution with a rich legacy of performance, training, and education. I am inspired by its commitment to bold life-changing artistry and its role as a cornerstone of the Berkshires' vibrant arts landscape. I look forward to building on 50 years, and supporting a thriving, sustainable future as an arts leader of our community and across the country."
Her appointment reflects the interconnected nature of the Berkshires arts scene, where artists and organizations often move between institutions and collaborate across disciplines. Merrihew emphasized that sense of shared purpose.
At Shakespeare & Company, Merrihew will oversee administrative and operational leadership, working in partnership with Burrows and the Board of Trustees. She steps into the role at a moment of financial stability for the organization, which recently paid off its mortgage and has reported two consecutive seasons of strong box office sales.
Merrihew holds a master's degree in Arts Administration from Boston University and an undergraduate degree from SUNY Potsdam, along with a Graduate Certificate in Human Resources from Cornell University, and brings more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit theater and the broader arts sector.
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