LENOX, MA (April 2, 2025) — WAM Theatre is thrilled to announce casting for the first reading in their 2025 Fresh Takes Play Reading Series: Cry it Out by Molly Smith Metzler (The May Queen, Netflix’s Maid) directed by Molly Merrihew (The Flora and Fauna, Water By The Spoonful). Kicking off Mother’s Month, the production will run at Hot Plate Brewing Co. in Pittsfield, MA on Sunday, May 4 at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM. Tickets are now on sale.
Artistic Director Genée Coreno shared about the production, “The postpartum period is one of the most critical times for parents to receive the support they need—from friends, family, and our healthcare system at large. This is when both mother, parent, and baby need to feel our presence the most – sadly, it is the period where we are most vulnerable to loss. Molly Smith Metzler’s Cry It Out beautifully captures this experience with humor, honesty, and heart.”
“We are thrilled to kick off WAM Theatre’s Fresh Takes Play Reading Series with this powerful piece, featuring a phenomenal cast—Kristen Moriarty, Caroline Festa, Marcus Kearns, and Zoë Laiz—who not only bring immense talent to the stage but also deep personal connection as parents, caregivers and/or artist-advocates themselves,” continued Coreno. “Their commitment to this story runs deep, and we can’t wait to share it with our audience.”
WAM Theatre is excited for Hot Plate Brewing Co. to be the home for the 2025 Fresh Takes Play Reading Series. Sarah Real, Owner and Head Brewster of Hot Plate Brewing Co., remarked, “As a company, our values are craft, community, and intentionality, and we often try to collaborate with organizations and individuals that share all or some of these values, but rarely do all of these elements align as perfectly as WAM Theatre’s Fresh Takes Series. We always want our taproom to be a safe, inclusive, and dynamic space, and transforming it into a community theater over the course of this season is a new and welcomed addition to our programming, and it’s also something we’re convinced our audience will appreciate and enjoy.”
The excitement extends to Metzler, playwright Cry it Out, who shared, “I’m beyond grateful and excited that WAM is including Cry it Out in their season. When I wrote this play, alone in my kitchen with a newborn, I yearned for connection with women, parents, and artists. To be embraced by WAM — and all they stand for in our artistic community— feels like a dream.”
“Cry It Out makes you laugh out loud, cringe with delight, and delivers a gut punch of reality.” added Merrihew. “With these brilliant actors, the play provides a poignant look at early motherhood, and the skillful way women carve out space for themselves amongst the chaos. Alongside this story of friendship, Metzler weaves in conversations in class and care costs in America. As we see in our local Berkshire headlines, childcare deserts make it hard for families to find care let alone afford it. This play gets at the heart of that, and it’s an important dialogue to open up in our community.”
Kristen Moriarty will play the role of Jessie, a new mother who, once a corporate lawyer in Manhattan, is now on maternity leave wearing milk-stained, yoga pants in a sleepy Long Island suburb. Moriarty is a theatre artist with a broad range of experience encompassing acting, voice work, directing, choreographing, teaching, and more. Her credits include: Company Artist at Shakespeare & Company and Contributing Artist at Vitalist Theatre and Toy Boat Theatre.
Caroline Festa plays Lina, also a new mother and neighbor to Jessie. Lina and Jessie become fast friends and hold sacred space to visit with each other over coffee in their adjoining yards during naptime. Festa is an actor and playwright with a passion for new work and physical theatre. Her credits include: Peter Pan (Wendy, Tour), Macbeth (Off-Broadway Workshop), and Ships (Official Selection, Soho International Film Festival).
Finally, Zoë Laiz and Marcus Kearns play a couple (Adrienne & Mitchell respectively) who live in a mansion atop a hill that overlooks Jessie and Lina’s neighborhood. Jessie and Lina’s intimacy is punctured when a stranger – Mitchell – begs the two to allow his wife, another new mother, to join their coffee dates. Reluctantly, the duo tries to become a trio, but with very mixed—and surprising—results. Laiz is a Filipina-Jewish actor, local to the Berkshires, who rejoins WAM Theatre previously starring in Waxworks, The Revolutionists, Water By the Spoonful, and The Oregon Trail. Kearns is a versatile theatre artist whose credits include: Mr Fullerton in Mr Fullerton (Great Barrington Public Theater), Romeo in Romeo & Juliet (New England Regional Shakespeare Tour), and Barrington Stage Company: Director of Production & Operations (2023-2024).
WAM Theatre will also be hosting a pay what you can yoga class as another event to celebrate Mother’s Month.
USA Today wrote about Cry it Out, “While the voices provide different colors, they harmonize well on subjects … including the American economy and women’s choices across the country.”
WAM Theatre is proud to offer equitable ticketing for this production and encourage patrons to select the ticket price that best fits their needs. Tickets range from $26 – $56. WAM invites audience members to choose from one of the suggested price levels. Additionally, WAM offers a $5 for EBT card holders.
TICKETS
Single tickets for Cry it Out are on sale now. For tickets and more information about WAM Theatre’s 2025 Season, programs, events, and artists, please visit wamtheatre.com.
PASSES
Passes that include performances of Cry it Out are now on sale. To purchase passes, visit https://www.wamtheatre.com/2025-season-passes/ or contact WAM Theatre by calling (413) 274-8122. For more information about the 2025 Season and WAM Theatre’s programs, events, and artists, please visit wamtheatre.com.
MORE ABOUT CRY IT OUT ARTISTS
Molly Smith Metzler (she/her/hers) (Playwright, Cry It Out) is a playwright and screenwriter from Kingston, N.Y. Artistic Credits: She is the creator of the limited series Maid (Netflix), which was nominated for three Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Writing of a Limited Series. Maid also won the Writers Guild of America (WGA) Award for Outstanding Writing of a Limited Series and received nominations from The Golden Globes, The Critics Choice Awards, The Humanitas Prize, and The American Film Institute (AFI) who named it a “TV Program of the Year.” Metzler’s other TV credits include Shameless (Showtime), Casual (Hulu) and Orange Is the New Black (Netflix). Selected Theatre Credits: As a playwright, Metzler’s plays—including Cry it Out, Elemeno Pea, The May Queen—have been produced at Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC), Actors Theatre of Louisville/Humana Festival, South Coast Repertory, Northlight Theatre, Studio Theatre (DC), Detroit Public Theatre, City Theatre (Pittsburg), Geva Theatre Center, Chautauqua Theater Company and many more. Awards: Her play Cry it Out won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Playwriting (2018) and the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award Citation (2018). Selected Training: Metzler is a proud alumna of NYU Tisch and The Juilliard School, where she was a two-time recipient of the Lecomte du Nouy Prize from Lincoln Center. Currently, Metzler is in post-production on her next limited series, Sirens, which will air on Netflix in 2025.
Molly Merrihew (she/her/hers) (Director, Cry It Out) WAM Theatre: Molly is WAM’s Managing Director (2020-present). She was previously WAM’s Artistic Associate (2014-2018) Directing:The Flora and Fauna (Fresh Takes), The Last Wife (Fresh Takes), Water by the Spoonful (Fresh Takes), In Darfur (Assistant Director for Kristen van Ginhoven), How The World Began (Assistant Director for Tracy Liz Miller), Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England (Assistant Director for Megan Sandberg-Zakian). She’s additionally directed at Shakespeare & Company: Water By The Spoonful (The Spotlight Reading Series), Second Beam (Joan Ackermann Weekend), Marcus is Walking (Joan Ackermann Weekend), Or, (Assistant Director for Alice Reagan), The Comedy of Errors (Assistant Director for Taibi Magar). Regional: 24 Hour Theatre Project (University at Albany), In Motion (10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival for the City of Pittsfield) SDC Foundation Observership Class (2015 – 2016) The Rwandans’ Visit (Lougheed Festival of the Arts). Leadership: Molly has worked in the arts for over a decade building new initiatives, carving new paths forward, and mobilizing teams around a shared vision. From activist-art in found-spaces, 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. Final Word: She lives in the Berkshires full time with her Husband, Daughter (4), Son (9-months) and pup; and is grateful to be surrounded by nature and utilizing creativity in all facets of her life.
Kristen Moriarty (she/her) (Jessie, Cry it Out) is a theatre artist with a broad range of experience encompassing acting, voice work, directing, choreographing for theatre, monologue and audition coaching, and teaching. WAM Theatre: Debut Selected Theatre Credits Elsewhere: Shakespeare & Company (Company Artist), Vitalist Theatre (Contributing Artist), Lifeline Theatre, Elsewhere Shakespeare, Montana Repertory Theatre, Classic Theatre Co., Toy Boat Theatre (Contributing Artist), Opera House Theater Company Additional artistic credits: Teaching/Guest Artist: Shakespeare & Company’s Center for Actor Training, University of Connecticut, Trinity College, University of Montana, Seattle University, University of Washington-Tacoma, San Jose State University, Adelphi University. Writing: owner/operator of sotto voice creative. Creative inspiration: my daughters, who are also artists, and my own inner child. Additionally, I am inspired by the magical moment when people realize they already are brilliant; it just requires courage, vulnerability, and desire to let it be witnessed. Selected training: MFA, Acting—University of Montana; BFA, Acting/Dance—Adelphi University; Shakespeare & Company Center for Actor Training Awards/proudest achievements: being a brilliant mom to Onora and Liadan while leading by example and tending to my artistic self/career Final word: Now, more than ever in my lifetime, we need theatre–to reveal our own humanity and recognize the humanity in others; thank you for being here.
Caroline Festa (she/her) (Lina, Cry it Out) is an actor and playwright with a passion for new work and physical theatre. WAM Theatre: Debut Selected Theatre Credits Elsewhere: Peter Pan (Wendy, Tour), Macbeth (Off-Broadway Workshop), The Christians (Syracuse Stage), Clementines (Cherry Lane Theatre – Workshop), and Funny (Headwall Theatre Company) Additional artistic credits: TV/Film: Blue Bloods (CBS), Ships (Official Selection, Soho International Film Festival) Creative inspiration: Caroline is inspired by time outside of the theatre with her dog, friends and family. She takes most of her inspiration from old movies and the great physical comedians and clowns of our time; such as Lucille Ball, Groucho Marx, and Don Rickles. Community Engagement/Activist work: Caroline has worked as a teaching artist for years, working with students all along the east coast. Arts Education is crucial and Caroline is grateful to witness her students discover their talents, passions and artistic goals. Membership/Affiliations: Caroline is a proud member of AEA. Selected training: Caroline received her B.F.A. from Syracuse University Awards/proudest achievements: Caroline’s most recent play, Funny, received its Off-Broadway workshop premiere through RE/VENUE NYC at A.R.T. New York. Final word: Caroline is grateful for the opportunity to work with WAM and the company of Cry It Out. Website: carolinemfesta.com
Zoë Laiz (she/her)(Adrienne, Cry it Out) is a Filipina-Jewish actor hailing from right here in the Berkshires! WAM Theatre: Waxworks, The Revolutionists, Water By the Spoonful, The Oregon Trail Selected Theatre Credits Elsewhere: The 2 Queers a Lesbian Meets at the Home Depot at A.R.T./NY; Poor Herman at Herman Melville’s Arrowhead; Aftershocks at Theatre for the New City; Pride & Prejudice at Actors’ Shakespeare Project; Pericles with the rig; Eight seasons with Shakespeare & Company, including As You Like It and 4000 Miles. Additional artistic credits: Audiobook: Weeping Under This Same Moon by Jana Laiz Film: American Retail, Gaps, Communication is KeyCreative inspiration: Zoë believes in the arts as a wellspring of joy, empowerment, community and critical thinking. She loves the inherent camaraderie of theatre as an art form, and draws inspiration from fellow collaborators and the shared love of play, imagination and story. Community Engagement/Activist work: Zoë teaches storytelling workshops with The Moth for communities across NYC and beyond. Post-Covid, she helped produce Our Stories, Our Songs: a concert of original songs and poems created in collaboration with local Berkshire and Columbia County partners that celebrated our community’s resilience. Membership/Affiliations: Actors’ Equity Association Selected training: Stella Adler Studio of Acting, Shakespeare & Company Connect: www.zoelaiz.com
Marcus Kearns (Mitchell, Cry it Out) is a versatile theatre artist working as a director of production management and operations, educator, technician/fabricator, and actor, dedicated to bringing compelling stories to the stage. WAM Theatre: Debut. Selected Theatre Credits Elsewhere: Barrington Stage Company: Director of Production & Operations (2023-2024), Associate Production Manager (2022-2023); Great Barrington Public Theater: Mr Fullerton in Mr Fullerton; Bloomington Playwright Project: Chief Detective in Manhunt II, The Detective/CHARLI/Killer in Manhunt, Marty in Beating a Dead Horse; Tina Packer Playhouse (Shakespeare & Company): Henry V!/Dick the Butcher in Henry VI six.; New England Regional Shakespeare Tour: Romeo in Romeo & Juliet, Duke Orsino/Sir Andrew/Macbeth in Twelfth Night & Macbeth. Selected Additional Artistic Credits: Technical Theatre/Fabrication (Freelance, New York, NY, 2014-2021); Assistant Production Manager/Technical Director (BRIC Arts Media, Brooklyn, NY, 2019-2021). Creative inspiration: Inspired by the power of theatre to connect communities and explore the complexities of the human experience. Community Engagement/Activist work: While at BRIC Arts Media, I was involved with their significant community engagement initiatives, including Stoop Share, which provides a vital platform for Brooklyn and NYC-based nonprofit organizations and artists to utilize BRIC’s venue for public programming, amplifying diverse voices. Additionally, I supported the work of BRIClab, BRIC’s artist residency program offering essential support, resources, and opportunities for emerging to mid-career artists in various disciplines to develop and share their work with the community. Awards & Achievements: Dad of the Year from my Son. Final word: Looking forward to contributing to the vibrant artistic community at WAM Theatre. Connect: www.MarcusKearns.com
Genée Coreno (Artistic Director WAM Theatre) is a director and producer with a passion for devised theater created in collaboration with women, girls, and non-binary artists and designers. WAM Theatre: Artistic Director. Selected Directing Credits: Outside (Culture Lab, LIC), Madge Love (Theater Mitu & The Brick), The Hopelessly Hopeless Story of All Good Girls (The Brick), “Is This Clear Enough?” (The Poetry Project), Dutchman (UnUrban Cafe, LA), Selected Producing Credits: The Possessed Girls of St. Mary’s (Reading, at Brick Aux), thisamericanplay (pop-up theater by Blue Flamingo), The Stronger & Mother Love (Alchemical Studios), The World is Round (BAM Fisher). Select Company Management Credits: Under the Radar Festival (The Public Theater), The Outer Space (The Public Theater), National Mobile Unit Tour of Sweat (The Public Theater), Mobile Unit’s Twelfth Night (The Public Theater), Various Performances (Big Dance Theater). Community Engagement/Activist Work: Former Manager of Development and Engagement at Every Mother Counts and Clinic Escort at Choices; Adjunct Professor at Purchase College, Women and Performance. Training: MA in Performance Studies, NYU; BA in Drama Studies, Purchase College; Embodied Voice: Intensive Vocal Workshop; The Song of the Goat; SITI Company Summer Intensive; Theater Mitu Artist Fellowship (Japan). Creative Inspiration: I’m inspired by large-scale international work that demonstrates a commitment to dance theater practices and film-making. Connect: (website) www.fringeandfur.org. IG: @Genéealyse_c
MORE ABOUT HOT PLATE BREWING CO.
Sarah Real (Owner & Head Brewster of Hot Plate Brewing Co.) After working as a consumer insights and media research expert for the last 17 years, Sarah decided to pursue her true passion for craft beer several years ago. Through classes taken at Bitter & Esters, an award-winning homebrew shop in Brooklyn, collaborating with commercial breweries through the Pink Boots Society, and completing the Concise Course in Brewing Technology at Siebel Institute as well taking beer industry-related courses at the University of Vermont, she spent several years preparing to make this transition. Today, she is answering the call for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in the craft beer industry, not only as a Latina brewster and brewery owner, but also by leveraging her professional background to reach, educate, and serve underrepresented communities through her passion and craft.
Hot Plate Brewing Co. Answering the call for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in the world of craft beer, Hot Plate offers a safe third space for the whole community. In addition to the beers we brew on premises, we also offer gluten-free options like wine, hard cider, and hard seltzers, as well as a full café program including espresso drinks, drip coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and hot apple cider. Our taproom also features a lounge area, a wheelchair-accessible bar, board games, and the option to bring in your own food—either from any of our neighbors downtown or from anywhere else.
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 the proceeds from their Mainstage productions to carefully selected recipients. Since WAM’s founding in 2010, they have donated more than $105,000 to 26 local and global organizations taking action for gender equity in areas such as girls education, reproductive justice, sexual trafficking awareness, midwife training, and more. WAM Theatre has been widely recognized for having a positive impact on cultural and community development in the region. WAM Theatre is certified as a women owned and operated business by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the recipient of the Creative Economy Standout Berkshire Trendsetter Award and previously, was named Outstanding Philanthropy Corporation of the Year by the Western MA Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. For more information, visit wamtheatre.com
WAM SUPPORT
WAM Theatre is certified as a women owned and operated business by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. WAM Theatre is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC). WAM Theatre’s Season is also supported in part by grants from Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Brabson Education & Library Foundation, The Feigenbaum Foundation, GKV Foundation, Lee Bank Foundation, Scarlet Sock Foundation; as well as grants from the Alford-Egremont Cultural Council, Lee Cultural Council, Lenox Cultural Council, Otis Cultural Council, Richmond Cultural Council, Sandisfield Cultural Council, Stockbridge Cultural Council, and Washington Cultural Council. WAM’s sponsors include Adams Community Bank, Blue Q., Berkshire Muse, Berkshire Roots, Blue Spark Financial, Baystate Financial Wealth & Wellness Team, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Garden Gables Inn, Guidos Fresh Marketplace, Handful Photography, Higher Bar, Mill Town Foundation, Inc., Heller & Robbins Attorneys at Law, Interprint, Onyx Specialty Papers, Outpost Productions, RB Design Co., T Square Design Studio, Toole Insurance, a. von schlegell & co, and the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts.