about molly
Molly Stricker (she/her) is a queer artist, entrepreneur, and activist currently based in Central Illinois. In 2017, she graduated from Sarah Lawrence College, where she concentrated in theatre, literature, and filmmaking. Molly will be relocating to Nashville, TN, later this year.
While Molly studied at Sarah Lawrence, she founded the Musical Theatre Collective in 2016, serving as its Artistic Director and Head Producer through her graduation in May of 2017. During college, Molly also directed Kander and Ebb's CABARET and assistant directed Macbeth under Broadway director Will Frears.
Molly served as Managing Director of Thunder Bay Theatre from May 2017 to December 2018. In the spring of 2019, Molly developed an educational play and accompanying workshop teaching life-skills to middle-school students across Northern Michigan. Molly then served as Interim Artistic Director during the Fall 2019 Season. During her time at Thunder Bay, Molly directed Robin Hood and Peter Pan featuring local students, an educational touring production of The 3 Billy Goats Gruff, and a devised movement-based production of MacBeth. In addition, Molly developed and moderated various DEI-focused programs, wrote many grant proposals to successfully fund a variety of theatre education opportunities, and assisted in completing the first phase of Thunder Bay Theatre's 50th Anniversary capital improvement campaign. Molly also developed curricula for and taught the first ever TBT^2 Summer Camp Programs in 2018.
Molly has also trained at Double Edge Theatre, taught at ProEnglish Theatre in Kiev, Ukraine, and served on the administrative staff at The Performing Arts Project.
Apart from her work in the arts, Molly has had experience as a personal assistant, customer service agent, and direct sales representative. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, she has found work as a barista and, most recently, a farmhand.
As a creator and community-builder, Molly values radical empathy and honest expression in all of her work and relationships. She is a dedicated advocate for marginalized communities and intersectional sustainability. Above all, Molly is a listener, always working to stay curious.
While Molly studied at Sarah Lawrence, she founded the Musical Theatre Collective in 2016, serving as its Artistic Director and Head Producer through her graduation in May of 2017. During college, Molly also directed Kander and Ebb's CABARET and assistant directed Macbeth under Broadway director Will Frears.
Molly served as Managing Director of Thunder Bay Theatre from May 2017 to December 2018. In the spring of 2019, Molly developed an educational play and accompanying workshop teaching life-skills to middle-school students across Northern Michigan. Molly then served as Interim Artistic Director during the Fall 2019 Season. During her time at Thunder Bay, Molly directed Robin Hood and Peter Pan featuring local students, an educational touring production of The 3 Billy Goats Gruff, and a devised movement-based production of MacBeth. In addition, Molly developed and moderated various DEI-focused programs, wrote many grant proposals to successfully fund a variety of theatre education opportunities, and assisted in completing the first phase of Thunder Bay Theatre's 50th Anniversary capital improvement campaign. Molly also developed curricula for and taught the first ever TBT^2 Summer Camp Programs in 2018.
Molly has also trained at Double Edge Theatre, taught at ProEnglish Theatre in Kiev, Ukraine, and served on the administrative staff at The Performing Arts Project.
Apart from her work in the arts, Molly has had experience as a personal assistant, customer service agent, and direct sales representative. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, she has found work as a barista and, most recently, a farmhand.
As a creator and community-builder, Molly values radical empathy and honest expression in all of her work and relationships. She is a dedicated advocate for marginalized communities and intersectional sustainability. Above all, Molly is a listener, always working to stay curious.
press
"Molly Stricker...led an all-female leadership team in this masterful display of creative talent...an addictive performance that everyone should see at least once." -Darby Hinkley, The Alpena News on Macbeth (2019)
past work
In fall 2019, Molly directed Christopher Schario's adaptation
of A Christmas Carol at Thunder Bay Theatre.
of A Christmas Carol at Thunder Bay Theatre.
In fall 2019, Molly performed in Godspell at Thunder Bay Theatre as a community
mentor for Alpena High School students in the AHS Theatre Troupe.
mentor for Alpena High School students in the AHS Theatre Troupe.
In fall of 2019, Molly directed Shakespeare's Macbeth at Thunder Bay Theatre.
The production featured a female Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and explored
themes of feminism, queerness, equity, and power.
The production featured a female Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and explored
themes of feminism, queerness, equity, and power.
Molly served as Interim Artistic Director at Thunder Bay Theatre during the Fall Season of 2019.
In summer of 2019, Molly served as an administrative staff member at The Performing Arts Project.
(Learn More about TPAP here.)
(Learn More about TPAP here.)
In spring of 2019, Molly served as a Teaching Artist for Thunder Bay Theatre's 2019 Spring Educational Tour.
She worked with three other Core Company members to develop and write a play for middle school
aged students dealing with mental health, self esteem, bullying, and social media. Tour performances were held at
middle schools and community organizations across Northern Michigan between late April and mid May.
(Click here for more information.)
She worked with three other Core Company members to develop and write a play for middle school
aged students dealing with mental health, self esteem, bullying, and social media. Tour performances were held at
middle schools and community organizations across Northern Michigan between late April and mid May.
(Click here for more information.)
In spring of 2019, Molly directed the first Social Injustice Project, a collaboration between
Thunder Bay Theatre, the Alpena High School Masquers Club, and Central Michigan University's Department
of Theatre and Dance. The Social Injustice Project is a reading series presenting plays
that highlight issues of social injustice.This spring, the collaborators presented
a staged reading of Bruce Norris' Clybourne Park.
Thunder Bay Theatre, the Alpena High School Masquers Club, and Central Michigan University's Department
of Theatre and Dance. The Social Injustice Project is a reading series presenting plays
that highlight issues of social injustice.This spring, the collaborators presented
a staged reading of Bruce Norris' Clybourne Park.
Molly served as the Managing Director of Thunder Bay Theatre in Alpena, Michigan throughout
2017 and 2018. Molly worked with the Administrative Team at Thunder Bay to lead out with grant writing,
fundraising, donor relations, marketing, and box office and building management.
(Learn more about Thunder Bay Theatre here.)
2017 and 2018. Molly worked with the Administrative Team at Thunder Bay to lead out with grant writing,
fundraising, donor relations, marketing, and box office and building management.
(Learn more about Thunder Bay Theatre here.)
In the fall of 2018, Molly directed Peter Pan at Thunder Bay Theatre in association with Alpena High School's
Masquers Club. Molly also served as puppet master for the production, which showcased 22 local
students and three actors from Thunder Bay's professional company.
Masquers Club. Molly also served as puppet master for the production, which showcased 22 local
students and three actors from Thunder Bay's professional company.
Through 2018, Molly developed TBT^2's first year of summer camp programs. That summer, TBT^2
offered three camps for children of all ages, for which Molly served as lead teaching artist.
offered three camps for children of all ages, for which Molly served as lead teaching artist.
In June of 2018, Molly taught a week of workshops for children and adults
with ProEnglish Theatre in Kiev, Ukraine.
with ProEnglish Theatre in Kiev, Ukraine.
In March of 2018, Molly made her professional debut directing Robin Hood at Thunder Bay Theatre
as a part of their 2018 TBT^2 Programming! Utilizing the techniques and characters of commedia dell'arte,
Molly led an ensemble of 23 local children and youth to bring the story of Robin Hood to life.
as a part of their 2018 TBT^2 Programming! Utilizing the techniques and characters of commedia dell'arte,
Molly led an ensemble of 23 local children and youth to bring the story of Robin Hood to life.
In January of 2018, Molly completed an intensive at Double Edge Theatre in Ashfield, Massachusetts.
In March of 2017, Molly directed Kander and Ebb's Cabaret with the Musical Theatre Collective at
Sarah Lawrence College. This production was extremely timely for both the SLC campus and
the United States at large, and it was focused on exploring our own involvement in political extremism.
(Learn more about the Musical Theatre Collective here.)
Sarah Lawrence College. This production was extremely timely for both the SLC campus and
the United States at large, and it was focused on exploring our own involvement in political extremism.
(Learn more about the Musical Theatre Collective here.)
In the fall of 2016, Molly assistant directed Macbeth at Sarah Lawrence College under
Broadway director Will Frears (Misery, 2015). This production of Shakespeare's classic centered around
current discussions of extremism, militarism, and technology. Macbeth was a mainstage production in the
Sarah Lawrence College Theatre Department's Fall Season.
Broadway director Will Frears (Misery, 2015). This production of Shakespeare's classic centered around
current discussions of extremism, militarism, and technology. Macbeth was a mainstage production in the
Sarah Lawrence College Theatre Department's Fall Season.