What does Shrek do from 9-5? Did you know Pippin also bakes a mean pie? With this series I aim to answer those questions and more as I peek behind the curtain and learn all about our participants’ experience with AWT and take a glimpse into their robust lives outside of theater. It’s time for AWTea with Mary!

In this episode, we get the AWTea from Molly Shoemaker.

Mary: Welcome Welcome Welcome! Please introduce yourself in any way you like!

Molly: Hello! I’m Molly Shoemaker and I use she/her pronouns. 

Mary: Hi Molly! Thank you so much for talking with me! I’m excited to learn more about you! Many of us may know you as a member of the board at AWT, and frequent stage manager/director/participant, but I’m excited to learn non-AWT things about you too! What was your experience with theater prior to joining AWT?

Molly: Well, I grew up loving musical theater, especially Rodgers and Hammerstein, which led me to get involved in Children’s Theater. One year, I got “cast” as the stage manager, which was a real gut punch until I started doing the job. You mean I get to tell people what to do? Where to stand? I get to make lists? A whole new world of possibilities on the other side of the curtain was opened for me. I directed, stage managed, and produced shows through high school and college, and that’s still my favorite way to participate in AWT!

Mary: What an awesome way to look at it, I never thought about it like that! I also like to tell people what to do, maybe I should try out stage managing! 🙂 You’ve also developed your career around the theater as well, is that right? 

Molly: Yes, after college, I spent six years working at Signature Theater, an off-broadway theater company that focuses on honoring and celebrating the body of work of the playwright. I had a bunch of jobs there, from intern to eventually working in development (fundraising). Then 5 years ago, I pivoted to working in People Ops for a digital marketing agency that works with arts organizations. Different industry, but I’m still working with theater people (including my pals Madelyn Frascella and Adelaide Jenkins!) My first full time role at Signature was assisting the Artistic Director, Jim Houghton, and it was through Jim’s son Henry (fellow AWT participant) that I learned about Afterwork Theater!  

Mary: And then your AWT journey begins! 

  Molly: Yes, when Henry was cast in Anything Goes (alongside another coworker at the time), a group of us from work knew we had to see the show! I remember piling into the Sirovich auditorium (we used to perform shows there) and being seriously impressed with the buzz in the room. During the pre-show speech, it was announced that the next show was going to be Urinetown and I felt a little flutter in my heart – I had stage managed Urinetown in high school and was really excited by the prospect of being in a show. Then, the lights dimmed, and the overture (conducted by Brodway’s Ted Arthur) started to play – I was hooked. At intermission I raced into the lobby to sign up for Urinetown. 

Mary: That was always so exciting when we could get an audience member to join us! 

Molly: Well, I wish I could say the rest is history, but the truth is that I spent the next several months totally dreading my decision. It had been a LONG time since I appeared on stage (I spent all of high school, college, and beyond in backstage roles), and I was VERY nervous. In fact, the only reason I attended launch day is because I knew I wasn’t going to get my money back (lol).

In hindsight, it’s funny, because three of my best friends (Amanda Chin, Anya Ford, Meryl Salerno) and my fiance husband (Cody Wymore) were all in that production with me, but I wasn’t close to any of them until my second show at the earliest (Cody and I didn’t start dating until 3 years later!). I like to share this anecdote with newer participants who maybe feel like they haven’t found “their people” yet – sometimes it takes time! 

Mary: Beautiful. So at what point in the process did you start to feel more comfortable? 

Molly: Honestly, I didn’t feel SUPER comfortable until Urinetown closed. I think I was still kind of feeling it out, learning things about myself, etc. I took the next season off, but when I came back for Godspell I remember feeling – ok, I think I can do this now. And THEN the rest was history lol. 

Mary: Well we are so glad it worked out! AWT would certainly not be the same without you! So how many shows HAVE you participated in? 

Molly: 

Urinetown ‘15: Tiny Tom
Godspell ‘16: Ensemble
West Side Story ‘16: Detective Schrank
Footloose ‘17: Willard
Cabaret ‘18: Lulu
Peter and the Starcatcher ‘19: Alf
Sing Out: Act 1 Finales ‘19
High School Musical ‘19: Jack Scott
Dance Out: Love + War ‘22
Rent ‘22: Mark
Drowsy Chaperone ‘24: STAFF!

Mary: What a resume! Any memorable moments stand out?

Molly: I love telling the story about being recognized on the street during the run of Footloose. I was leaving Anya’s apartment in Harlem, and someone saw me and said – are you that dopey cowboy from Footloose?! I was in shock – nothing like that has ever happened to me. It was a friend of Anthony’s and I took a selfie with her!

Mary: That’s amazing! We will be sure to include the photo! Ok, let’s go beyond AWT. Tell me a little more about your life now. Where do you live? Where did you grow up? 

Molly: I grew up in North Haven, CT, and Greensboro, NC. I moved to NYC after college, where I lived in Brooklyn before moving to Forest Hills where I currently live. Many people know of Forest Hills because of the music stadium which hosts outdoor summer concerts. It’s a very neighborhood-y area, and it feels different from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you’re ever in the area (for a concert or otherwise), grab a sandwich at Mr. Cucina’s or a pastry at Bonelle. You won’t regret it!

Mary: Adding them to the list! What else do you do in your free time?

Molly: I love seeing as much theater as I can, and I want to see more amateur theater, especially school productions, so please hit me up if you work in a school and are selling tickets to a show! I also love writing letters, taking dance classes and buying things second hand! I especially LOVE buying Santas (and all sorts of Christmas decorations) second hand. I kinda love the idea that I have lots of bits and pieces from lots of different people as a part of my collection, and when I pass on, my collection will get mixed with someone else’s collection. Not to get too Toy Story, but maybe one day two Santas who shared a home previous to mine will be reunited! 

Mary: Don’t make me cry! I gave you a Santa that was my grandmothers and that makes me so happy to hear! You seem just really wise Molly, I love that about you, always looking to the positive. 

Molly: I do what I can. Recently I’ve been reflecting on how I just really love being in my 30s. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my 20s, but there’s something about my current phase of life where I just have stopped caring about a lot of things that used to bother me. Don’t get me wrong, I still have my moments, but I’m finding I’m less caught up in things like who likes or doesn’t like me or if what I’m wearing looks cool. Lowering the stakes in those ways makes life a lot more enjoyable!

Mary: That’s so great! Thank you so much for sharing a little glimpse into your life with me! To wrap it up, here are some rapid fire questions for you! Don’t think too hard!

 1. What is something you’ve done recently for the first time? 

Swapped to no waste solutions for wrapping presents

2. What makes you happiest right now? 

Starting my day by reading.

3. What superpower would you want if you could have any super power?

I think singing beautifully and healthfully is a superpower!

4. What’s your favorite stage show and/or dream role? 

Ado Annie #Oklahoma2020

5. What’s your favorite food? 

Chocolate

6. What’s your favorite karaoke song? 

Lose Yourself by Eminem

7. What’s your favorite dinosaur? 

Iguanadon #iykyk

8. What’s your favorite way to spend a sunday? (when there is no rehearsal 🙂 

Shop at the Forest Hill’s farmer’s market and see a movie.

9. What’s your zodiac sign and what’s the most “sign” thing about you? 

I’m an aquarius but I don’t really know anything about it! I did recently learn that it’s an air sign and NOT a water sign, which was pretty shocking.

10. What is a piece of advice you’d give to an AWT Newbie? 

Leave your preconceived notions at the door, and just let it all happen!