Big Mother
Cast Bios
Molly Bayer as Merrin
Molly Bayer is thrilled to return for a second season with Lopez Original Theater. While she enjoyed performing as a child, the pursuit was mostly abandoned in middle school, though she remained a lover of theater and performance throughout her entire life. Curiosity got the best of her in late 2024, when she attended an LOT actor’s workshop, and she’s been hooked ever since! Molly had the honor of playing Ophelia in the 2025 One-Act performance of Eggs, along with a few small roles for various workshop performances. She is grateful to be back with the ever-encouraging and inspiring troupe that is Lopez Original Theater!
Lys Yackley as Greta
Lys Yackley (they/them) holds a BFA in theater from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a focus on experimental, movement-based original work. They grew up acting and apprenticed with a professional Shakespeare theater in D.C. as a teenager. In New York City, Lys created and performed in devised and experimental plays, some of which were featured in the NYC Fringe Festival. Lys is grateful for their LOT collaborators and the opportunity to share and play together.
Crew Bios
Directed by Carrie Weaver
Carrie Weaver (they/them) still feels new to theater and is delighted to return for Lopez Original Theater’s third season! They debuted as an actor in Fall 2024 as Clara in Crazy Quilts, followed by Drew in Lagging Fall (Spring 2025), and Partner in Life, Love & Death (Fall 2025). They are most proud of their work as Sally Talley in San Juan Community Theater’s Summer 2026 production of Talley’s Folly. They also had the honor of seeing their first play Please Hold produced by LOT last Fall, and they are delighted to present to you Big Mother in their directorial debut tonight! If not for LOT, Carrie is confident they would still be floating through life having not discovered theater and the both seismic and subtle wonders it can do for a person. Thank you, LOT, for all the opportunities you have provided this theater neophyte!
Stage Managed by Megan Havner
Megan Havner is thrilled to make her directorial debut with Don’t Tell Scotty, written by Seattle playwright Monty Rozema. She has also been donning the hat of Stage Manager for the first time with Big Mother (2026), directed by Carrie Weaver. Megan is a writer first, having penned LOT works like The Convenience Store (2026 Reader’s Theater) and The Tutor (2024). Her prior theater experience goes back to her Seattle childhood, where she wrote two one-act plays for Ballard High School’s 24 Hour Plays. Her full-length play was picked by Macha Theatre Works through the Young Playwright Program for a staged reading. She also worked in props and stage crew while her brother worked lights and sound for their high school theater program. Megan is drawn to plays that use comedy to explore deep emotions and taboo subjects. As a director, her goal is to create a safe creative container for marginalized people to bring their voices to center stage.