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It is almost impossible to fathom that it is already September — and that Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, that steadfast community pillar, is about to enter its 49th season. This Thursday, their opening play, Cry It Out, takes center stage at the legendary Alvina Krause Theatre, in the heart of Bloomsburg: in the heart of the only town in Pennsylvania.

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This past weekend, BTE opened its rehearsal hall for a first-of-its-kind community preview of Season 49, including a late-1970s public-access interview with Alvina Krause and a sneak peek of Cry It Out at the theatre that bears her name.

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Cry It Out by Molly Smith Metzler follows three women, all new mothers, as they navigate the sea of motherhood — and everything in between. Running September 10 through October 3, 2026, this heartfelt production is poised to pull the full spectrum of human emotion from its audiences. It should surprise no one how much dedication the on- and off-stage cast and crew of BTE have brought to this emotionally charged piece of art. (The timing of the play against real-world events could not have been planned — a point that came up during the community tour.)

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Without further ado – here is the show’s official press release:

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“BLOOMSBURG, PA – August 26 – Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble will open its 49th season with the play, Cry It Out by Molly Smith-Metzler, which will run from September 10th – 20th and then tour across the region from September 24th through October 3rd.

Cry It Out follows the interlocking stories of three new mothers as they navigate expectations, work, finances, and sense-of-self. BTE Resident Artist and Director Aaron White hopes the show will open up conversations about postpartum health, particularly postpartum depression, and help new parents find support. “Being a new parent can feel impossible,” said White, who is a father. “Each new mother’s journey is different and challenging in its own way. New moms need a community to raise a childand do not need to suffer through challenges alone.”

Metzler’s script makes clear the importance of connection in the months following childbirth. The show’s main characters, fellow new moms Jessie (BTE Resident Artist Kimie Muroya) and Lina (BTE Resident Artist Amy Rene Byrne), come to depend on their rendezvous in their adjoining backyards to process their complicated feelings about returning to work, family life, and economic pressures.

Their rendezvous are so successful that they catch the attention of an ultra-rich neighbor (BTE Guest Actor Billy Martel) who asks them to invite his wife, Adrienne (BTE Resident Artist Abigail Leffler), who is struggling with postpartum depression, to their meetings.

“As someone who has/is still going through what it is to be a working mom, every singlequestion this show poses is one that I’ve wrestled with,” said Bryne. “I want to spendevery moment with my kid. I also want to continue my career that I’ve worked really hardto create. I also can’t afford to not work. There have been changes in my relationshipwith my husband since becoming parents. I have had to wrestle mightily with the generational trauma that I carry with me every day and the indelible imprint that it has left on me.”

To help provide new parents with resources, BTE is launching initiatives to coincide with the show’s run. Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble is partnering with the Bloomsburg YMCA Community Resource Hub to host a diaper drive during all nine performances. All donations will benefit parents serviced by the YMCA.

Audiences will also be able to connect with maternal health and family-related organizations at information tables in the BTE lobby before and after each performance. This includes the Community Resource Hub, Women’s Resource Center, Susquehanna Kids, and CMUS Behavioral Health and Development Services.

BTE is also hosting a Baby Sensory Friendly Performance, which is designed to foster community amongst new parents and eliminate barriers to childcare and the new parent protective instinct. During this performance, you can expect a relaxed, lower-volume, lights-adjusted environment where babies are welcomed to be babies — no shushing! BTE will host this experience during the matinee performance on September 13th.

Additionally, there will be three affinity performances designed to encourage communities to experience the show together:

• New Mom Night (Sept. 11): Encourages moms to come as they are and be in a room full of people who get it. Stick around after the performance for a 30-minute talkback with a women’s health professional and experienced moms.
• Girls Night (Sept. 12): Grab your people who’ve been through it with you for a good laugh or wince.
• Parent’s Night (Sept. 19): Designed to offer parents a date night out. BTE will partner with the Bloomsburg YMCA to offer free babysitting services during the evening performance. Parents must register in advance; walk-ups are not accepted. There will also be a Managing Parenthood and Self post-show discussion facilitated by a mental health and mom professional.

Cry It Out will have a preview performance on Thursday, September 10th and officially opens on Friday, September 11th. Both performances start at 7:30 PM.

There are evening performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays with 2:00 PM matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday. After Cry It Out finishes its run on the Alvina Krause Theatre stage, it will tour the Greater Susquehanna Valley from September 24th – October 3rd.

For performance tickets or additional tour information, visit https://www.bte.org/cry-it-out.

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Cry It Out runs September 10–October 3 at the Alvina Krause Theatre. Opening night, September 11, is sold out. Seating is limited to 96 for the onstage black-box setup. Runtime is about 1 hour 35 minutes, plus a 15-minute intermission.

See you at the theatre!