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BIO       COMPOSER & LYRICIST       ARRANGER & ORCHESTRATOR       MUSIC DIRECTOR       STAGE DIRECTOR
Awards:
• 2014 Cleveland Critics Award for Best Music Director,
     Les Misérables
(Great Lakes Theater)
• 2014 Abelman Award for Best Music Director,
     Les Misérables
(Great Lakes Theater)
• 2014 BroadwayWorld.com Cleveland Award
     Les Misérables
(Great Lakes Theater)
• 2012 NH Theatre Award for Best Music Director,
     Ragtime
(New London Barn Playhouse)
• 2011 NH Theatre Award for Best Music Director,
     The Drowsy Chaperone
(New London Barn Playhouse)
• 2010 NH Theatre Award for Best Music Director,
     The Pirates of Penzance
(New London Barn Playhouse)
• 2010 NH Theatre Award for Best Original Musical,
     A Christmas Carol 
(Concord Players)
• 2006 NH Theatre Award for Best Music Director,
     Hot Mikado
(New Thalian Players of SNHU)
• 2003 NH Theatre Award for Best Original Musical,
     Magic of Fairytales Little Red
(Palace Theatre)

Affiliations:
• Actors' Equity Association
• ASCAP

Relevant Positions:
• Artistic Associate & Resident Music Director,
     New London Barn Playhouse (2008 - 2013)
• Guest Artist & Instructor,
     Dartmouth Department of Theater (2011 - 2014)
• Board of Directors,
     NH Theatre Awards Association (2010 - current)
• Vice President,
     NH Theatre Awards Association (2015 - current)
• Artistic Director, NH Theatre Factory (2013 - current)
• Guest Director, Saint Anselm College (2016 - current)

Joel Mercier, a native of NH, received his degree in Music Theatre from the Hartt School of Music in West Hartford, CT. He then moved to New York City and pursued a career as a professional actor & musician. While in NY, Mercier's love for all aspects of musical theater led him down many different paths, working professionally as an actor, director, singer, vocal coach, pianist, music director, composer, arranger & copyist of sheet music.  Mercier has worked all over the country at summer stocks, regional theaters, and even a national tour covering a dozen different states. He has worked at numerous nationally recognized theaters including the Goodspeed Opera House in CT, Northern Stage in VT, Idaho Shakespeare Festival in ID, Great Lakes Theater in OH, the Palace Theatre in NH, American Music Theatre in PA, and both the Westbeth (Off-Broadway) and the Nokia Theatre Times Square in NYC.
In 2008, Mercier returned to NH to begin work at the New London Barn Playhouse in New London, NH as both the Resident Music Director and Artistic Associate, positions he held through 2013. Planting roots in NH, Mercier continued to build ties with local establishments such as Dartmouth College, the Palace Theatre, and the NH Theatre Awards Association, while still traveling as a freelancer during off time.
Mercier is currently the Artistic Director of the NH Theatre Factory, a small company in NH dedicated to bold interpretations and new works, a regular Music Director for both the Idaho Shakespeare Festival in Boise, ID and the Great Lakes Theater in Cleveland, OH, and guest Director at Saint Anselm College. Mercier's production of A Christmas Carol can be seen annually at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, NH and other works continue to be performed throughout New England.
Find out more about Joel's work in the following areas:
COMPOSER & LYRICIST               ARRANGER & ORCHESTRATOR

MUSIC DIRECTOR
                       STAGE DIRECTOR