Merrie L. Davis
A Creative Producer, both New York and London, is a TONY & Olivier Award Winning Producer for: PARADE Winner of 2 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical 2023.
COMPANY – Broadway, Winner of 5 TONY Awards Including Best Revival of a Musical 2022.
COMPANY – West End, Winner of 4 Olivier Awards Including Best Musical Revival 2019.
The Museum of Broadway, Co-Producer.
ECLIPSED, 6 Tony Nominations, Gigi, the Musical, Himself and Nora, Robin & Me: My Little Spark of Madness.
Upcoming shows: The Who’s TOMMY, CABARET, Working Girl.
Across the Pond: Farewell Mister Haffmann, Dr. Semmelweis, The Ocean at The End Of The Lane, The Crucible, A Strange Loop, The King & I – Tour.
Merrie has been investing and/or raising money for shows such as: Dear Evan Hansen, To Kill a Mockingbird, Moulin Rouge, and Come from Away among others. In addition to producing, she is an “Out of the Box” Marketer who founded Next Act 2 Follow, a Producing and Marketing Company, utilizing her unique marketing skills and introducing inventive ideas to the Broadway scene for shows including, Allegiance and 39 Steps.
About
SHOWS
The WHO’S TOMMY, on Broadway — 2024 TONY nominee for Best Revival of a Musical
Top, Clockwise: Yours Truly with Ali Louis Bourzgui — ألف شكر @ali.louis — who has taken on the role of TOMMY and is doing an excellent job of making it his own. As Des McAnuff, I#desmcanuff, the director was quoted as saying. during a TV interview with Ali, “he is wise beyond his years”..and he is only 24.
The experience of working on TOMMY from day 1 at our Meet & Greet had everyone who was working on the show in the rehearsal space introduced…it was the start of a family of people coming together for a common cause…to make the Who’s TOMMY a “True Sensation” and it is.
The cast had been working together in the GOODMAN theater in Chicago, so when we all met in the rehearsal space, there was already such a cohesive feeling to the cast. The chemistry and camaraderie was palpable. When seeing a show,, I always look for the chemistry between the cast for if they have it on the stage, then the cast connects with the audience and the show is a success. The chemistry I saw on the stage with this cast, was truly palpable, and that is what the Who’s TOMMY audiences can feel, each night.
When you walk out of the theater after seeing the show, you can’t help but start humming one of the many memorable songs you’ve just heard. Another sign of a successful show.
Right: A Collage of The Who’s TOMMY Family and Friends at the show’s opening night and party.
Top: Red Carpet Ready…at The Who’s TOMMY opening… Joining me, Robin Gorman Newman and Barbara Gallay
PARADE, TONY for Best Revival of a Musical, 2022-2023
PARADE was a show that continues to have a tremendous impact on me. I was thrilled to be part of the Producing team of PARADE as it was one of the most incredibly moving and heartwarming love stories, set against a sinister backdrop of ungodly evil. The “Amazing Talents” of Alfred Uhry, Jason Robert Brown, and Michael Arden were fully realized on the stage!!!
The difficulties Lucille and Leo Frank faced, brought them together and truly made them stronger as a couple. Micaela Diamond and Ben Platt brought them to life in such an extraordinary way. The entire cast and crew were just superb. I’ve been listening to the cast album since the show closed and it has kept the story alive for me.
My association with PARADE has inspired me to get involved with other shows of that genre. The latest one being FAREWELL MISTER HAFFMANN, which opened at the Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath, UK, to wonderful reviews, and ran through September 23, 2023. The plan would then be to go to London’s West End, or tour and then possibly go to the US.
On Stage at the Tony’s as PARADE just won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical 2022-2023, the excitement was palpable.
..Left: A Collage of PARADE’s Family and Friends at the Exciting Tony Awards Night Celebration.
PARADE, Opening Day March 16, 2023
Clockwise – from top: The incredible Creative Team that helped make PARADE a huge success: Michael Arden, Director, Alfred Uhry, Book Writer and Jason Robert Brown, Music & Lyrics.
…Right, Micaela Diamond & Ben Platt, (Lucille & Leo Frank), having fun on the Red Carpet Opening Night of PARADE.
… And Yours Truly, Merrie L. Davis in front of PARADE’s Marquee at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre on the opening night. So proud to be part of the Producing team that helped bring PARADE and its important message to Broadway.
…A Collage of PARADE’s Family and Friends at the show’s opening night and party.
PARADE, Closing Day August 6, 2023
Clockwise – from top: Micaela Diamond is as lovely and engaging in person as she is on stage.
…Micaela Diamond as Lucille and Ben Platt as Leo Frank, with Jason Robert Brown who wrote the amazing Music and Lyrics. They all received standing ovations from an audience that wouldn’t stop applauding.
…Could Alfed Uhry be sharing a secret with me…His next book title???
…A Collage of PARADE’s Family and Friends celebrating, PARADE’s closing night party… with both, sadness and joy. Sadness, that the show was closing; but absolute joy in the fact that we could share this incredibly moving and important show with the world.
COMPANY, Broadway 2020–2022
COMPANY, Broadway originally opened for previews March 2, 2020. It was set to have its opening night, March 22, 2020, but the Pandemic had other ideas. Our show waited in the wings for 1 ½ years for Broadway to reopen…and we know, “we all wanted and needed COMPANY more than ever!!!” It finally opened December 9, 2021 to rave reviews, and its success continued till it culminated at the Tony Awards in June when COMPANY took home 5 Tony awards, including Best Revival of a Musical 2022.
COMPANY, West End, 2018 — Winner of 4 Olivier awards including Best Musical Revival 2019.
Above from left to right: Marianne Elliot, Director, of COMPANY at the cast Meet & Greet, January 6, 2020… getting ready to start rehearsals for COMPANY’s opening on Broadway March 22, 2020. She is the Olivier and Tony Award winning directorial genius behind COMPANY and many other shows such as Angels in America, War Horse and Curious Incident of the Dog In The Nighttime.
… Opening Preview night party with Producer friends, from left to right, Jim Kierstead, Merrie L. Davis, Marc Levine, Sue Gilad and Larry Rogowsky.
… And Yours Truly, Merrie L. Davis with “balloons in tow”… in front of COMPANY’s Marquee at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre on the opening night of Previews… and yes, we were in the company of Stephen Sondheim.
COMPANY, West End–2018
–Winner of 4 Olivier Awards including Best Musical Revival 2019.
Above from left to right: Marianne Elliott, Director and Merrie L. Davis, Producer celebrating COMPANY’s opening night in London at the Gielgud Theatre October 17, 2018.
… Everyone was on such a high from the great opening night performance including the show-stopping Patti LuPone, Merrie L. Davis, Producer, Catherine Schreiber and Chris Harper, Lead Producers.
… Merrie standing on the steps leading to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall where COMPANY had just won 4 Olivier Awards at the 2019 ceremony held April 7… Our winners were: Patti LuPone for Best Supporting Actress, Jonathan Bailey, Best Supporting Actor, Bunny Christie, Best Set Designer, and COMPANY for Best Musical Revival.
Museum of Broadway (MOB), NYC-2022
The hottest new must-see experience in NYC
Go behind-the-scenes in over 26,000 square feet of an interactive and experiential Museum that takes visitors of all ages on an exciting journey from the birth of Broadway to present day. This journey includes a sneak peek behind the curtain into the making of a Broadway show, with insider information and hundreds of exclusive artifacts you can only see at the Museum of Broadway.
We have teamed up with internationally renowned artists, designers, and theater historians to create an interactive experience highlighting groundbreaking moments in Broadway’s history. These moments pushed creative boundaries, challenged social norms, and paved the way for those who would follow. Step inside the scenes and immerse yourself in the magic of theatre at the Museum of Broadway.
Above, Artistic rendering of Times Square buildings that was created for the Museum of Broadway and was made up from the names of all the Co-Founders, Co-Producers and investors who raised the money for the MOB.
James Nederlander Jr. joins me inside the Museum of Broadway right after the ribbon cutting. He Is the President of the Nederlander organization… a theater owner, operator, producer, and presenter.
Exciting day for the Museum of Broadway’s official opening, November 15, 2022 at 145 W. 45th St. in New York City. Founders Julie Boardman and Diane Nicoletti join Mayor Adams and other dignitaries during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 26,000 square-foot museum covering the past, present and future of Broadway.
… Below: Ben West is a Musical Theatre Artist and Historian. For the Museum of Broadway in New York City, he created 20 Timeline Walls tracing the history of the Broadway stage from the 1700s to the present day. He has worked in various capacities on Broadway, off- Broadway and regionally. His work has also been seen in Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series. He is a recipient of Lincoln Center’s Martin E. Segal Award.
The two groups of women, the Divas & LWLT (Ladies Who Launched Theatricals) against the red Broadway wall.
…Left: It was such an exciting night at the Ziegfeld Ballroom celebrating the opening of the Museum of Broadway, a vision Julie Boardman and Diane Nicoletti, the Co-Founders, had many years ago. It took “a village and then some” to make this incredible Museum come to life. It’s a must-see when coming to New York, you’ll be glad you did. If you’re a theater lover you’ll adore it, if you are not one yet, you’ll definitely become one.
The Photo Ops are so many and so unique, I’ve included a number of them to whet your appetite, and entice you to come and have loads of fun touring the Museum of Broadway...
Gigi, The Musical–2015
Gigi, the Musical opened April 8, 2015 at the Neil Simon Theater with Corey Cott as Gaston and Vanessa Hudgens as Gigi in the revival of this Lerner and Loewe musical, set in La Belle Époque Paris. They shared the stage with veteran actors, Victoria Clark as Grandmother Mamita and Dee Hoty as Aunt Alicia. The set was magnificently designed by Derek McLane and the actors were dressed in Catherine Zuber’s elegant costumes, while dancing to Joshua Bergasse’s incredible choreography.
Above from left to right: Jenna Segal, Lead Producer Gigi, the Musical and Merrie L. Davis, Producer at the Opening Night of Gigi at the Neil Simon Theatre.
… Victoria Clark, Vanessa Hudgens, and Corey Cott sharing a special moment on the red carpet at the opening night of Gigi, the Musical.
… Pat Addiss, Producer and Merrie L. Davis, Producer, during the Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall, celebrating Gigi’s performance.
ECLIPSED–2016
ECLIPSED is a play written by Danai Gurira. It takes place in 2003 and tells the story of five Liberian women and their tale of survival near the end of the Second Liberian Civil War. It became the first play with an all-African American female cast to premiere on Broadway.
Above from left to right: Alia Jones-Harvey and Stephen Byrd Lead Producers; Liesl Tommy, Director; Clint Ramos, Costume & Set Designer and several members of the extraordinary cast. ECLIPSED received 6 Tony Award nominations in 2016, including Best Play, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Director, Best Costume Design and 2 cast members for Best Featured Actress in a Play — “and it turns out those nominations were history-making”.
… Lupita Nyong’o Tony Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play and Merrie L. Davis, Producer celebrating opening night.
… Pascal Armand, Tony Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role, Lupita Nyong’o and Akosua Busia. The entire cast and their superb acting gave life to this challenging time in history and mesmerized the audiences night after night.
Himself and Nora–2016
Himself and Nora is one of the world’s great romances.
Himself: an internationally acclaimed author, whose words awakened the world. Nora: the chambermaid, whose passion and acerbic wit ignited the genius of James Joyce.
Ripped from pages of their intimate life together and inspired by their Irish roots, Himself and Nora is “the lively, sometimes lusty, spin through the love life, troubles and literary times of the great Irish writer” (NY Times). Starring Matt Bogart (Jersey Boys, Miss Saigon) Whitney Bashor (Bridges of Madison County) and written by Jonathan Brielle, this untold story is a scintillating exposé that opens a window into an unconventional and passionate love affair which changed literature forever.
Above from left to right: Opening night June 6, 2016, Matt Bogart as James Joyce and Whitney Bashor as Nora — the chemistry was palpable, they made Joyce’s story “come alive” with incredible intensity. Absolutely delightful.
… Merrie L. Davis, Producer Opening night red carpet at the Minetta Lane Theater.
… Lianne Marie Dobbs (Sylvia Beach) and Michael McCormick, (Ezra Pound) were perfect together and added just the right comedic touch to complement this delightful musical.