Tony-Nominated Set and Costume Designer G.W. Mercier Has Passed Away at 66

G.W. "Skip" Mercier (1954 - 2021) of Rowayton, CT-Skip to his many loving friends, students, and relations-died at home March 11th in the company of his family, of pancreatic cancer. He was born July 20th, 1954 in Methuen, MA to George and Margaret Condon Mercier and was raised in Haverhill, MA. Under the guidance of Professor Henry May he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Dramatic Art from the University of California at Berkeley, then earned an MFA from the Yale School of Drama, where he was inspired by Dean Lloyd Richards and was named an Oenslager Scholar.

From his graduation in 1983 to his death, Skip designed nearly 400 shows for the stage. As a Resident Designer for the National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT, he collaborated on such seminal works as August Wilson's Fences. His popular work for children includes Rugrats: A Live Adventure, which toured on three continents, and Finding Nemo - The Musical, which has run five times a day at Walt Disney World since opening in 2007. He earned countless awards and nominations throughout his career, including the Bay Area Critics Award and numerous Drama Desk nominations.

Skip's first New York production, Lemon Sky starring Jeff Daniels and Cynthia Nixon, received praise from Frank Rich of the New York Times, who applauded his "scrims, as gauzy with color as a Morris Louis canvas." On Broadway he designed the sets and costumes for Juan Darién: A Carnival Mass by Julie Taymor and Elliot Goldenthal, for which he received a Tony nomination for Best Scenic Design. Recent productions included Old Hats by Bill Irwin and David Shiner and Head of Passes by Tarell McCraney.

On the screen, Skip's production designs included the ACE Award-winning television series Eureeka's Castle for Nickelodeon, the feature film Southie, and the film Fool's Fire for PBS's American Playhouse.

Skip felt a duty to pay forward his own early mentorship, and inspired and challenged young designers throughout a lifelong teaching career, including positions at the O'Neill and the University of Washington, Seattle. He loved teaching and developed close bonds with many of his students, to whom he emphasized clarity in visual communication and collaboration in the theater.

He is survived by his husband and lifelong partner Robert Frazier, his daughter Molly and son Wil, his brother Michael, and his grandson Jack Mercier Webb. He also leaves behind a legion of devoted extended family, friends, colleagues, and students. Everyone who came into contact with Skip was swept away by his infectious laugh, marveled at the colors he saw in the world, and will feel his passing keenly.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Actors Fund.