New Executive Director Joins Jean's Playhouse in New Hampshire

Jean's Playhouse, NH's premier professional theater in the north country, has announced the hiring of new leadership for the company.

Joel Mercier, current Producing Artistic Director of the NH Theatre Factory and Resident Staff of the Great Lakes Theatre and Idaho Shakespeare Festival, will be stepping into Jean's spotlight as the new Executive Director.

Joel Mercier, originally a native of Auburn, NH, has spent the last decade or so working all over the country at notable theaters such as the Goodspeed Opera House in CT, Northern Stage in VT, the Idaho Shakespeare Festival in ID, the Great Lakes Theatre in OH, American Music Theatre in PA, and NYC's Duplex, Westbeth Off-Broadway & Nokia Theatre Times Square. Mercier returned to NH, part time, back in 2008 to become Artistic Associate of the New London Barn Playhouse and Guest Artist at Dartmouth College. In 2013, Mercier founded the NH Theatre Factory, a company in Southern NH that produces lesser known works, original pieces, and a thriving education program linking youth performers with out-of-state industry professionals.

At the top of Mercier's list of companies he's worked with is none other than the NCCA Papermill Theatre, the former name of Jean's Playhouse before opening their new venue. "It was my first job out of college," recalls Mercier, "I was still an actor back then before I switched over to directing and administration, and the Papermill hired me to play Cogsworth in their production of Disney's Beauty & the Beast. Hands down it was my favorite summer experience as an actor." Mercier is ecstatic to be rejoining the company where he got his professional start. "It was such a beautiful area to spend a summer and such an energized and supportive community. I can't wait to jump back in and continue building upon the rich experience I received when I was younger."

Mercier will be joining Artistic Director Sharon Paquette to continue the excellent work at Jean's Playhouse and to work towards a vision for the next phase of the company's development. "With their new venue the sky is the limit," says Mercier, "I look forward to working with the Board of Trustees, the current staff, and the north country community to bring Jean's Playhouse to the next level."

Jean's Playhouse is a non-profit performing arts center that operates the professional Papermill Theatre and IMPACT Children's Theatre Companies in the summer and fall and the community Playhouse Players and Jean's Teens theatre companies in the winter and spring. Jean's Playhouse also offers a limited year-round guest artist series of magicians, comedians and musicians. Jean's Playhouse is located at 34 Papermill Drive in Lincoln, adjacent to RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain (newly opened!) off I-93 Exit 32. Visit JeansPlayhouse.com or call 603-745-2141 for more information.

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