Raye Lynn Mercer

Raye Lynn Mercer founded the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) in 1985. A graduate of Middlebury College, she attended the Vienna International Music Center in Vienna, Austria. Pianist, director, producer and choreographer, Raye Lynn has presented 30 seasons of musicals, plays, concerts and dance productions with FSPA and the community-based Franklin Performing Arts Company, established in 1991. Raye Lynn serves as Administrator of the school, oversees the FSPA Musical Theatre Conservatory and directs the international touring ensemble Electric Youth. Her school's student resumes include placement in top college and conservatory arts programs, Broadway shows, six national Broadway tours, eleven European concert tours, the American Idol finals and annual performances at Walt Disney World. Combining profession and hobby, Raye Lynn has directed Symphony of Horses productions across the country. President and Executive Director of the Franklin Performing Arts Company, Raye Lynn is the visionary behind the development of the new performance and event venue in Franklin, Massachusetts, THE BLACK BOX, which opened in 2014. Raye Lynn has also been seen onstage in productions of The Addams Family (Grandma), High School Musical (Ms. Darbus), You Can't Take it With You (Essie Carmichael), and more.