G. W. "Skip" Mercier
Tony-Nominated Set and Costume Designer, Dies at 66.
G.W. Mercier 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 Tyrell 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.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Hour on Mar. 15, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for G. Mercier

Sponsored by Lawrence Funeral Home - Darien.

15 Entries

Will Dunne

June 27, 2023

I worked with Skip on three of my plays at the O'Neill. He knew how to ask the kinds of questions that open doors to new ideas and insights. After a meeting with him, I would come away with a greater appreciation of the art of set design and a more grounded understanding of the specific world my characters inhabited. Thank you, Skip, for all of that plus your kindness, wit, and laughter. May you rest in peace after giving so much to so many.

Hylands/Reed @315 Rowayton Ave

Planted Trees

Will Dunne

April 12, 2021

Skip’s passing is a great loss to the theatre community. He was a wonderful and insightful artist whose questions about set design at the O’Neill helped me learn a lot about my plays.

Louisa Thompson Pregerson

March 25, 2021

Dear Rob and Family,
Always Skip is on my mind when I begin a project- and he will forever be.
His voice, smile, and completely to the point wisdom always reminds me to sharpen my tools and open my heart to the work. I will say I have spend years aspiring to Skips energy- endless, boundless, generous, infectious. His belief in humans making theatre for other humans was as pure as it gets...and his ability to see that light in others something divine.

As you know Skip took me under his wing for a good year after grad school- a gift of stability and practice in hindsight. His rigor with his work, his commitment to his collaborators, and his deep deep investment in his projects modeled for me what this work in the theatre is really about. He was a total artist, investing his full self- not just doing a job but living the life that work demanded. I remember laughing, working long hours, erasing alot (we had erasers then), and learning and learning with him. The conversations we had while working always dug deep- got personal- and also hilarious. I have always wanted to hear more of his stories and his personal insight into life, love, and how to keep working no matter what. And the ever flowing love he had for his children, family, and friends filled these conversations with a total person weaving all parts of life into a truly amazing tapestry.

So many have been influenced by Skip and I think how lucky we are all to have had this chance- because Skip took the time to really listen and see the young designers and push us. His belief and confidence really was a huge check in the bank and his warmth made the whole business of getting up and doing this work seem completely possible. He always seemed 10 steps ahead of everyone in the room, patiently waiting for us all to catch up...but also leading the way.

I hope I can help in any way desired create a celebration of Skips work and his great artistry for all to experience someday - I continue to return to Skip in my heart and mind- in my hand when I draw- in the classroom when I teach- making life decisions-juggling- will continue to meditate on Skips completely sharp observations and questions...even while wishing for more time

With love for you all and incredible sadness for the loss of Skip

Louisa

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Joel Halfhill

March 17, 2021

I met Skip as my daughter's professor and mentor at University of Washington. I am forever grateful for his treatment, compassion and mentorship of my daughter. Rest in Peace

Aliyah

March 17, 2021

I was signed up for Skip's Drama 215 class next quarter and I was beyond excited to learn from him and get to experience his joy and passion for teaching that so many people told me about. It deeply saddens me that he was taken too soon. Sending love and my condolences to his friends and family during this time. Even though I was not able to have the pleasure to have him as my professor, I know he was amazing and a ray of light amongst the University of Washington's campus.

Ludmila Cardoso de Brito

March 16, 2021

Skip thank you so much for your warmth and for your wisdom, forever grateful to you!

Michele and Rob

March 16, 2021

We still can’t believe you’re gone, Skip. You could make anyone laugh, and added sparkle wherever you went. You were kind, caring and honest. Such incredible talent. “Soph!”
Rob, Molly, Wil, Michael, and Jack, we send love and light to you. Holding you in our hearts.
Skip, you will live in our hearts, and the hearts of so many, forever. 40 years of friendship... see you down the road, dear friend.

Rachel

March 15, 2021

Skip unequivocally altered the course of my life for the better. The last time I spoke with him he said, “It is a joy inspiring and provoking you - which I will continue forever.” Regardless of time and space, that has been true thus far and I know, wholly, that that will be true the rest of my days. The Beyond has gained my mentor, dear friend, and mensch. I will spend the rest of my life digging into the details, scrutinizing my perspective, and trying to emulate that twinkle in his eye before he delivered a bit of his tremendous humor or a well intentioned kick in the pants. Until we meet again (and I am certain we will). Sending love to his family and close friends- his loss is felt far beyond words can fathom.

Tina Charney

March 15, 2021

This is for Molly, Wil, and Rob, and also for all the colleague/friends who shared so many summers with Skip at the O’Neill Playwrights Conference. I, too, lived for several summers in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s in the Farmhouse, where I (as the lighting designer) took a seat on the porch railing while we (designers, director, and dramaturge) met with each playwright, a meeting that – as Skip often pointed out – too rarely happened in the professional theater in the real world. Over those summers, we were colleagues and good friends.

Skip usually took the lead in those meetings, and we trusted him to put nervous playwrights at ease and to help them express the heart of their play. We all learned – from Skip -- how to ask the questions. “What do you see in this place? What do you see outside? Why are we in this space? What do we feel?” He told the playwrights not to “design” the sets, lights, and costumes, but to illuminate for us what they want the audience to see and feel and know when they experience the play. Then, working with just the simple metal frame “modules” and his evocative sketches, Skip helped to bring the play visually to life, often inspiring further insights and conversations. Many of the playwrights said later that the porch design meeting was one of the most helpful conversations they had had at the Playwrights Conference.

Molly and Wil, I will also always remember the day Skip came into my room in the farmhouse, sank to the floor, and said with complete awe and happiness that “I’m going to be a dad!” When Molly was born, he brought her to the farmhouse sometimes to take care of her while he worked and to share his joy in her with his farmhouse friends. He was just as elated to tell me later of the arrival of Wil.

Victor Torchia

March 15, 2021

Skip was a truly special individual and I had a wonderful opportunity to be with him in Los Angeles at the preview of a new show that he was putting together. A very kind and loving individual who always treated you as though you were his best friend God bless him. Amen

mario mercier

March 15, 2021

The Mercier Association of America offers you their deepest condolences, following the death
of G.W. Mercier
Truly.

Mario Mercier

www.famillesmercier.org

Bill Irwin

March 15, 2021

Robert Molly and Wil -- and all who loved Skip. Hearts are with you. Skip was the most radiant spirit, and the easiest soul to meet in collaboration, that I ever met. His memory is strong strong strong . .

Bill Irwin

March 15, 2021

Robert, Molly and Will -- and all who loved Skip: Bill Irwin here, sending word that my heart is with you. Skip was the most radiant spirit and the easiest soul to meet in collaboration that I ever met in our fraught business. We will watch for ways to honor him.

Rob Kaplowitz

March 15, 2021

How do I begin?

Skip would say, “Walk me into the room where you want your story to be told”

I’m looking at the wooden porch of a farmhouse on a former estate in south-central Connecticut. It’s an old farmhouse, whitewashed and peeling, and the porch is far from fancy – not a southern estate porch, but it’s got shade and wood-planked floors, and room for a circle of chairs that accommodates the 6 of us comfortably. Skip is at the point of the circle – the person leading the dialogue, without making it about him. With us are another now-lifelong friend, lighting designer Jane Cox, director Steven Williford, writer Ron Fitzgerald, and maybe a dramaturg – maybe not – but I’m seeing Max Wilk on that porch with us. And while he guides this meeting, he is also, unbeknownst to him, teaching me everything I needed to learn to become a grown-up sound designer. We are going fishing inside Ron’s head, discovering the texture, shape, color, sound of a world he’s invented without being fully conscious of that invention.

Skip taught me to have immense faith in the minds of the artists around me. He taught me that, while they may not have thought directly about the design aspects of a show, the playwrights knew them – they just needed a focused listener to ask them some useful questions that would help reveal these details. And that changed me as a person, not just a designer – I learned not to listen awaiting the opportunity for my expertise to jump in, but to listen and help the speaker expand, dig deeper, share what they might not have known was there. Skip would have been a fantastic therapist, to be honest.

We lived in that farmhouse for 4 summers – he at one end (in an admittedly nicer room – he could go to the bathroom without going through someone else’s bedroom) and I at the other. We were the unofficial “dorm dads” for a building of early career stagehands, stage managers, and designers. No drama, just a pair of (slightly) older folks who were there to talk art, buy rounds, and help these early career folks see some of the possibilities. That wasn’t our job, of course – we were there to design sets and sound. But that was what Skip did, so that was what I did.

He was only the second “grown up” designer friends whose life I got to see from the inside. I met his kids and husband, and saw that familial love was possible for a designer working 15 shows a year. I learned about his home life and his history, and how he navigated the complexity of a freelance career. I learned a lot about how to be an adult from Skip.

I can also walk into a very different room and see him. We are enjoying pre-dinner martinis at a VERY nice restaurant in Georgetown. I’d just come down to the Kennedy Center College Theater Festival for my first full week of leading a Masterclass there, something Skip’d been doing for years. Gregg Henry had met me with an envelope - a hotel key and my per-diem in cash. I’ve never gotten per diem in cash before. Immediately after I drop my bag, my phone rings – Skip, wanting to know if I want to get dinner. We resolve to blow our combined per-diems on a meal, and we are doing a very good job of it. I’m 27, and buying myself the kind of dinner I had only had in the past with the well-to-do parents of friends. We are laughing, and kvetching, and I am in amazing company. I’m pretty sure I spent more than my per diem that night; I’ve never regretted it.

Skip had dreams and visions that changed the way American theater was imagined. He had brilliant projects he got to realize (like Flock), and some he didn’t. He had frustrations, like all of us, and love, ambitions and flaws, kindness and patience. He was a mentor, he was a colleague, and, more than anything, he was a friend. Not a facebook friend, or even a work-friend. A friend-friend. And while he will always live on in the movies of my mind, in the hundreds of lives he touched, in the memories of so many many grateful artists, I wish he was still alive in person. I wish I had known he was sick. I wish I could have hugged him one more time.

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