Jesse Merz

Jesse Merz (born November 15, 1973 in Hood River, Oregon) is an American actor, director, producer, writer, and professor.^[1] As an actor, he has appeared off-Broadway, in regional theatre, summer stock, feature films, in radio and in 120 cities in 34 states nationwide. He has directed more than 50 theatrical productions, which have included directing Tony winner Daisy Eagan in the new musical Suburban Dreams. He is the artistic director of the Columbia Gorge School of Theatre^[2] and former artistic director of Longview Stageworks^[3][4][5][6] He is a member of the Actors' Equity Association, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the Dramatists Guild, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, and the Voice and Speech Trainers Association.^[7] He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, where he studied at the Atlantic Theater Company and the Meisner Extension. He later received a Master of Arts degree in teaching with a drama endorsement from George Fox University. He also received a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from University of California, Davis.^[8][9] Currently, he is an Assistant Professor of Acting at Wayne State University.^[10]

He is currently writing a book on the acting technique of Sanford Meisner, entitled "The Meisner Interviews," for which he has already interviewed such Meisner experts as Lauri Peters, Dr. José Angel Santana, James Price, Suzanne Shepherd, Bill Esper of the William Esper Studio, with more interviews soon to follow.^[10] He also was a quoted in Dr. Jade Rosina McCutcheon's book, "Awakening the Performing Body."^[11]

Merz has been married to Laurel Merz since 2000 and is the father of Alana Fay (2003), Josephine Alice (2005) and Charlotte Janice (2008).^{[citation needed]} Merz is currently in pre-production on his first feature film with the working title Embraceable Me, which is he writing and producing. He is also producing a new musical, The Gospel According to Tammy Faye, in New York City about Tammy Faye Messner, directed by Mindy Cooper and starring Tony-nominee Sally Mayes.^[12][13][14]

Stage acting credits

Off-Broadway

• "The Phantom of the Opera" (David Spencer Version) Promenade Theatre (1997)
• "Machinal" Atlantic Theater Company (1994)
• "Good Evening" Atlantic Theater Company (1994)
• "The Frog and Peach" Atlantic Theater Company (1994)
• "Two Gentlemen of Verona" Atlantic Theater Company (1993)

Off-Off-Broadway

• "Jonestown" Snapple Theatre Center Studio (2009)
• "Wild Dogs" Manhattan Theatre Club Studio (2007)
• "Suburban Dreams" Producers Club Theatre II (1999)
• "Waiting in Oblivion" Intar Theatre (1999)
• "Fitting in on Saturn" Raw Space Theatre (1997)
• "Anton Chekhov's Vaudevilles" Abe Burrows Theatre (1996)
• "SF" Theatre 22 & Todo con Nada (1996–1997)^[15]
• "Arcadia" The Present Company (1996)
• "1920s Tribute" Frederick Loewe Theatre (1995)
• "Betrayal" Playwrights Horizons at NYU's Studio Theatre (1993)

National tours

• "Matyred: The Chet Bitterman Story" Wycliffe Theatre Productions 35 City Tour (2000)
• "The Phantom of the Opera" (David Spencer Version) Theatreworks USA 50 City Tour (1997)
• "From the Magic Pen: Aesop's Fables" Young People's Theatre Project 25 City Tour(1995)
• "Going Up" CenterStage USA Touring Company 11 City International Tour (1991)

Regional theatre

• "Measure for Measure" UC Davis Main Theatre (2008)^[16][17]
• "Nights at the Circus" Wyatt Pavilion Theatre (2008)
• "Urinetown" UC Davis Main Theatre (2007)^[18][19][11]
• "Myth, Propaganda and Disaster in Nazi Germany and Contemporary America" Mondavi Center Studio Theatre (2006)
• "Ophelia in Garland" (reading) Portland Center Stage (2006)
• "Footloose" Columbia Gorge Repertory Theatre (2005)
• "Crazy for You" Columbia Gorge Repertory Theatre (2003)
• "The Summer Project" Columbia Gorge Repertory Theatre (2003)
• "Forever Plaid" Longview Stageworks (2003)^[20][21]
• "Bye Bye Birdie" Longview Stageworks (2002)^[22]
• "The Merry Wives of Windsor" Columbia Gorge Repertory Theatre (2002)
• "Troilus and Cressida" Columbia Gorge Repertory Theatre (2001)
• "The Glass Menagerie" Longview Stageworks (2001)
• "See How They Run" Longview Stageworks (1999)
• "Into the Woods" Columbia Gorge Repertory Theatre (1999)
• "Once on This Island" Columbia Gorge Repertory Theatre (1998)
• "The Dancers" Columbia Gorge Repertory Theatre (1998)
• "Six Degrees of Separation" Portland Repertory Theatre (1995)
• "Baby" Lakewood Theatre Company (1994)
• "Grease" Broadway Rose Theatre Company (1991)
• "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Broadway Rose Theatre Company (1991)
• "Leader of the Pack" Sylvia's Dinner Theatre (1991)
• "Godspell" Lakewood Theatre Company (1990)

Stage directing credits

New York City

• "American Homefront" Manhattan Theatre Club Studio (2007)
• "Suburban Dreams" Musical Theatre Works & Producers Club Theatre II (1998–1999)
• "The Private Life of Sir Isaac Newton" Producers Club Theatre II & the Sanford Meisner Theatre (1999)^[23]
• "Tennis Anyone" Intar Theatre & The Theatre-Studio, Inc. (1999)
• "The Dialogue Between Men & Women" Intar Theatre (1999)

Regional theatre

• "The Best of Intentions" (also co-writer) Columbia Gorge Repertory Theatre (2005)
• "A Few Days Earlier" (also writer) Columbia Gorge Repertory Theatre (2004)
• "Les Misérables School Edition" Longview Stageworks (2003)^[24][25][26]
• "The Foreigner" Longview Stageworks (2002)^[27]
• "Jake's Women" Longview Stageworks (2002)^[28][29]
• "A Christmas Carol" Longview Stageworks (2002)
• "On Golden Pond" Longview Stageworks (2001)^[30]
• "Sylvia" Longview Stageworks (2000)
• "The Gin Game" Longview Stageworks (2000)
• many more

Film acting credits

• "The Green Piece" (2008)
• "Peel" (2007)
• "The Legend of the Tree of Life" (2006)
• "Party of the Year" (2005)
• "A Day at the Beach" (1998)
• "Forest of Dreams" (1996)
• "City of Roses" (1996)
• "Running" (1995)
• "Raw MacBeth" (1994)
• "If At First You Don't Succeed" (1994)
• "Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey" (1993)
• "Count Dracula" (1993)
• "Sonnet LXI" (1993)
• "Another Manhattan Sunset" (1993)
• "My Life's in Turnaround" (1993)
• "Frozen Assets" (1992)
• "My Own Private Idaho" (1991)
• "Deadly Game" (1991)
• "The Clock Ticks: It's a Matter of Time" (1990)^[31]

Film producing credits

• Embraceable Me (pre-production)^[32]

References

1. ^ "Jesse Merz Biography (1973–)". filmreference.com. November 15, 1973. http://www.filmreference.com/film/61/Jesse-Merz.html. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
2. ^ "Yakima Herald-Republic Online – Yakima, WA". Docs.newsbank.com. August 10, 2003. http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/YHRB/lib00691,0FCDE49C257859D9.html. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
3. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
4. ^ Buhain, Venice (October 14, 2002). "Longview veterinarian, humanitarian, dies at 45". Tdn.com. http://www.tdn.com/articles/2003/02/27/this_day/news03.txt. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
5. ^ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-44880810.html?refid=gg_x_02
6. ^ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-44880811.html
7. ^ [2]^{[dead link]}
8. ^ "Department of Theatre & Dance – About Us – Alumni". Theatredance.ucdavis.edu. March 23, 2011. http://theatredance.ucdavis.edu/aboutus/alumni.aspx. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
9. ^ http://www.eastcountynews.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=115446689122586900
10. ^ ^{a b} United States. "CFPCA – Profile". Theatre.wayne.edu. http://theatre.wayne.edu/profile.php?id=42785. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
11. ^ ^{a b} "Awakening the performing body – Jade Rosina McCutcheon – Google Books". Google Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=ajlg83lKyvkC&pg=PA68&lpg=PA68&dq=urinetown+%22jesse+merz%22&source=bl&ots=asN8Yvi-US&sig=zK8h9ZKOYZQ0ukMKPlilVErJenU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=12&ct=result. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
12. ^ "Expired Website". Tammyfayemusical.com. http://www.tammyfayemusical.com. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
13. ^ "'Gospel According to Tammy Faye' New Musical Reading Dec.16–18". Broadwayworld.com. December 5, 2007. http://broadwayworld.com/article/Gospel_According_to_Tammy_Faye_New_Musical_Reading_Dec1618_20071205. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
14. ^ "Mayes, Peck, Foldesi and More Set for Gospel According to Tammy Faye Presentations". Playbill. December 6, 2007. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/113324.html. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
15. ^ "SF". Judd Blaise. http://www.juddblaise.com/sf.html. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
16. ^ Sykes, Bev (May 20, 2008). ""Bitter Hack": Measure for Measure". Criticontheloose.blogspot.com. http://criticontheloose.blogspot.com/2008/05/measure-for-measure.html. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
17. ^ "Department of Theatre & Dance – Press Room Detail". Theatredance.ucdavis.edu. http://theatredance.ucdavis.edu/season/pressroom_detail.aspx?p=69. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
18. ^ "UC Davis News & Information :: Dateline :: THE ARTS: Toilet tycoon, New Music from Davis, Cradle-to-cradle design". Dateline.ucdavis.edu. May 25, 2007. http://www-dateline.ucdavis.edu/dl_detail.lasso?id=9556. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
19. ^ ""Bitter Hack": Urinetown". Criticontheloose.blogspot.com. May 28, 2007. http://criticontheloose.blogspot.com/2007/05/urinetown.html. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
20. ^ Press, Associated (October 14, 2002). "Task force looks at options to raise money for parks". Tdn.com. http://www.tdn.com/articles/2003/05/03/area_news/news05.txt. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
21. ^ Buhain, Venice (October 14, 2002). "Levy would beef up policing". Tdn.com. http://www.tdn.com/articles/2003/05/01/this_day/news01.txt. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
22. ^ Paulu, Tom (February 7, 2002). "New production of 'Bye Bye Birdie' brings 'danger' back to show". Tdn.com. http://www.tdn.com/articles/2002/02/07/news-52164.txt. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
23. ^ "The Private Life Of Sir Isaac Newton". Judd Blaise. http://www.juddblaise.com/the_private_life_of_sir_isa.html. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
24. ^ Buhain, Venice (October 14, 2002). "Levy would beef up policing". Tdn.com. http://www.tdn.com/articles/2003/02/13/this_day/news01.txt. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
25. ^ http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/ASDB/lib01973,1162114D8BB669C0.html
26. ^ Rice, Randi (October 14, 2002). "Sheriff canidates say drug problem key issue". Tdn.com. http://www.tdn.com/articles/2003/02/16/area_news/news02.txt. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
27. ^ "Into the Spotlight". Tdn.com. October 3, 2002. http://www.tdn.com/articles/2002/10/03/news-123399.txt. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
28. ^ Paulu, Tom (April 25, 2002). "Imaginary Comedy". Tdn.com. http://www.tdn.com/articles/2002/04/25/news-76194.txt. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
29. ^ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-52980411.html?refid=gg_x_02
30. ^ Paulu, Tom (October 3, 2001). "Director reinvents timeless classic". Tdn.com. http://www.tdn.com/articles/2001/10/03/news-4491.txt. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 
31. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581712/maindetails
32. ^ "Actor, Director, Theatre Professor – Home". Jesse Merz. http://www.jessemerz.com. Retrieved October 18, 2011. 

External links

• Jesse Merz at the Internet Movie Database
• Jesse Merz's official website

Persondata
Name	Merz, Jesse
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	November 15, 1973
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death