Joe Vago

The New Hampshire Theatre Awards (NHTA) Board of Directors proudly announce that Joe Vago will lead the creative team as Director for the 13th Annual New Hampshire Theatre Awards Show. Vago, a former NHTA Executive Director, has also served NHTA in myriad capacities for several multi-year terms. He has been involved in New Hampshire theatre for more than 23 years—as actor, director, technical director, and producer—and has participated in more than 70 theatrical productions. Vago also served New Thalian Players (NTP) as an incorporating Board Member, and as their First Vice-President, as well as having worked on more than a dozen of their productions. Vago is also a past President of Londonderry’s Music & Drama Company, and served as Technical Director for The Actorsingers of Nashua.

Joining Vago is Joel Mercier, who returns, for his seventh year, to tickle the ivories and wave the baton as NHTA’s Music Director. Mercier is a New England-based composer, director and music director, with credits from all over the country and with nationally recognized theatres, including Palace Theatre, New London Barn Playhouse, Northern Stage (VT), Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Great Lakes Theater (OH), and Goodspeed Opera House (CT). In New York City, Mercier has worked at The Duplex, Westbeth Theatre (Off-Broadway), and Nokia Theatre Times Square (Broadway). A graduate of The Hartt School of Music, Mercier served as Artistic Associate at New London Barn Playhouse for six seasons, a Guest Artist at Dartmouth College for the past four, and is currently the Artistic Director of the newly-founded NH Theatre Factory in Southern New Hampshire.

Joel Mercier

States NHTA Executive Director, Bryan Halperin, "We're very excited to have the show in the creative hands of Joe and Joel, who both have a lot of experience working on our Awards Shows. The NHTA team looks forward to bringing our entire theatre community together in celebration of New Hampshire's 2014 theatre season."  

Adds NHTA President, Gina Carballo, "My thought, when I look at who is at the helm, steering this ship toward our Awards Show gala, is that we have the perfect trifecta of talent in place. It's essential for me, as President, to be very clear, with anyone stepping into the creative positions for this show, about the course I want to take, and the desired end result. At the outset, Bryan, Joe, and Joel have been on board with my philosophy—that the NHTA body of membership is our primary focus always. I want our Awards Show to be a meaningful, positive and joyful experience for our members. It's not just about the awards; it's about our community.  Bryan, Joe, and Joel are each outstanding at what they do within this organization. They’re accomplished leaders who are driven and talented, each in their own right. To see them work, plan, and execute together is special, indeed. They're talented professionals who are eager to work hard in order to create something truly unique. It's inspiring to be around them individually, and even more so when they're together. As an organization, we're very lucky.”

NHTA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, registered with the Division of Charitable Trusts and Secretary of State. The NHTA has been formed and operates pursuant to and in accordance with RSA 292. The purpose of this organization is to provide professional and community theatres in New Hampshire the opportunity to showcase entertainment to audiences of all ages. For additional information and to learn more about the Awards presentation, contact us at Admin@NHTheatreAwards.org, or visit our website at www.NHTheatreAwards.org.