Mercury Musical Developments

Mercury Musical Developments (MMD) is a writer-based arts organisation in the United Kingdom dedicated to developing new writing in musical theatre.[1] Founded in 1992[2][3] as the Mercury Workshop, it took on its present name when it merged in 1999 with the New Musicals Alliance. It now has over 260 members.[1]

Mercury Musical Developments
AbbreviationMMD
MottoNurturing new musical theatre writing
Formation1992
Legal statusRegistered charity
HeadquartersLondon
Location
Region served
United Kingdom
Executive Director
Emily Gray
Websitemercurymusicals.com

MMD is based at the Ambassadors Theatre in London's West End. Its Executive Director is Victoria Saxton who succeeded Neil Marcus, previously Artistic Director at the Jermyn Street Theatre, in 2015. Neil Marcus succeeded Georgina Bexon in 2009.[4]

A registered charity,[5] it receives funding from Arts Council England.[6]

History

In 1990 composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim took the Cameron Mackintosh chair in musical theatre at the University of Oxford, and in this capacity ran workshops with promising writers of musicals, including George Stiles, Anthony Drewe, Andrew Peggie, Paul James, and Stephen Keeling. These writers jointly set up the Mercury Workshop in 1992, which eventually merged with the New Musicals Alliance to become Mercury Musical Developments. Sondheim continues to be patron.

References
  1. "About". Mercury Musical Developments. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  2. Shenton, Mark (17 October 2012). "The changing face of the British musical, and another new cabaret space". The Stage. London. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  3. "Anita Dobson Hosts Mercury Musical Development's 20th Anniversary Gala". BroadwayWorld. 14 October 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  4. "New Executive Director for Mercury Musical Developments". Stephen Sondheim Society. 12 January 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  5. "1045606 – Mercury Musical Developments". Charity Overview. Charity Commission. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  6. "Mercury Musical Developments". Arts Council England. Archived from the original on 5 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
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