David Merrick facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Merrick
Merrick in 1962
Born	(1911-11-27)November 27, 1911 St. Louis, Missouri
Died	April 25, 2000(2000-04-25) (aged 88) London, England
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Washington University in St. Louis Saint Louis University School of Law
Occupation	Theatrical producer
Spouse(s)	Leonore Beck (m. 1938; div. 1963) Jeanne Gibson (m. 1963; div. 1966) Etan Aronson (m. 1969; div. 1976; m. 1983; div. 1999) Karen Prunczik (m. 1982; div. 1983) Natalie Ting Teresa Lloyd (m. 1999 - 2000 his death)
Children	2

David Merrick (born David Lee Margulois; November 27, 1911 – April 25, 2000) was a famous American producer for plays and musicals. He created many hit shows on Broadway, which is a famous theater district in New York City. David Merrick won many Tony Awards for his amazing work. He was known for his clever ways to get people interested in his shows.

The Life and Career of David Merrick

David Merrick was born David Lee Margulois in St. Louis, Missouri. He went to Washington University in St. Louis and later studied law. But in 1940, he decided to follow his passion for theater. He became a successful producer of plays and musicals.

Early Success in Theater

David Merrick's first seven shows were all very popular. His first hit was a comedy called Clutterbuck in 1949. He worked with Irving Jacobs on this show. By 1958, he had four hit shows running on Broadway at the same time! These included Look Back in Anger, Romanoff and Juliet, Jamaica, and The Entertainer. He often competed against himself for the Tony Award because he had so many successful productions.

Clever Publicity Stunts

David Merrick loved to create exciting ways to promote his shows. These were called publicity stunts.

Clutterbuck and the Fictive Mr. Clutterbuck

In 1949, his show Clutterbuck was losing its audience. To get more attention, Merrick came up with a clever idea. He had people page a "fictive Mr. Clutterbuck" in hotel bars and restaurants all over Manhattan. This made people curious and helped the show stay open for several more months.

Subways Are For Sleeping and the Critics' Namesakes

Another famous stunt was for his 1961 musical, Subways Are For Sleeping. This show didn't get very good reviews from theater critics. Merrick found seven people who had the exact same names as the top theater critics in New York City.

He invited these seven people to see the musical. He then asked for their permission to use their names and photos in an advertisement. These "namesakes" gave great reviews like "One of the few great musical comedies of the last thirty years."

Merrick then made a newspaper ad with these positive reviews. The ad's headline said, "7 Out of 7 Are Ecstatically Unanimous About Subways Are For Sleeping." Only one newspaper printed the ad, and only for a short time. However, the buzz from this stunt helped the musical run for 205 performances, which is almost six months!

Working with Gower Champion

Merrick also worked closely with a famous director and choreographer named Gower Champion. They worked together on Merrick's hit musical 42nd Street. On the opening night of 42nd Street in 1980, Gower Champion sadly passed away. David Merrick himself announced the news to the cast and audience at the end of the show.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1983, David Merrick had a stroke, which meant he used a wheelchair for much of his later life. Even so, he continued to support theater. In 1998, he started the David Merrick Arts Foundation. This foundation helps new American musicals get started and grow.

David Merrick's Family Life

David Merrick was married several times and had children. He had two daughters, Cecilia Ann Merrick and Marguerita Merrick. He also adopted two children, Olivia and Carl Christian.

Awards and Recognition

David Merrick received many important awards for his contributions to theater.

• In 1965, he received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
• In 2001, he was honored by being added to the St. Louis Walk of Fame.

Tony Awards and Nominations

David Merrick was nominated for and won many Tony Awards, which are like the Oscars for Broadway shows. He won a special Tony Award in 1961 and again in 1968. He also won for Best Play with Becket (1961) and Marat/Sade (1966). For musicals, he won Best Musical for Hello, Dolly! (1964) and 42nd Street (1981).

Famous Words from David Merrick

David Merrick was known for his strong opinions. One quote often linked to him is:

• "It's not enough that I should succeed, others should fail." (This quote has also been linked to other famous people like François de La Rochefoucauld and Genghis Khan.)

Notable Stage Productions

David Merrick produced many memorable plays and musicals on Broadway. Here are some of his most well-known shows:

Film Productions

Besides theater, David Merrick also produced four films:

• Child's Play (1972)
• The Great Gatsby (1974)
• Semi-Tough (1977)
• Rough Cut (1980)