Broadway-Caliber Entertainment in Whitefish, Montana

Merie Productions is a Montana theater company rooted in the Flathead Valley and built on decades of professional stage experience. Founded in 2023 by Meredith Patterson, a Broadway veteran who starred as Peggy Sawyer in the Tony-winning revival of 42nd Street, and Dustin Brayley, a vocalist with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Merie Productions brings a standard of artistry to Western Montana that most communities only find in major cities. This is Broadway-caliber live entertainment, and it lives right here in the 406.

Our Story

Born from the Stage, Built for the Valley

Meredith Patterson Broadway producer and co-founder spent years performing at the highest levels of American theater before putting down roots in Whitefish. Her experience performing on Broadway in the aftermath of 9/11 shaped a core belief that the arts are not a luxury but a lifeline. Live performance, at its best, gives people a place to set down their worries and feel something real. That conviction became the foundation of Merie Productions. Co-founder Dustin Brayley brings his own nationally recognized musicianship to the company, having toured with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Together, they created a Flathead Valley entertainment company that refuses to ask its community to settle for less than extraordinary. Merie Productions also operates as an umbrella brand spanning live events, a podcast, an authored book series, and digital wellness content, all connected by a single mission: to prove that top-shelf professional arts can thrive in a small town.

Band playing in a lounge with a smiling woman in a floral dress at center stage
Live band performing on stage under purple lights, with singer center and audience silhouettes in front
What We Stand For
Montana Cultural Productions with a Broadway Standard
Merie Productions operates on a simple but demanding principle: the people of the Flathead Valley deserve the same quality of entertainment found on any major stage in the country. Every show, from the monthly sell-out Dueling Pianos series to the Gold Leather & Lace Fleetwood Mac tribute and the Whitefish Summer Concert Series, is produced with professional-grade talent, staging, and musicianship. The company pays local artists a professional rate of $1,500 per night, investing directly in a sustainable regional arts ecosystem. Dustin Brayley entertainment Montana audiences have come to know is warm, high-energy, and built for connection. Meredith's dual role as a Broadway performer and Publisher of Whitefish Living magazine gives the company deep institutional roots in the community. Merie Productions is not an outside act passing through. It is a local voice with a world-class pedigree, and every production carries that integrity from the first note to the final bow.
Common Questions

What People Want to Know About Merie Productions

  • Who founded Merie Productions and what is their background?

    Merie Productions was founded in 2023 by Meredith Patterson and Dustin Brayley. Meredith is a Broadway veteran best known for starring as Peggy Sawyer in the Tony-winning revival of 42nd Street. She is also the Publisher of Whitefish Living magazine, giving her deep ties to the local community. Dustin Brayley is a nationally recognized vocalist who toured with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Together they bring a level of professional stage experience that is rare in a regional market like the Flathead Valley.

  • What kinds of live events and productions does Merie Productions put on?

    Merie Productions produces a wide range of live entertainment in Western Montana, including tribute shows like Gold Leather & Lace (a Fleetwood Mac tribute) and a Dolly Parton tribute, the monthly Dueling Pianos series, the Whitefish Summer Concert Series, and seasonal events like Winter Wonderland. The company also handles private event entertainment for high-end clients and artist mentorship through workshops and masterclasses. Media projects, including a podcast and a book series authored by Meredith Patterson, round out the company's offerings.

  • Where do Merie Productions shows take place in the Flathead Valley?

    Merie Productions performs at several venues in and around Whitefish, Montana, including the O'Shaughnessy Center at Whitefish Theatre Co, Mountain Prime Steakhouse's lounge, and 101 Central, which includes The Second Story and the Juliet Lounge. The company works with these venues on a recurring basis, running what it calls a franchise model for shows like Dueling Pianos, which has sold out every month at a capacity of 150 people.

  • Does Merie Productions work with local Montana artists or only bring in outside talent?

    Merie Productions actively supports local and emerging performers in the Flathead Valley. The company pays professional artist fees of $1,500 per night, creating real economic opportunity for regional talent. Beyond compensation, Merie Productions offers artist workshops and masterclasses designed to connect local performers with Broadway-level mentorship and professional production experience. The goal is to build a sustainable arts ecosystem in Western Montana, not just produce one-off events.

  • Can Merie Productions provide entertainment for private events or corporate functions?

    Yes. Merie Productions offers customized entertainment for private residences and corporate clients in the Flathead Valley and surrounding areas. Private event packages can include vocalists, full bands, and tribute show formats. An 8-piece band option is available for larger private engagements. The company has experience working with high-net-worth clients in the region and approaches each private booking with the same professional standard applied to its public productions.

  • What is the philosophy behind the work Merie Productions creates?

    The company's approach is rooted in the belief that live performance provides genuine emotional relief and community connection. Meredith Patterson's experience performing on Broadway during the aftermath of 9/11 shaped a conviction that the arts offer something hopeful and necessary, not just enjoyable. Merie Productions programs with that in mind, creating shows that give audiences a chance to set aside everyday stress and share something meaningful with the people around them. The standard is professional; the spirit is warm and community-centered.

  • Does Merie Productions offer anything beyond live events, such as books or a podcast?

    Yes. Merie Productions functions as an umbrella brand that includes media and literary projects alongside its live events. Meredith Patterson hosts a podcast and has authored the Confessions of an Actress book series, which includes titles like From Chorus Girl to Broadway Star and Sunday Letters From Moscow. The company is also developing the Bliss Is Your Birthright digital application and maintains a Bliss Is Your Birthright Collective on Patreon, extending the brand's reach beyond the stage.
Group of six smiling people posing indoors, holding drinks and wearing festive black and gold outfits.