Paper Mill Playhouse

Coordinates: 40°43′40″N 74°18′33″W / 40.72778°N 74.30917°W / 40.72778; -74.30917
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Paper Mill Playhouse
Main entrance
Map
Address22 Brookside Drive
Millburn, New Jersey
United States
Coordinates40°43′40″N 74°18′33″W / 40.72778°N 74.30917°W / 40.72778; -74.30917
OperatorMark S. Hoebee
TypeRegional theater
Capacity1,200[1]
Opened1934[1]
Years active77
Website
www.papermill.org

Paper Mill Playhouse is a regional theater containing approximately 1,200 seats located in Millburn, within Essex County, New Jersey, United States, on the banks of the Rahway River. Due to its relative proximity to Manhattan, the theater draws from the pool of actors (and audience members) who live in New York City. Paper Mill was officially designated as the "State Theater of New Jersey".[2] From 1971 to 2008, Paper Mill held the New Jersey Ballet as its resident ballet company, with the annual production of Nutcracker until the premiere 25th Anniversary tour of Les Misérables took up the ballet's performance slot.[3] Mark S. Hoebee serves as the producing artistic director, and is often credited as saving the Paper Mill during the financial crisis in 2008.

In 2016, the playhouse received the Regional Theatre Tony Award.[4]

History

Building

In March 1795, Sam Campbell built The Thistle Paper Mill[5] on land along the Rahway River in the town of Millville, later renamed Millburn. Campbell ran his business for about 20 years until he was forced to close down due to a fire. The building remained vacant for several years and ownership changed several times. In the late 1870s, Diamond Mill Paper Company took over the property and used it for their paper making business until 1928.[6]

Writer and performer Antoinette Scudder, along with actor and director Frank Carrington formed a partnership in the late 1920s to create their own theater.[7] The eventually found the vacant mill, and spent many years working on it, turning it into a theater.[8]

Another fire in 1980 changed the course of the theater, and it closed for rebuilding.[9] On October 30, 1982, the Paper Mill reopened for their first theatrical production since the fire.[10] This period of time became the focal point of a lawsuit between the theater and Millburn on whether or not they would be exempt from property taxes during the time the property was not in use.[11]

Theater

Founded in 1934, Paper Mill Playhouse raised the curtain on its first performance

Irene Castle out of retirement to make her dramatic debut in Noël Coward’s Shadow Play. The first few years featured a variety of classical and modern plays. By 1941, the Playhouse had begun to specialize in operettas
, which it continued until the early 1950s.

Change marked this period in Paper Mill’s history, especially with Miss Scudder’s death in 1958.[7][clarification needed] Angelo Del Rossi joined as associate producer in 1964, working closely with Carrington until his death in 1975.[12] Del Rossi became executive producer and remained in that role for nearly 40 years until his death in August 2014.[13]

In 1971, the New Jersey Ballet staged its first production of The Nutcracker at Paper Mill with world-renowned dancer Edward Villella in the role of the Cavalier. The Nutcracker production has been produced annually at Paper Mill since then.[14]

In 1972, Governor of New Jersey William Cahill proclaimed Paper Mill the "Official State Theater of New Jersey."[1] The theater has been cited as a State Center of Artistic Excellence and as a Major Impact and Distinguished Arts Organization by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.[1]

Through the years, Paper Mill Playhouse has welcomed such talent as Christopher Patterson,

]

In April 2003, Michael Gennaro, former executive director of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater, joined Paper Mill as president and CEO.[15] Paper Mill Playhouse was one of the first theaters to begin the regional theater movement in the United States. It has grown to be one of the most acclaimed not-for-profit professional theaters in the country, and attracts more than 450,000 people annually, and has one of the largest subscription based audiences.[1]

Financial issues

On April 3, 2007, Paper Mill announced that it would need $1.5 million to open its season and an equal amount to complete its season, or it would be forced to close its doors.[16] On April 6, 2007, Paper Mill announced that it had received $300,000, enough to cover costs of rehearsals and preview performances for its production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.[17]

Paper Mill announced that it would have to do more well-known shows to stay in business.[18] On June 17, 2008, the Township of Millburn voted to purchase building and four acres of land the Paper Mill sits on for $9 million.[19] They have entered into a 75-year lease with the theater; and its operations will remain independent.[20] Prior to this deal the Paper Mill had accumulated $4.5 million in debt.[21] Based on the terms of the lease, the Paper Mill would pay $1 for the first two years. After 2 years the rent would grow to equal 1% of the theater's annual operation income.[22] The Paper Mill maintained an option to repurchase the property from the town after 11 years of the lease.[23] The artistic director at the time, Mark S. Hoebee, is attributed with saving the Paper Mill.

Seasons

World premiere US premiere East coast premiere Planned but Cancelled due to COVID-19
Season Show 1 Show 2 Show 3 Show 4 Show 5 Show 6
1992–1993 The Wizard of Oz Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street My Fair Lady Phantom
1993–1994 Paper Moon Animal Crackers South Pacific Singin' in the Rain Peter Pan
1994–1995 Forever Plaid Oliver! Brigadoon The Secret Garden
1995–1996 Nine Dreamgirls You Never Know Comfortable Shoes Call Me Madam Evita
1996–1997 Applause Gigi No, No, Nanette Man of La Mancha
1997–1998[24] Big River Children of Eden The Mask of Moriarty Death of a Salesman Follies The Will Rogers Follies
1998–1999[24] Gypsy Jekyll & Hyde Up, Up, and Away Wuthering Heights Crazy for You Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
1999–2000[24] Mame Rags Noises Off Deathtrap The Student Prince Pippin
2000–2001[24] Anything Goes Victor/Victoria Art An Ideal Husband Funny Girl Carousel
2001–2002[1][25] A Chorus Line Red, Hot and Blue The Dinner Party I'm Not Rappaport The King and I My Fair Lady
2002–2003[24] Miss Saigon Annie Blue Romeo and Bernadette Camelot Grease
2003–2004[24] Ain't Misbehavin' The Sound of Music The Tale of the Allergist's Wife The Chosen Baby Guys and Dolls
2004–2005[24] Of Thee I Sing She Loves Me The Drawer Boy Harold and Maude The Baker's Wife Ragtime
2005–2006[26] Cinderella The Diary of Anne Frank Carnival! A Midsummer Night's Dream Hello Dolly!
2006–2007[24] Godspell A Wonderful Life Summer and Smoke Romance/Romance Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Pirates!
2007–2008[27] Happy Days: The Musical Meet Me in St. Louis The Miracle Worker Steel Magnolias Kiss Me, Kate Little Shop of Horrors
2008–2009[28] Oklahoma! High School Musical The Importance of Being Earnest Master Class 1776 The Full Monty
2009–2010[29] Little House on the Prairie On the Town Lost in Yonkers Smokey Joe's Cafe Peter Pan
2010–2011[30] Hairspray Les Misérables The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Curtains
2011–2012[31] Newsies White Christmas Boeing-Boeing Damn Yankees Once on This Island
2012–2013[32] A Chorus Line The Sound of Music Lend Me a Tenor Thoroughly Modern Millie The Little Mermaid
2013–2014[33] Honeymoon in Vegas Oliver! The Other Josh Cohen South Pacific Grease
2014–2015[34] Can-Can Elf Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike The Hunchback of Notre Dame Ever After The Musical
2015–2016[35] Bandstand A Christmas Story: The Musical A Bronx Tale Pump Boys and Dinettes West Side Story
2016–2017[36] The Producers The Bodyguard
A Comedy of Tenors
Million Dollar Quartet Mary Poppins
2017–2018[37] The Honeymooners Annie The Outsider The Sting Half Time
2018–2019[38] The Color Purple Holiday Inn My Very Own British Invasion
Benny & Joon
Beauty and the Beast
2019–2020[39] Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz Cinderella Unmasked Sister Act The Wanderer
2020-2021[40] Clue The Sound of Music Aida The Wanderer Bruce
2021-2022[41] Songs for a New World Jolly Holiday- Celebrating Disney's Broadway Hits Clue The Wanderer Sister Act
2022-2023[42] On Your Feet! The Sound of Music Hercules Murder on the Orient Express RENT
2023-2024[43] The Great Gatsby: A New Musical Fiddler on the Roof After Midnight Gun & Powder Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
2024-2025[44] Jersey Boys Irving Berlin's White Christmas Mystic Pizza
Take The Lead
Disney's The Little Mermaid

Affiliations

Paper Mill is a member of the Council of Stock Theatres (COST), a group of theaters who join to negotiate with the various unions that are involved in stage productions. COST's contract with

Actors' Equity allows for a minimum weekly salary which is smaller than what Broadway productions must pay their actors; Paper Mill is also allowed to cast a minimal amount of non-union actors, which is forbidden for Broadway shows. This gives Paper Mill the ability to produce shows on a larger scale than most Broadway productions (and in a shorter amount of time).[45]


It is a member company of the
New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

Educational programs

Paper Mill also has a large theater school offering a variety of classes.[46][47] They have also run classes for developmentally disabled students with VSA New Jersey.[48]

Rising Star Awards

Starting in 1996, the Paper Mill holds annual Rising Star Awards (modeled after the Tony Awards) every spring, honoring excellence in high school theater performances across the state of New Jersey [49]

Award Recipients

Year Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical Outstanding Leading Performer in a Female-Identified Role Outstanding Leading Performer in a Male-Identified Role Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Female-Identified Role Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Male-Identified Role Outstanding Performer in a Featured Role Outstanding Performance by a Featured Ensemble Member Outstanding Performance by a Featured Ensemble Group Outstanding Performance by a Chorus Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra Outstanding Achievement by a Teacher or Outside Director Outstanding Achievement in Choreography and Staging Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction (music director) Outstanding Scenic Achievement Outstanding Lighting Achievement Outstanding Costuming Achievement Outstanding Hair and Make-Up Achievement Educational Impact Award Rising Star “Theatre for Everyone” Inclusion and Access Award
2016[50] Summit High School - Mary Poppins Claire Fitzpatrick as "Mary Poppins" - Summit High School - Mary Poppins Trevor Braun as "Charlie Chaplin" - Fair Lawn High School - Chaplin The Musical Jazmin Palmer as "Fraulein Schneider" - Pingry School - Cabaret Ross Turkington as "Cookie McGee" - Montclair Kimberley Academy - Nice Work If You Can Get It Eric Judson as "Paul" - West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South - A Chorus Line Greg Lobo as "Big Jule" - Bernards High School - Guys and Dolls "The Silly Girls" - Columbia High School - Disney's Beauty and the Beast Academy of the Holy Angels - Children of Eden West Morris Central High School - In the Heights Katie McSherry - Academy of the Holy Angels - Children of Eden Jennifer Williams - Union High School - Mary Poppins George Croom - Academy of the Holy Angels - Children of Eden Robert Vendetti - Passaic County Technical Institute - Man of La Manch Sharp Edge Lighting Design - Westfield High School - Into the Woods Katherine Winter - Summit High School - Mary Poppins Celine Lockman, Fiona Kniaz, Alex Salvitti, Angela Colo, and Gina Freshcoln - Clearview Regional High School - The Addams Family
St. Joseph Regional High School
- Urinetown
Morristown High School - Once Upon a Mattress
2017[51] Eastern Regional High School - Les Misérables: School Edition Khailah Johnson as “Deloris van Cartier” - Franklin High School - Sister Act Gary Bowman as “Jean Valjean” - Eastern Regional High School - Les Misérables: School Edition Alana Kopelove as “Little Sally” - Gloucester County Institute of Technology - Urinetown Will Higgins as “Nathan Detroit” - Montclair Kimberley Academy - Guys and Dolls Shane Daneyko as “Chef Louis” - West Essex High School - Disney's The Little Mermaid Rachel Maselek as “Little Becky Two Shoes” - Gloucester County Institute of Technology - Urinetown "The Rebel Poor" - Gloucester County Institute of Technology - Urinetown Academy of the Holy Angels - The Mystery of Edwin Drood Union High School - Cinderella Dr. Gregg Molotsky - Eastern Regional High School - Les Misérables: School Edition Jensyn Modero - Mount Saint Dominic Academy - 42nd Street James Mosser and Laura Muller - Union High School - Cinderella Jason M. Stewart - Ridge High School - Fiddler On The Roof Christopher Annas-Lee - Union High School - Cinderella Katherine Winter - Summit High School - How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying Catherine O'Brien - Mount Saint Dominic Academy - 42nd Street Fair Lawn High School - Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson Morristown High School - Legally Blonde
2018[52] Union High School - Peter Pan Mira Mookerjee as “Lilli Vanessi / Katharine” - Moorestown High School Kiss Me, Kate Jovanni Aparicio as “Usnavi” - Carteret High School - In The Heights Caroline Herbert as “The Chaperone” - Hopewell Valley Central High School - The Drowsy Chaperone Matthew Losco as “Igor” - Vernon Township High School - Young Frankenstein

Nick Scafuto as “J. Bowden Hapgood” - Bridgewater-Raritan High School - Anyone Can Whistle

Alyssa Carbonell as “Tiger Lily” - Union High School - Peter Pan Joshua Nilsen as “Eugene Florczyk” - Delaware Valley Regional High School - Greece "The Lost Boys" - Union High School - Peter Pan Princeton Day School - Bat Boy the Musical Fair Lawn High School - Once Jeff Hogan - West Morris Central High School - The Pirate Queen Jennifer Williams - Union High School - Peter Pan Charles Santoro - Fair Lawn High School - Once Jamie Allaire - Jackson Memorial High School - Disney's Beauty And The Beast Coby Chasman-Beck - Union High School - Peter Pan Barbara Canace, Carol Rutledge, and Suzanna Roghanchi - Columbia High School - Hairspray

Katie Adams - Morristown High School - Anything Goes

Danielle Garritt and Keleyn Wraga - Toms River High School North - The Addams Family Summit High School -Legally Blonde Madison High School - Footloose
2019[53] Madison High School - Bright Star Kassi McMillan as “Alice Murphy” -
St. Joseph Regional High School
- Bright Star
Jaron Cole as “Jimmy Ray Dobbs” - Madison High School - Bright Star Alex Mroczko as “Margo Crawford” - Madison High School - Bright Star Joseph Grisanzio as “Adolpho”, Howell High School - Drowsy Chaperone Sara Bartoszek as “Peron’s Mistress”, High Tech High School - Evita Abigail Montesino as “Grace”, Fair Lawn High School - Working "Dance Hall Girls" - Westfield High School - Sweet Charity Summit High School - Pippin Summit High School - Pippin Blake Spence - Madison High School - Bright Star Summit High School - Pippin Summit High School - Pippin Madison High School - Bright Star Harrison High School - James & The Giant Peach Harrison High School - James & The Giant Peach Harrison High School - James & The Giant Peach Perth Amboy High School - 9 to 5 Carteret High School - Footloose
2022[54] Ridge High School - Matilda Libby Schmitt as “Matilda” - Ridge High School -Matilda Elliot Block as “Edward Bloom” - Hopewell Valley Central High School - Big Fish Rachel Vanek as “Miss Honey” - Ridge High School - Matilda Jayden White as “Chip Tolentino” - Ewing High School - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Oscar Grob as “Mr. Wormwood” - Ridge High School - Matilda

Elliot Newman as “Bobby” - Oakcrest High School - Memphis Gabriel Subervi as “Doctor and Escapologist” - Ridge High School Matilda "The Dance Hall Girls" -
Morristown-Beard School
- Sweet Charity
Ridge High School - Matilda Carteret High School Chicago: High School Edition Martha Harvey - Ridge High School - Matilda Tricia Benn and Bethany Pettigrew - Columbia High School - Newsies Romel McInnis and Diana Gable - Clearview Regional High School - The Hunchback of Notre Dame Louis J. Medrano - Columbia High School - Newsies Colin Shields - Harrison High School - The Apple Tree Sabrina Windt and Matt DiDonato - Haddonfield Memorial High School - Rodgers And Hammerstein’s Cinderella Colin Shields - Harrison High School - The Apple Tree Christian Brothers Academy - 13 Moorestown High School - Honk!
2023 Ridge High School - Newsies Leah Rose Crossan as “Donna Sheridan” - Clearview Regional High School - Mamma Mia! Dakota Krouse as “Gomez Addams” - Delaware Valley Regional High School - The Addams Family Ryan Yuhas as “Ursula” - Sayreville War Memorial High School - The Little Mermaid Zach Siegel as “Nigel Bottom” - Summit High School - Something Rotten! Mac Silverstein as “Brother Jeremiah” - Columbia High School - Something Rotten!

Elijah Dor as George - Morris Knolls High School - The Drowsy Chaperone

Amanda Muldowney as Annie Reilly - Southern Regional High School - 42nd Street

Jaidyn Riley as “Mush” - Ridge High School - Newsies The Troupe - Summit High School - Something Rotten! Ridge High School - Newsies Ridge High School - Newsies Clinton Ambs - Delaware Valley Regional High School - The Addams Family Rachel Miranda, Jennifer Digiuseppe - Ridge High School - Newsies John Brzozowski - Westfield High School - Sunday In The Park With George Anthony Freitas - Madison High School - Little Women Michael Kimmel, Lisa Weinshrott - Wallkill Valley Regional High School - The Wizard of OZ Sabrina Windt - Haddonfield Memorial High School - Head Over Heels Carrie Snodgrass - Delaware Valley Regional High School - The Addams Family Cedar Grove High School - The Prom

Jonathan Dayton High School - Heathers: School Edition

Eastern Regional High School - Frozen

Moorestown High School - Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g REGIONAL/RESIDENT THEATRE PROFILES - PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE
  2. ^ Crazy for You: Behind the Scenes, accessed September 3, 2006
  3. ^ NJ Ballet 50th Anniversary 2008-2009
  4. ^ "The 2016 Tony Awards: Winners". Retrieved 2016-06-14.
  5. ^ Our History
  6. ^ Paper Mill Playhouse, Short Hills, New Jersey
  7. ^ .
  8. ^ Millburn looks back: Paper Mill beginnings
  9. ^ "PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE ON THE ROAD TO REVIVAL (Published 1981)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07.
  10. ^ Tax Court of New Jersey.
  11. ^ PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE, PLAINTIFF, v. TOWNSHIP OF MILLBURN
  12. ^ Angelo Del Rossi, Longtime Public Face of Paper Mill Playhouse, Dies Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Paper Mill Playhouse to Host Memorial for Angelo Del Rossi, Director Who Helmed Paper Mill for 40 Years
  14. ^ About New Jersey Ballet Archived 2009-02-01 at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Ballet - accessed May 14, 2009
  15. ^ THE ARTS; At the Paper Mill, On to the Next Act
  16. ^ Financial crisis may force Paper Mill Playhouse to go dark Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, Home News Tribune by Laurie Granieri, April 3, 2007.
  17. The Record (Bergen County)
    by Jim Beckerman, April 7, 2007
  18. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  19. ^ Gans, Andrew (18 June 2008). "Township of Millburn Purchases Paper Mill Playhouse". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  20. ^ Mcglone, Peggy (2008-06-18). "Millburn votes to bail out ailing Paper Mill Playhouse". nj. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  21. ^ Thielman, Sam (2008-06-18). "Millburn buys Paper Mill". Variety. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  22. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  23. ^ "Paper Mill Playhouse Officially Purchased by Township of Millburn | TheaterMania". www.theatermania.com. 28 July 2008. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h All Productions for Paper Mill Playhouse
  25. ^ The Dinner Party
  26. ^ Paper Mill Playhouse Announces 2005-2006 Season Archived 2015-03-01 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ "Paper Mill Playhouse unveils season". Variety. 2007-06-12. Archived from the original on 2022-09-17.
  28. ^ Paper Mill Playhouse Announces 2008-09 Season
  29. ^ Paper Mill unveils 2009-10 season
  30. ^ Probst, Andy.Hairspray, Les Miserables, and More Set for Paper Mill Playhouse's All-Musical 2010-2011 Season theatermania.com, February 19, 2010
  31. ^ Disney musical set to open Paper Mill's 2011-12 season
  32. ^ Tickets are on sale for 2012-13 season at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn
  33. ^ Paper Mill Playhouse announces line-up for its 75th anniversary season
  34. ^ Paper Mill Playhouse Unveils 2014-15 Season with Broadway Bound CAN-CAN, US Premiere of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, EVER AFTER & More
  35. ^ Paper Mill Playhouse announces 2015-16 season -- with Robert De Niro
  36. ^ The Bodyguard to Launch US Tour During Paper Mill Playhouse's 2016-17 Season
  37. ^ The Paper Mill just announced its most ambitious line-up in history
  38. ^ "Paper Mill Playhouse Announces 2018-19 Season". 5 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  39. ^ "Andrew Lloyd Webber Revue Unmasked, Judy Garland Musical & More Set for 2019-2020 at Paper Mill". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2019-04-15.
  40. ^ "Aida, Clue, and More Set for 2020-21 Season at Paper Mill Playhouse | TheaterMania". 24 March 2020.
  41. ^ "Paper Mill Playhouse announces 2021-22 season: 'The Wanderer,' 'Sister Act,' 'Clue' and more". 18 May 2021.
  42. ^ "Paper Mill Playhouse announces 2022-23 season: 'Hercules,' 'Rent,' 'On Your Feet!' and more". 12 April 2022.
  43. ^ "THE GREAT GATSBY World Premiere & More Set for Paper Mill Playhouse 2023-24 Season".
  44. ^ "TAKE THE LEAD World Premiere & More Set for Paper Mill Playhouse 2024-25 Season".
  45. ^ New Two-Year COST Agreement Ratified
  46. ^ BWW News Desk. "Paper Mill Playhouse Theater School Reveals New Offerings for Kids". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  47. ^ "Stars are Born at Paper Mill Playhouse". North Jersey. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  48. ^ NJ.com, Peggy McGlone | NJ Advance Media for (2012-04-24). "At Paper Mill Playhouse, developmentally disabled students can work on their acting chops". nj. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  49. ^ "College Musical Theater Common Prescreen Criteria".
  50. ^ "Paper Mill Playhouse Announces 2016 Rising Stars". 8 June 2016.
  51. ^ "2017 Rising Star Awards presented by Investors Foundation" (PDF). papermill.org.
  52. ^ "2018 Rising Star Award Winners". 5 June 2018.
  53. ^ "Rising Star Award Winners Announced". 5 June 2019.
  54. ^ "2022 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award Recipients" (PDF). papermill.org.

External links

Media related to Paper Mill Playhouse at Wikimedia Commons