Paper Mill Playhouse to Host Annual Food & Coat Drive Throughout Holiday Season

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced two initiatives to help the needy in New Jersey this holiday season. For the 17th year Paper Mill Playhouse will partner with Jersey Cares as a collection site for their winter coat drive. New and gently used coats can be dropped off during the run of Paper Mill Playhouse's production of OLIVER! through December 29. The Millburn theater will also be collecting non-perishable food items to be distributed to area food pantries for their "Food, Glorious Food" Drive. Any person that donates a coat or non-perishable food item will be rewarded with a Paper Mill Playhouse 75th Anniversary scratch-off game ticket for a chance to win valuable prizes. Items will be collected in the main lobby at Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, New Jersey.

The "Food, Glorious Food" Drive was the brainchild of 12-year-old actor Chance Friedman of Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, who plays an orphan Oliver! "I'm having the time of my life singing Food, Glorious Food, but the sad truth is that even in these modern times, people in our community go hungry each day," remarked Chance. "I'd like to do my part to fight hunger and I could use your help. When you come to see Oliver! this holiday season, please bring a non-perishable food item and drop it in the 'Food, Glorious Food' drive bin in the lobby of the theater. Make a donation, and consider yourself part of our hunger-fighting family." Chance created a special video message to encourage people to donate to these worthy causes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13JeIveNbr4.

In addition to Paper Mill's food drive efforts, the design team of Oliver! considered those less fortunate while finding footwear for the 49 cast members in the production. Shoes purchased for the production were ordered from Toms and from Bob's Shoes. For every shoe purchased, these companies donate a shoe to a child in a developing country. "The workhouse orphans in Oliver!needed a good homespun-type uniform shoe," stated costume designer Amanda Seymour. "We thought how perfect the look of Toms and Bob's are for this production, and how fitting that for every shoe purchased, one went to a child in need."

"Paper Mill Playhouse is thrilled to partner once again with Jersey Cares for their annual coat drive," stated Todd Schmidt, Paper Mill Playhouse's Managing Director. "When two not-for-profit organizations come together to serve the community, there is true holiday magic."

Paper Mill Playhouse has had a long-term partnership with Jersey Cares hosting an annual coat drive. Over the past 17 years, Jersey Cares has collected, sorted and distributed thousands of winter coats to New Jersey residents in need through this program. The donated winter coats benefit at-risk men, women, children, and infants in our area. Last season Paper Mill Playhouse patrons contributed over 400 coats to this worthy cause.

"Paper Mill Playhouse is thrilled to host our 'Food, Glorious Food' Drive and once again partner with Jersey Cares for their annual coat drive," said John Anderson, Paper Mill's Outreach Coordinator. "Through the generosity of our patrons, we will be able to give back to many New Jersey residents this holiday season."

Paper Mill Playhouse is proud to continue its 75th Anniversary Season with the classic Charles Dickens musical Oliver!, with a holiday "twist" for the entire family. With a book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, Oliver! is directed by Paper Mill Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee with original choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Oliver! features David Garrison(Fagin), best known for his role as Steve Rhoades on the hit television series Married...with Children, Betsy Morgan (Nancy),John Treacy Egan (Mr. Bumble), Jose Llana (Bill Sikes), David Hess (MR. Brownlow), Ethan Haberfield (Artful Dodger) and introducing Tyler Moran as Oliver. Oliver! will also feature 16 local boys from across the state of New Jersey who auditioned from a pool of over 200. Oliver! will play the Millburn, New Jersey theater from November 21 through December 29. Paper Mill Playhouse's 75th Anniversary Season is proudly sponsored by Investors Bank.

Adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens, this beloved classic musical will enthrall audiences from the start with the miraculous tale of a young orphan's quest to find home and family in Victorian London. Dickens' larger-than-life characters sing and dance their way into your heart with iconic songs including "Food, Glorious Food," "Who Will Buy?," "As Long As He Needs Me" and "Consider Yourself." Oliver!, one of the most popular musicals in the world, was nominated for 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical, and the 1968 film version won the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture. Paper Mill Playhouse will present this extraordinary musical with a holiday ending certain to warm the hearts of your entire family.

Oliver! will be performed at Paper Mill Playhouse eight times a week, Wednesday through Sunday (check PaperMill.org for special holiday schedules) plus a special Christmas Eve matinee on Tuesday, December 24, 2013. Family-friendly performance schedule: Wednesday at 7:00pm, Thursday at 1:30pm and 7:00pm, Friday at 7:00pm, Saturday at 1:30pm and 7:00pm andSunday at 1:30pm and 7:00pm. Tickets are on sale now and range from $27 to $98. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973.376.4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.PaperMill.org. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted. Groups of 10 or more can receive up to a 40% discount on tickets and should call 973.315.1680.

"There is no better way to bring your family together than a world-class musical produced by Paper Mill Playhouse," remarked the theater's Producing Artistic Director and show director Mark S. Hoebee. "Charles Dickens and Victorian London are the perfect combination for holiday magic. Our production of Oliver! will be like no other with a special holiday treat at the end of each performance."