Paper Mill Still in Danger, but Seven Brides to Continue

Although its immediate cash crisis is not over, the Paper Mill Playhouse Board of Trustees has given management permission to continue the run of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers yet another week (until April 29). 

The decision is due to tremendous community support, donations and healthy ticket sales for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.  Since the start of Paper Mill's public fundraising campaign, thousands of donors have made contributions in excess of $825,000. 

"The loan that Paper Mill is trying to secure to get us through the rest of the season is still in process.  I have no further information available regarding the loan.  It is important that we continue to get the word out that Paper Mill Playhouse is a not-for-profit arts organization that needs immediate AND continued support.  I applaud the members of the Paper Mill Press Family that have been assisting us in getting that message out," writes Paper Mill press director Shayne Miller.

Paper Mill Playhouse hosted a rally to support the theatre on Monday, April 9 at 7:00pm.  More than 600 attendees showed up in the bitter cold to champion Paper Mill. The cast of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers kicked off the rally followed by stars of Broadway and state political leaders giving heartfelt, personal testimonies on the impact of Paper Mill Playhouse. Political leaders included: Senate President-Governor Richard Cody, Senator Tom Kean Jr., former governors Brendon Byrne and Tom Kean Sr., Assemblyman John Bramnick, Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and Millburn Mayor Dan Baer.  Broadway and Paper Mill stars included: James Brennan, Michelle Ragusa, George Dvorsky, Nell Benjamin, Barrett Foa, Gordon Greenberg, Kate Baldwin, Jessica and Matt Bogart, Tony-Award® Winner John Lloyd Young, Mark Ledbetter, Dan Kohler, Daniel Goldstein, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Nick Corley, Glory Crampton, Thom Christopher Warren and Leslie Kritzer. The rally had celebrated performances from Judy McLane, Danette Holden, Kelly Rabke and Matthew Scott along with more than 60 students from Paper Mill's Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory. The event raised more than $30,000. At the event former Governor Tom Kean Sr. commented on Paper Mill productions and had this to say, "…they do them well, they do them with integrity and they introduce kids to theater and all at affordable prices."

Recently Paper Mill Playhouse received this statement from Anne Hathaway (Princess Diaries, Brokeback Mountain): "I first attended a show at the Paper Mill Playhouse when I moved to New Jersey at the age of six, and my relationship with the theatre continues to this day.  I loved being a Paper Mill Player when I was a child, studying with the wonderful Mickey McNanny, and I'll never forget the pride I felt appearing onstage in Gigi and Jane Eyre.   I am so proud and grateful to have been one of the many young performers to have gotten their start at Paper Mill, which is one of the reasons why it worries me so much that it might close.  The Paper Mill is a wonderful resource for young performers, offering top-notch productions less than an hour from New York.  The loss of the Paper Mill will be a blow to young performers, and the theatrical community as a whole.  I am grateful for the lessons I learned at Paper Mill both onstage and off, and hope it will be a launching pad for young performers for years to come."

Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theatres and is supported in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, A Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, in addition to contributions from many corporations, foundations, businesses and individuals.  Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of Theatre Communications Group, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

Tickets are still available for both Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Pirates! and may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343 or logging on to the Paper Mill website www.papermill.org.  Paper Mill is graciously accepting donations to "Save the Theater".  Please call 973-379-3636 ext. 2SAV or log onto the Paper Mill Playhouse website and make your donation today.

 

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