Paper Mill Playhouse Junior All Stars Bring Cheer to Special Needs Children This Weekend

Paper Mill Playhouse, one of the country's premier not-for-profit theaters, is the place where American musical theater is celebrated, cherished, and pushed in exciting new directions, is proud to announce the Junior All Stars Holiday Tour. The Paper Mill Playhouse Junior All Stars are a selective group of 9 to 12 year old performers who, as a part of their training, go out into the community and share their talents with schools, senior residences and centers for children with disabilities.

"It is sheer joy to see our entire cast reach out after the show and share conversations and stories with the audiences. It is a wonderful opportunity for the children to give as well as receive. We believe this experience truly helps the students feel like they are making a difference in the lives of others, as well as their own. That is what true star quality is all about," says Theatre School Director, Mickey McNany.

This holiday season, the Paper Mill Playhouse Junior All Stars are touring around parts of New Jersey where they will be performing a musical revue. So far this winter, the children have performed at the Cerebral Palsy Center in Belleville, New Jersey and at the Horizon School in Livingston, New Jersey. The final performance of the year will be at the Stepping Stones School in Roseland, New Jersey today, December 20, 2013 at 10 a.m.

"It feels great to give the children a gift of singing and dancing. I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity," says Rachel Gesner, one of the youngest All Stars. "That is what the holidays are really all about."

Paper Mill Playhouse Theatre School offers a wide array of classes for children and adults ages 4 to 94. Theatre School student touring companies, the Junior All-Stars, and the teen's Children's Theatre on Tour perform at schools, hospitals, senior & community centers, and special needs facilities. Paper Mill Playhouse has given rise to many notable performers over the years including: Oscar and Golden Globe nominated actress Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables; Rachel Getting Married; The Devil Wears Prada), Neil McCaffrey (Mary Poppins on Broadway), Emily Bauer (Mona Lisa Smile; National Tour of Hair), and Paula Gray (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).

Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theaters. Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, 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. 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.