Paper Mill Playhouse Wins 2009 MetLife Award

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is the national 2009 MetLife Award Winner for Innovation and Excellence in Access. The award will be presented at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters' Awards Luncheon during the 52nd Annual Members Conference at the New York Hilton, on January 12, 2009. The MetLife Award is in recognition of Paper Mill Playhouse's innovative programming, community engagement and commitment to accessability. This award reaffirms Paper Mill's national stature as an outstanding example of innovation and excellence in access for the arts. Paper Mill's Executive Director, Mark W. Jones, and Manager of Outreach and Access Programs, Michael T. Mooney, will attend to receive the award.

"After 25 years of presenting accessible programming and services, Paper Mill is honored to receive this prestigious award for excellence. We hope always to serve as a role model in the area of cultural arts access - both for audiences and for artists alike," said Michael T. Mooney.

In 2003, Paper Mill received the MetLife/VSA Award for Innovation in Access presented at the Kennedy Center during the Leadership and Education in Arts and Disability (LEAD) Conference. As one of the first theatres in the area to offer a full array of access services, Paper Mill's mission ensures the theatre's programs and productions are inclusive and accessible to all, regardless of disability or economic constraint.

Paper Mill's production of The Miracle Worker in the 2007-2008 season was the first time the entire scope of access programming was featured on press opening night. The classic drama that explores the themes of accessibility and communication showcased a pre-show sensory seminar, sign-language interpretation, open-captioning, audio-description, braille programs and large print programs along with Paper Mill's ongoing access services.

Paper Mill's On-School Time show, James and the Giant Peach, integrated hearing impaired and deaf actors, and featured both sign language and spoken dialogue. In addition, Paper Mill annually provides infra-red assistive listening devices to more than 5,000 patrons; 20 audio-described performances; 9 sign-interpreted and open-captioned performances; utilizing the services of 60 interpreters, American Sign Language (ASL) directors, captioners, and audio-describers; 125 braille and 600 large print programs; and sign-interpreting and audio-description upon request for On-School Time and Weekend Family Performances, among other services.

Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theatres. 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, and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional major support is provided by generous contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, 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.

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