Paper Mill Playhouse Wins ACB Audio Description Project Award

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director) announced today that it has been awarded the 2010 American Council of the Blind / Audio Description Project Award for Achievement in Performing Arts for their audio-description program and unwavering commitment to the blind and those with vision loss. The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is a national organization of blind, visually impaired and sighted individuals whose purpose is to work toward independence, security, equality of opportunity, and improved quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people. The Audio-Description Project (formerly Audio Description International) is dedicated to providing quality descriptive services of theatre, television and films. The award was given in Phoenix on July 14 as part of the American Council of the Blind's annual conference.

Paper Mill Playhouse began serving those with vision loss in 1987 by being one of the first in the area to provide regularly scheduled audio description. Audio description is the live objective translation of the visual action of a play in between lines of dialogue and/or lyrics. Patrons utilizing this service use a personal receiver to listen to a trained professional describer. Paper Mill Playhouse also offers free pre-show Sensory Seminars. Seminars provide an opportunity for the blind or visually impaired patron to touch key props and costumes, as well as hear a detailed description of the visual elements of the production such as sets, costumes, and lighting. Performers also participate to provide voice recognition. Braille and large print programs round out Paper Mill Playhouse's array of services for the blind.

Michael T. Mooney, Paper Mill Playhouse's Manager of Outreach and Access Programs, is very grateful for the recognition, saying "As with everything, Paper Mill strives to be a leader in Audio-Description, training and mentoring other theatres throughout the state and nationally. So I'm really excited about this award because it is a testament to the hard work of our Describers as well as a tribute to Paper Mill Playhouse's long-standing commitment to cultural arts access."

The upcoming season will feature audio descriptions of Hairspray (October 16 & 17), Les Miserables (December 18 & 19), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (February 12 & 13), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (April 9 & 10) and Curtains (May 21 & 22). All shows start at 1:30pm with free Sensory Seminars at noon. For more information about these or any of Paper Mill's Access Services, please contact Mr. Mooney at 973.379.3636 x2666. For tickets to these productions, please call the box office at 973.376.4343.

Paper Mill Playhouse's commitment to accessibility was recognized three times in the past year, including two national awards: the 2009 Excellence in Accessibility Leadership Award from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the 2009 MetLife Award for Innovation and Excellence in Access. In 2010, Paper Mill received the Cultural Access Network's "Sustainer Award" in recognition of its commitment and leadership. Access Services are widely available, regularly scheduled, publicized, and provided at no extra cost to approximately 5,000 patrons and students annually. All individuals have the opportunity to experience quality live theater with dignity and independence.

Paper Mill Playhouse Access programming is generously supported by MetLife Foundation, C.R. Bard Foundation, Inc., The William G. & Helen C. Hoffman Foundation, Fund for the New Jersey Blind, and Cultural Access Network of New Jersey.

Paper Mill Playhouse's 2010 - 2011 Season

Hairspray opens the season aerosol style in September with its high-energy, show stopping dance numbers and a powerful message of love and acceptance. In November, the epic tale of the French Revolution is brought to life in Les Misérables. Brightening the winter season in January, Paper Mill Playhouse showcases adolescent overachievers in the hit musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Paper Mill Playhouse brings in the Spring with the legendary comedy A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. The 2010-2011 season closes with the musical-comedy, murder-mystery, Curtains. Investors Savings Bank is the proud sponsor of the 2010-2011 Season.

Order tickets early to avoid shows selling out like Little House on the Prairie - The Musical and Peter Pan. Each subscription package includes a different level of special benefits such as a pass to the Center Stage Society Lounge, discounts for your children, and a backstage tech tour. Paper Mill Playhouse will produce eight performances a week, Wednesday through Sunday. Single tickets range in price from $25-$92. Three, four and five show subscription packages are available starting at $82.50. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343, or at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.papermill.org. The Box Office will be open from 10:00am till 6:00pm. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted. Groups of ten or more can receive up to a 35% discount on tickets and should call 973-379-3636, ext. 2438.

"This collection of some of the most beloved titles in the American musical theater truly supports Paper Mill Playhouse's long standing legacy of producing the highest caliber theater for the widest audience possible," says Mark S. Hoebee, Artistic Director of the Millburn theater.

September 22 - October 24
Hairspray
MUSIC BY Marc Shaiman
LYRICS BY Scott Wittman AND Marc Shaiman
BOOK BY Mark O'Donnell AND Thomas Meehan
Based on the 1988 John Waters Film 'Hairspray'
Winner of eight Tony Awards including "Best Musical" and "Best Original Score," the show Variety described as an "infinitely spirited, bubblegum-flavored confection" launches our new season aerosol-style. You'll tap your feet to the beat as Tracy Turnblad and friends triumph over high school bullies, racism and enemies everywhere of big girls with big hair.

November 19 - December 26
Cameron Mackintosh's Acclaimed New Production
Les Misérables
The New 25th Anniversary Production
COMPOSED BY CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG
LIBRETIST IS Alain Boublil
LYRICS BY Herbert Kretzmer
Based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo
Romance, revolution and redemption, stirring songs including "I Dreamed a Dream" - in a dynamic new production! This is the show that inspired Frank Rich of The New York Times to write, "If anyone doubts that the contemporary musical theater can.yank an audience right out of its seats, he need look no further." No wonder it won eight Tonys!

January 19 - February 13
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY William Finn
BOOK BY Rachel Sheinkin
Based upon C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E, an original improvisational play created by Rebecca Feldman
Craving a fun musical comedy to sweep you up in the action and keep you laughing all the way home? Then this Tony Award-winning story of six quirky competitors and three oddball adults in search of spelling bee glory is the show for you. Theatermania's David Finkle called it "a treat and a half." But we think one of the songs says it best: "If you like to laugh, if you like to spell, you'll like this competition very well."

March 16 - April 10
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY Stephen Sondheim
BOOK BY Burt Shevelove AND Larry Gelbart
Inspired by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus
With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart (the award-winning writer of the film Tootsie and the M*A*S*H TV series), this hilarious, slapstick farce is regarded by many as a high point in the history of Broadway musical comedy. Be prepared to laugh early and often - as the signature show tune puts it, "Tragedy tomorrow, Comedy tonight!"

April 27 - May 22
Curtains
MUSIC BY John Kander
LYRICS BY Fred Ebb
BOOK BY Rupert Holmes
Based on original book and concept by Peter Stone
Aspiring actor and detective Lt. Frank Cioffi is investigating the rising body count on the set of a Broadway-bound show - and starting a romance with one of the actors. Can he solve the case without becoming one of the victims? This musical mystery-comedy was created by John Kander and Fred Ebb, the award-winning composer and lyricist responsible for both Cabaret and Chicago. Curtains will have you on the edge of your seat - laughing!

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 the Theatre Communications Group, the National Alliance for Music Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

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