Paper Mill to Pay Tribute to Redgrave at May 12 Gala

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is mourning the loss of their dear friend and artist Ms. Lynn Redgrave. Ms. Redgrave appeared on the Paper Mill Playhouse stage in The Importance of Being Earnest in early 2009 and has remained close with the Millburn theater until her passing. Ms. Redgrave is to be honored at Paper Mill Playhouse's Gala Event on Wednesday, May 12th at The Hilton Short Hills.

Paper Mill Playhouse will pay tribute to the life and legacy of Lynn Redgrave as we present the first ever Frank Carrington Excellence in the Arts Award. Named after Paper Mill Playhouse's co-founder and first Executive Producer, this award is given to a Paper Mill Playhouse artist who has accomplished great things in the entertainment field. The award will be accepted by Ms. Redgrave's good friend Cynthia Mace.

"We were honored to have Lynn Redgrave perform at Paper Mill last year, says Mark S. Hoebee, Paper Mill Playhouse Artistic Director. What was so inspiring about Lynn was that her dedication to her art was only surpassed by her commitment to her family. Although Lynn Redgrave was theater royalty, she made everyone feel as if they were her best friend. She will truly be missed."

"Lynn Redgrave was an inspiration to everyone at Paper Mill Playhouse, says Mark W. Jones, Paper Mill Playhouse Executive Director. That is to say that every person who worked here came to know her and delighted in her charm and joy for living. Too, all of us basked in her wisdom and devotion to her craft. We are delighted to honor her legacy at our Gala."

Lynn Redgrave was the Golden Globe® winner and Academy Award® nominee for Gods and Monsters (1998) and Georgy Girl (1966). Ms. Redgrave won the 2003 Drama Desk Award for Talking Heads as Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. In 2006, she was nominated for a Tony Award® for Best Actress in a Play for The Constant Wife. She was also nominated for a Grammy® Award for The Witches in the category of Best Spoken Word Album for Children. Ms. Redgrave was a founding member of Britain's National Theatre, now the Royal National Theatre, under the direction of Sir Laurence Olivier. She has also written the text for Journal, A Mother and Daughter's Recovery From Breast Cancer, featuring photographs by her daughter, Annabel Clark, currently in its third printing from Umbrage Editions.

The annual gala event will offer an evening with three-time Academy Award winner and Wicked; Godspell; and Pippin composer Stephen Schwartz, many of whose shows have been presented at Paper Mill Playhouse. Joining him will be two of New York's top singers, Liz Callaway and Michael Rose, to sing songs from Schwartz's Hollywood movies and Broadway shows. There will be a special performance by Paper Mill Playhouse Theatre School students. The following honors will be celebrated at the event.

2010 Honorees

Frank Carrington Excellence in the Arts Award
*Lynn Redgrave

First Annual Byrne Kean Arts Advocate Award
*Governor Brendan T. Byrne and Governor Thomas H. Kean

Antoinette Scudder Patron of the Arts Award
*Adelaide Zagoren, President Emeritus of The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation

Samuel Campbell Corporate Sponsorship Award
*J.P. Morgan

For more information please visit the Paper Mill Playhouse website at www.papermill.org.

For over seven decades Paper Mill Playhouse has been one of the nation's leading not-for-profit theaters. It continues to bring world-class artists and outstanding musicals and plays to the community while enriching the lives of over 50,000 young people each year through renowned education outreach, artists training and access programs.

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, and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional 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.

Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski