Photo Coverage: LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE-THE MUSICAL Opens at Papermill Playhouse!

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE - THE MUSICAL runs through Oct 10, 2009 at Papermill Playhouse. The play features music by Rachel Portman, with a book by Rachel Sheinkin, and lyrics by Donna di Novelli. 

The production celebrated Opening Night on Sunday, September 20th and BroadwayWorld.com's cameras were there!

Based on the book LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the play features Melissa Gilbert as staring "Ma" and Steven Blanchard as "Pa."

Laura Ingalls Wilder's inspirational stories take on a brand new frontier in this uplifting NEW musical. An award-winning team has collaborated to make this one of the best new musicals in decades! The team includes: superlative direction by internationally acclaimed Francesca Zambello (Disney's The Little Mermaid on Broadway); a riveting book by Tony Award winnerRachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee); a wondrous score by Oscar Winning composer Rachel Portman; lyrics by Donna di Novelli and finally: Melissa Gilbert, who played "Laura" in the beloved TV series, joins the cast as "Ma." This heartwarming and joyous musical of the Ingalls family's struggles and triumphs on the prairie as young Laura grows from childhood to adulthood, will leave you reveling in the pioneering spirit and core values on which our country was founded.

For information on how to buy tickets please call the Box Office at (973) 376 - 4343.

Visit www.papermill.org, for more information.

Photos by Genevieve Rafter Keddy

Paper Mill Playhouse Presents Little House on the Prairie

Westward Bound

Mark S. Hoebee (Artistic Director)

Finale-Kara Lindsay, Steve Blanchard, Melissa Gilbert

Melissa Gilbert

Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey

The Homesteaders of South Dakota

The Homesteaders of South Dakota

Melissa Gilbert leads the cast in a rousing final number

Melissa Gilbert, Kara Lindsay and Kate Loprest

The cast of Little House on the Prairie

The cast of Little House on the Prairie

Kate Loprest and Carly Rose Sonenclar heading off to the party

Stephen Hoebee-Elardo and Patrick Parker (Associate Artistic Director)

Larry Elardo, Stephen Hoebee-Elardo, Mark S. Hoebee and Ashley Hoebee-Elardo

Francesca Zambello (Director)

Ginger Kutch and Jim Kutch from "The Seeing Eye" Morristown, NJ

Rachel Sheinkin (Book), Donna di Novelli (Lyricist), Rachel Portman (Composer) and Adrianne Lobel (Scenic Design)

Rachel Sheinkin (Book), Donna di Novelli (Lyricist), Rachel Portman (Composer) and Adrianne Lobel (Scenic Design) and joined by Mark Linn-Baker

Mark Linn-Baker

Eric Sean Fogel (Associate Choreographer) and Michele Lynch (Choreographer)

Amy Sprecher and Ben Sprecher (Producers)

Taylor Leigh Bera

Carly Rose Sonenclar

Michael Boxleitner

Melissa Gilbert

Kara Lindsay

Kara Lindsay and Melissa Gilbert

Kara Lindsay, Mark S. Hoebee, and Melissa Gilbert

Alessa Neeck, Kara Lindsay, Melissa Gilbert and Carly Rose Sonenclar

Carly Rose Sonenclar, Alessa Neeck, Kara Lindsay, Kevin Massey, and Melissa Gilbert

Francesca Zambello, Carly Rose Sonenclar, Alessa Neeck, Kara Lindsay, Kevin Massey, Melissa Gilbert, Steve Blanchardand Meridth Inglesby

Steve Blanchard and Meredith Inglesby

Steve Blanchard, Meredith Inglesby and Sydney Blanchard

Steve Blanchard, Meredith Inglesby and Sydney Blanchard

Melissa Gilbert

Melissa Gilbert

Melissa Gilbert

Melissa Gilbert

Melissa Gilbert

Melissa Gilbert

Melissa Gilbert

Kara Lindsay, Mark W. Jones (Executive Director) and Melissa Gilbert

Kara Lindsay, Mark W. Jones (Executive Director) and Melissa Gilbert

Kara Lindsay, Mark W. Jones (Executive Director) and Melissa Gilbert

Alessa Neeck

Alessa Neeck

Kate Loprest

Kate Loprest

Kate Loprest

Gayle Samuels

Alessa Neeck, Kara Lindsay and their High School Music Teacher

Stage Management Team-Samantha Preiss, Kelly Biscopink, Michael Danek, Tyler Rhodes and Molly Braverman

Keith Spence andMark W. Jones

Lizzie Klemperer, Caroline Innerbichler and Jessica Hershberg

The Little House family!

Garen McRoberts and Will Ray

Kate Loprest

Christ Haught and Shayne A. Miller (Paper Mill Playhouse Press Representative)