Todd Schmidt News

(Millburn, NJ) June 2, 2015 - As one of the nation's leading regional theaters and producing partners for Broadway, Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) has a well-earned reputation for launching both performers and shows for the Great White Way.  Since their inception in 1996, the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre have ignited the careers of many notable performers, all of whom attended high school in New Jersey.  Among the early nominees and winners are Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables), Tony Award winners Laura Benanti (Gypsy) and Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon), Tony nominee Rob McClure (Chaplin), and UK Olivier Award nominee Jared Gertner (The Book of Mormon - West End)  The 2015 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards ceremony took place at Paper Mill Playhouse on Tuesday, June 2, at 7:30pm, featuring presenters from Broadway and beyond. Union High School won the coveted title of Outstanding Overall Production and left Paper Mill Playhouse with a total of nine Rising Star Awards.  

Just last night, Paper Mill Playhouse opened the world-premiere musical Ever After, directed and choreographed by three-time Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes, Nice Work If You Can Get It), featuring a book and lyrics by Marcy Heislerand music by Zina Goldrich.  Ever After stars two-time Tony Award-winner Christine Ebersole (Grey Gardens, 42nd Street) as Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent, Tony Award nominee Tony Sheldon (Priscilla Queen of the Desert) as Leonardo da Vinci, Emmy Award winner Charles Shaughnessy (Urinetown, 'The Nanny') as King Francis, James Synder (If/Then) as Prince Henry and Drama Desk Award nominee Margo Seibert (Rocky) as Danielle de Barbarac. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the after party!

As one of the nation's leading regional theaters and producing partners for Broadway, Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) has a well-earned reputation for launching both performers and shows for the Great White Way.  Since their inception in 1996, the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre have ignited the careers of many notable performers, all of whom attended high school in New Jersey.  To celebrate its 20-year milestone, the 2015 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards will be broadcast live online and available on HomeTowne Television.  The 2015 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards ceremony presented by the Investors Foundation will take place at Paper Mill Playhouse on Tuesday, June 2, at 7:30pm, featuring presenters from Broadway and beyond and performances from nominated productions. Viewers throughout the world will be able to watch the Rising Star Awards live online using this link: www.hometownetv.org/risingstar. 

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) is hosting its largest fundraising event of the year, the Visionaries Gala on Friday, May 8, at the renowned Hilton Short Hills.

Paper Mill Playhouse has won two 2015 Discover Jersey Arts People's Choice Awards. Paper Mill Playhouse was awarded, "Favorite Theater at See a Musical" and "Favorite Theater Camp" earlier today by the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation.

Paper Mill Playhouse presents its winter comedy, Christopher Durang's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike will be directed by Don Stephenson. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike will run eight times a week at the Millburn, New Jersey, theater, now through February 15, 2015. The official press opening night was yesterday, January 25, at 7:00pm. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the big opening below!

Paper Mill Playhouse just opened its 2014-2015 season with a Broadway-bound, world-class revival of Can-Can starring Kate Baldwin as Pistache and Jason Danieley as Aristide. This fresh new production features direction by David Lee (Frasier, Cheers) and choreography by Patti Colombo (Paper Mill's Peter Pan, On the Town, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers). The show features a book byAbe Burrows (Guys and Dolls, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) and a re-crafted script by Joel Fields (Ugly Betty, The Americans) and David Lee. The company just celebrated the success of the run in New York City and you can check out photos from the party below!

Paper Mill Playhouse just opened its 2014-2015 season with a Broadway-bound, world-class revival ofCan-Can starring Kate Baldwin as Pistache and Jason Danieley as Aristide. This fresh new production features direction by David Lee (Frasier, Cheers) and choreography by Patti Colombo (Paper Mill's Peter Pan, On the Town, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers). The show features a book by Abe Burrows (Guys and Dolls, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) and a re-crafted script by Joel Fields (Ugly Betty, The Americans) and David Lee. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the opening night after party!

Paper Mill Playhouse will open its 2014-2015 season with a Broadway-bound, world-class revival of Can-Can starring Kate Baldwin as Pistache and Jason Danieley as Aristide. This fresh new production features direction by David Lee(Frasier, Cheers) and choreography by Patti Colombo (Paper Mill's Peter Pan, On the Town, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers). The show features a book by Abe Burrows (Guys and Dolls, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) and a re-crafted script by Joel Fields (Ugly Betty, The Americans) and David Lee. The company just met the press to preview the new production and you can check out photos from inside the special preview event below!

Paper Mill Playhouse will open its 2014-2015 season with a Broadway-bound, world-class revival of Can-Can starring Kate Baldwin as Pistache and Jason Danieley as Aristide. This fresh new production features direction by David Lee (Frasier, Cheers) and choreography by Patti Colombo (Paper Mill's Peter Pan, On the Town, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers). The show features a book by Abe Burrows (Guys and Dolls, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) and a re-crafted script by Joel Fields (Ugly Betty, The Americans) andDavid Lee. Can-Can's score features some of Cole Porter's timeless classics including 'I Love Paris,' 'C'est Magnifique,' 'It's All Right With Me' and more. Paper Mill Playhouse is launching this Broadway-bound production of Cole Porter's classic musical with producing partner Jonathan Burrows. Can-Can will play the Millburn, New Jersey, theater from October 1 through October 26, 2014. The company just met the press to preview the new production and you can check out photos from inside the special preview event below!

On July 1st, Todd Schmidt, Managing Director of Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ, began his appointment as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance (NJTA), the service organization for the state's professional theatres. Also on that date, Michael Hurst, Managing Director of Two River Theater in Red Bank, NJ, began his three-year term on the Board.

On July 1st, Todd Schmidt, Managing Director of Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ, began his appointment as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, the service organization for the state's professional theatres. Also on that date, Michael Hurst, Managing Director of Two River Theater in Red Bank, NJ, began his three-year term on the Board.

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced that single tickets will go on sale to the public for its highly anticipated season on Wednesday, July 30th at 10:00am. Tickets can be purchased online at www.PaperMill.org or by calling our box office at 973.376.4343, or by visiting the theater box office at 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, New Jersey.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) 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 pleased to announce a wide array of classes and performance opportunities for actors of all ages this fall. There is still time to sign up for the diverse Theatre School offerings which begin mid-September. For more information or to register for Paper Mill Playhouse Theatre Classes, please e-mail Mickey McNany at MMcNany@papermill.org or visit Paper Mill's website www.papermill.org for the registration form.

Paper Mill Playhouse concludes its 75th Anniversary Season with America's favorite musical, GREASE. With book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Grease will be directed by Daniel Goldstein with original choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Additional songs are by John Farrar, Barry Gibb, Scott Simon and Louis St. Louis. Grease plays the Millburn, New Jersey, theater through June 29, 2014. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the opening night after party below!

Paper Mill Playhouse hosted its largest fundraising event of the year, Curtain Up on the 76th Season Gala on May 2, honoring Tony Danza and Linda Bowden, at the renowned Hilton Short Hills. Curtain Up on the 76th Season Gala was sponsored by Hilton Short Hills. Other gala sponsors include: PNC Bank, Tiffany & Co., Dior, and American Airlines, the official airline of Paper Mill Playhouse. Check out a look back below!

Paper Mill Playhouse is hosting its largest fundraising event of the year, Curtain Up on the 76th Season Gala tonight, May 2nd, at the renowned Hilton Short Hills. Curtain Up on the 76th Season Gala is sponsored by Hilton Short Hills. Other gala sponsors include: PNC Bank, Tiffany & Co., Dior, and American Airlines, the official airline of Paper Mill Playhouse.

Continuing the Christie Administration's ongoing support of community-based services for individuals with developmental disabilities, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno last evening visited Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn for a performance by the Theatre for Everyone program group. With its array of specialized, arts-focused programming for individuals with developmental disabilities, Paper Mill Playhouse has received numerous awards and national recognition for its unique and family-friendly learning experience. Scroll down for photos from Guadagno's visit!

Paper Mill Playhouse is hosting its largest fundraising event of the year, Curtain Up on the 76th Season Gala on Friday, May 2nd, at the renowned Hilton Short Hills. Curtain Up on the 76th Season Gala is sponsored by Hilton Short Hills. Other gala sponsors include: PNC Bank, Tiffany & Co., Dior, and American Airlines, the official airline of Paper Mill Playhouse.

The tradition continues! Each year Paper Mill Playhouse sends out five images that hold small clues as to the upcoming season titles. Check out the images above, and then let us know your best guesses for the 2014-15 lineup!