Paper Mill Playhouse is a regional theater containing approximately 1,200 seats located in Millburn, within Essex County, New Jersey, United States, on the banks of the Rahway River. Due to its relative proximity to Manhattan, the theater draws from the pool of actors (and audience members) who live in New York City. Paper Mill was officially designated as the "State Theater of New Jersey".[2] From 1971 to 2008, Paper Mill held the New Jersey Ballet as its resident ballet company, with the annual production of Nutcracker until the premiere 25th Anniversary tour of Les Misérables took up the ballet's performance slot.[3] Mark S. Hoebee serves as the producing artistic director, and is often credited as saving the Paper Mill during the financial crisis in 2008.
In March 1795, Sam Campbell built The Thistle Paper Mill[5] on land along the Rahway River in the town of Millville, later renamed Millburn. Campbell ran his business for about 20 years until he was forced to close down due to a fire. The building remained vacant for several years and ownership changed several times. In the late 1870s, Diamond Mill Paper Company took over the property and used it for their paper making business until 1928.[6]
Writer and performer Antoinette Scudder, along with actor and director Frank Carrington formed a partnership in the late 1920s to create their own theater.[7] They eventually found the vacant mill, and spent many years working on it, turning it into a theater.[8]
Another fire in 1980 changed the course of the theater, and it closed for rebuilding.[9] On October 30, 1982, the Paper Mill reopened for their first theatrical production since the fire.[10] This period of time became the focal point of a lawsuit between the theater and Millburn on whether or not they would be exempt from property taxes during the time the property was not in use.[11]
Theater
Founded in 1934, Paper Mill Playhouse raised the curtain on its first performance[1] with Gregorio Martinez Sierra’s The Kingdom of God on November 14, 1938. By the end of the first year, Carrington had coaxed entertainer Irene Castle out of retirement to make her dramatic debut in Noël Coward’s Shadow Play. The first few years featured a variety of classical and modern plays. By 1941, the Playhouse had begun to specialize in operettas, which it continued until the early 1950s.
Change marked this period in Paper Mill’s history, especially with Miss Scudder’s death in 1958.[7][clarification needed] Angelo Del Rossi joined as associate producer in 1964, working closely with Carrington until his death in 1975.[12] Del Rossi became executive producer and remained in that role for nearly 40 years until his death in August 2014.[13]
In 1971, the New Jersey Ballet staged its first production of The Nutcracker at Paper Mill with world-renowned dancer Edward Villella in the role of the Cavalier. The Nutcracker production has been produced annually at Paper Mill since then.[14]
In 1972, Governor of New JerseyWilliam Cahill proclaimed Paper Mill the "Official State Theater of New Jersey."[1] The theater has been cited as a State Center of Artistic Excellence and as a Major Impact and Distinguished Arts Organization by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.[1]
In April 2003, Michael Gennaro, former executive director of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater, joined Paper Mill as president and CEO.[15] Paper Mill Playhouse was one of the first theaters to begin the regional theater movement in the United States. It has grown to be one of the most acclaimed not-for-profit professional theaters in the country, and attracts more than 450,000 people annually, and has one of the largest subscription based audiences.[1]
Financial issues
On April 3, 2007, Paper Mill announced that it would need $1.5 million to open its season and an equal amount to complete its season, or it would be forced to close its doors.[16] On April 6, 2007, Paper Mill announced that it had received $300,000, enough to cover costs of rehearsals and preview performances for its production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.[17]
Paper Mill announced that it would have to do more well-known shows to stay in business.[18] On June 17, 2008, the Township of Millburn voted to purchase building and four acres of land the Paper Mill sits on for $9 million.[19] They have entered into a 75-year lease with the theater; and its operations will remain independent.[20] Prior to this deal the Paper Mill had accumulated $4.5 million in debt.[21] Based on the terms of the lease, the Paper Mill would pay $1 for the first two years. After 2 years the rent would grow to equal 1% of the theater's annual operation income.[22] The Paper Mill maintained an option to repurchase the property from the town after 11 years of the lease.[23] The artistic director at the time, Mark S. Hoebee, is attributed with saving the Paper Mill.
Paper Mill is a member of the Council of Stock Theatres (COST), a group of theaters who join to negotiate with the various unions that are involved in stage productions. COST's contract with Actors' Equity allows for a minimum weekly salary which is smaller than what Broadway productions must pay their actors; Paper Mill is also allowed to cast a minimal amount of non-union actors, which is forbidden for Broadway shows. This gives Paper Mill the ability to produce shows on a larger scale than most Broadway productions (and in a shorter amount of time).[45]
Paper Mill also has a large theater school offering a variety of classes.[46][47] They have also run classes for developmentally disabled students with VSA New Jersey.[48]
Rising Star Awards
Starting in 1996, the Paper Mill holds annual Rising Star Awards (modeled after the Tony Awards) every spring, honoring excellence in high school theater performances across the state of New Jersey [49]
Award recipients
Year
Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Outstanding Leading Performer in a Female-Identified Role
Outstanding Leading Performer in a Male-Identified Role
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Female-Identified Role
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Male-Identified Role
Outstanding Performer in a Featured Role
Outstanding Performance by a Featured Ensemble Member
Outstanding Performance by a Featured Ensemble Group
Outstanding Performance by a Chorus
Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra
Outstanding Achievement by a Teacher or Outside Director
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography and Staging
Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction (music director)
Outstanding Scenic Achievement
Outstanding Lighting Achievement
Outstanding Costuming Achievement
Outstanding Hair and Make-Up Achievement
Educational Impact Award
Rising Star “Theatre for Everyone” Inclusion and Access Award
