Paper Mill Playhouse facts for kids
The main entrance to the Paper Mill Playhouse.
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| Address | 22 Brookside Drive Millburn, New Jersey United States |
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| Coordinates | 40°43′40″N 74°18′33″W / 40.72778°N 74.30917°W |
| Operator | Mark S. Hoebee |
| Type | Regional theater |
| Capacity | 1,200 |
| Opened | 1934 |
| Years active | 77 |
The Paper Mill Playhouse is a famous regional theater in Millburn, New Jersey. It sits on the banks of the Rahway River and has about 1,200 seats. Because it's close to New York City, many talented actors perform there.
The theater is so important that it was named the "State Theater of New Jersey." For many years, it was also home to the New Jersey Ballet and their yearly performance of The Nutcracker. The current artistic director, Mark S. Hoebee, is known for helping the theater through tough financial times.
In 2016, the Paper Mill Playhouse won a special Regional Theatre Tony Award for its amazing work.
Contents
From Paper Mill to Playhouse
A Historic Building
Long before it was a theater, the building had a different purpose. In 1795, a man named Sam Campbell built the Thistle Paper Mill. It was used to make paper. After a fire, the building was empty for many years. In the late 1870s, the Diamond Mill Paper Company bought it and made paper there until 1928.
In the late 1920s, a writer named Antoinette Scudder and a director named Frank Carrington wanted to start a theater. They found the empty paper mill and worked for years to turn it into the playhouse it is today.
Sadly, another fire in 1980 damaged the theater, and it had to close to be rebuilt. It reopened on October 30, 1982, with its first show since the fire.
A Home for Great Theater
The Paper Mill Playhouse officially opened on November 14, 1938. The first show was a play called The Kingdom of God. In its early years, the theater showed many different plays. By the 1940s, it became known for performing operettas, which are like light, funny operas.
In 1971, the New Jersey Ballet began performing The Nutcracker at the Playhouse every year. This became a popular holiday tradition. A year later, in 1972, New Jersey's governor officially named the Paper Mill the "State Theater of New Jersey."
Over the decades, many famous stars have performed on the Paper Mill stage. These include Anne Hathaway, Nick Jonas, Patrick Swayze, and Kristin Chenoweth. The theater is known for putting on high-quality shows that attract audiences from all over.
Saving the Playhouse
Around 2007, the theater faced serious money problems and was in danger of closing. The community and the leadership, including director Mark S. Hoebee, worked hard to save it.
In 2008, the town of Millburn agreed to buy the building and the land it sits on. This allowed the theater to pay off its debts and continue operating. The theater now rents the building from the town, which helped secure its future for years to come.
Famous Shows at Paper Mill
The Paper Mill Playhouse is famous for putting on new musicals before they go to Broadway, as well as classic favorites. Some shows even had their world premiere here!
A world premiere means it was the very first time the show was ever performed for an audience. An East Coast premiere means it was the first time it was shown on the East Coast of the U.S.
Here are some of the popular shows that have been on the Paper Mill stage:
- 1992-1993: The Wizard of Oz, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
- 1998-1999: Gypsy, Crazy for You
- 2002-2003: Miss Saigon, Annie
- 2011-2012: Newsies (World Premiere)
- 2012-2013: The Little Mermaid
- 2014-2015: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (East Coast Premiere)
- 2015-2016: A Bronx Tale (World Premiere)
- 2016-2017: Mary Poppins
- 2018-2019: Beauty and the Beast
- 2022-2023: Hercules, RENT
- 2023-2024: The Great Gatsby: A New Musical (World Premiere)
- 2025-2026: Frozen, West Side Story
Education and Awards
Learning at the Playhouse
The Paper Mill Playhouse isn't just for watching shows. It also has a large theater school where students can take classes in acting, singing, and dancing. The theater also runs special programs for students with disabilities, making sure everyone has a chance to enjoy the arts.
The Rising Star Awards
Since 1996, the Playhouse has hosted the Rising Star Awards every spring. These awards are like the Tony Awards, but for New Jersey high schools. They celebrate the amazing work of students in their school musicals.
Winning a Rising Star Award is a huge honor for students and schools. It recognizes excellence in everything from acting and singing to set design and costumes. Many past winners and nominees, like Anne Hathaway and Laura Benanti, have gone on to have successful careers on Broadway and in Hollywood.
