Paper Mill Playhouse opened its doors in 1938 and has been sharing the joy of theater with audiences ever since. As one of the country’s leading not-for-profit regional theaters, Paper Mill has established itself on the national stage with a reputation for excellence. In 2022, the Paper Mill Playhouse Legacy Project was established to preserve and share our rich history with our community. From 1930s costume sketches to behind-the-scenes photos of recent Broadway transfers, our collection holds a wealth of history that has never been publicly available – until now. Our project team is dedicated to unearthing, organizing, and digitizing a vast collection of historical materials, including:
- Photographs
- Videos
- Programs
- Posters
- Costume & Set Designs
- Vinyl recordings of Paper Mill’s original works
- Correspondence
- Memorabilia
- And much more!
Additionally, The Legacy Project is also uncovering the history of our site prior to the theater’s founding, as well as the legacy of our founders, Frank Carrington and Antoinette Scudder, and their traveling performance group, The Newark Arts Theatre. These additional components to our story help to illustrate Paper Mill’s early years and shed light on many unsung historical figures in the regional theater movement. The PMP Legacy Project is also in collaboration with The Friends of Carrington, located in Fire Island Pines, to further bridge that historical gap and uncover the untold story and legacy of Frank Carrington and his immense contributions to the arts.
The goals for The Legacy Project, both short-term and long-term, are constantly evolving. We hope this collection continues to grow into a comprehensive anthology, database, and serve as a model for the broader musical theater industry. Our commitment to utilizing our history as a community resource and educational tool will allow artists, educators, students, and patrons to learn from one of the longest-operating not-for-profit regional theaters in the country.
For archive donation inquiries, please email the Chair of The PMP Legacy Project, Billy Swann, at BSwann@PaperMill.org. At this time, we are not seeking the donation of show programs.
