Paper Mill Playhouse is thrilled to produce two world premieres, an East Coast premiere, and a season of all musicals in our exciting 2018-19 lineup
PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE’S 2018–2019 SEASON
The Color Purple – Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn – My Very Own British Invasion – Benny & Joon – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS ON SALE NOW!
Paper Mill Playhouse will open its 2018–2019 season with the hit musical, The Color Purple (September 26-October 21), the unforgettable and moving Tony Award winning musical based on the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel and Academy Award–nominated film features a soul-raising, Grammy-winning score infused with jazz, gospel, ragtime, and blues. The Color Purple, with a book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray, is a stirring family chronicle about the power of love and life.Next, a family musical just in time for the season, Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn (Nov 21–Dec 30), comes to Paper Mill Playhouse, based on the beloved Bing Crosby/Fred Astaire film. This heartwarming, toe-tapping production features more than 20 classic songs from the Berlin catalog, including “Easter Parade,” “Cheek to Cheek,” “Steppin’ Out with My Baby,” and “White Christmas.” Next winter, Paper Mill Playhouse presents the world-premiere musical My Very Own British Invasion (Jan 31–Mar 3), directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. The 1960s British music scene comes to life with songs from Herman’s Hermits, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Petula Clark, The Moody Blues, and other legendary bands of the era. The spring brings the East Coast premiere of Benny & Joon (Apr 4–May 5). Based on the 1993 film which starred Johnny Depp and Mary Stuart Masterson, this new musical is a smart, funny, tender-hearted celebration of love: between children and parents; romantic partners; friends; and, most of all, siblings. The final production of the season, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (May –Jun 30), an international sensation that has played to more than 35 million people in 13 countries. Based on the Academy Award–winning animated feature, the stage production includes all of the original songs from the movie by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, plus additional gems by Menken and Tim Rice.
“Investors Bank continues to be a proud season sponsor of Paper Mill Playhouse because of the phenomenal productions and amazing value it brings to the community. Paper Mill offers high quality theater and makes it accessible to everyone,”
said Investors Bank President and CEO Kevin Cummings.
“But almost more important, Paper Mill offers nearly 40,000 students each year with engaging and unique educational opportunities that would not otherwise be available to them. Arts education is so important to our younger generation’s development.”
Paper Mill Playhouse will produce eight performances a week, Wed–Sun. Three, four, and five-show subscription packages are available now starting at just $111. Each subscription package includes a different level of special benefits. Youth subscriptions are available for children ages 4–18 with the purchase of an adult subscription with accessible discount pricing. Single tickets will go on sale on August 20 starting at just $35. Tickets and subscriptions may be purchased by calling 973.376.4343, or at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or by CLICKING HERE. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. Groups of ten or more can receive up to a 40% discount on tickets and should call 973.315.1680. Titles, casting and dates subject to change.
Paper Mill Playhouse’s 2018–2019 Season
THE COLOR PURPLE
September 26–October 21
Book by Marsha Norman
Music and Lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis & Stephen Bray
Based upon the novel written by Alice Walker
and the Warner Bros./Amblin Entertainment motion picture
Directed by John Doyle
This unforgettable and moving Tony Award winning musical based on the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel and Academy Award–nominated film features a soul-raising, Grammy-winning score infused with jazz, gospel, ragtime, and blues. The Color Purple, with a book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray, is a stirring family chronicle about the power of love and Life.
IRVING BERLIN’S HOLIDAY INN
Nov 21–Dec 30
Based on the film from Universal Pictures
Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
Book by Gordon Greenberg and Chad Hodge
Choreographed by Denis Jones
Directed by Gordon Greenberg
In this musical based on the beloved Bing Crosby/Fred Astaire film, Jim Hardy leaves behind the hustle and bustle of showbiz for a quiet life on a Connecticut farm. Jim’s agrarian efforts are a flop, but things start looking up when he falls for a talented schoolteacher, and together they infuse their sleepy rural setting with some Broadway razzle-dazzle. Fresh from a Broadway run, this heartwarming, toe-tapping production features more than 20 classic songs from the Berlin catalog, including “Easter Parade,” “Cheek to Cheek,” “Steppin’ Out with My Baby,” and “White Christmas.”
MY VERY OWN BRITISH INVASION
Jan 31–Mar 3
Book by Rick Elice
Music by Various Artists
Directed and Choreographed by Jerry Mitchell
The 1960s British music scene comes to life in a world-premiere musical featuring songs from Herman’s Hermits, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Petula Clark, The Moody Blues, and other legendary bands of the era. My Very Own British Invasion is a fable of young love as British Rock explodes around the world loosely based on the experiences of Peter Noone, who was just 15 when he rose to international stardom as the lead singer of Herman’s Hermits—and England became the center of the rock and roll universe. Grab a pint and get a front-row seat to an electrifying moment in music history.
BENNY & JOON
Apr 4–May 5
Book by Kirsten Guenther
Music by Nolan Gasser
Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein
Based on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture written by Barry Berman and Lesley McNeil
Choreographed by Scott Rink
Directed by Jack Cummings III
Based on the 1993 film which starred Johnny Depp and Mary Stuart Masterson, this new musical is a smart, funny, tender-hearted celebration of love: between children and parents; romantic partners; friends; and, most of all, siblings. The pair at the heart of the show are Joon, a young woman dealing with mental illness, and Benny, the big brother who’s determined to take care of her. When a charmingly eccentric stranger comes into their lives, he throws their carefully calibrated world off-kilter—maybe for the better. Large in emotional scope and artistic ambition, Benny & Joon embraces a difficult subject with warmth, honesty, and wit.
DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
May 29–Jun 30
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice
Book by Linda Woolverton
Choreographed by Denis Jones
Directed by Mark S. Hoebee
Singing teapots and candlesticks, an evil spell, and an unlikely love story are all part of the magic of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, an international sensation that has played to more than 35 million people in 13 countries. Based on the Academy Award–winning animated feature, the stage production includes all of the original songs from the movie by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, plus additional gems by Menken and Tim Rice. The whole family will be enchanted by this gorgeous production, featuring stunning costumes and sets, spectacular dance numbers, and, of course, a fairy-tale ending.
SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS ON SALE NOW!
Paper Mill Playhouse offers people with disabilities the opportunity to see live theater with dignity and independence through a myriad of award-winning access programs and services, including audio description and sensory seminars for the blind, Braille and large-print programs, American Sign Language interpretation for the deaf, open-captioning for those with hearing loss, and assistive listening devices. In addition, Paper Mill Playhouse provides Autism-friendly performances of both mainstage and children’s shows throughout the season.
PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE, a not-for-profit arts organization under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee (Producing Artistic Director) and Todd Schmidt (Managing Director) and recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, is one of the country’s leading regional theaters. Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.
