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LIST OF NOMINEES & WINNERS

2021 Rising Star Awards Program

As one of the nation’s leading theaters, Paper Mill Playhouse has a well-earned reputation for launching both performers and shows for Broadway. The theater was the recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award. Since their inception in 1996, the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater presented by the Investors Foundation 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 Misérables), Tony Award winners Laura Benanti (Gypsy) and Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon), Tony nominee Rob McClure (Chaplin), Shanice Williams, star of NBC’s The Wiz Live! and Olivier Award nominee Jared Gertner (The Book of Mormon).

This year’s award recipients will be announced during the 2021 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards Presented by the Investors Foundation, which will stream on Paper Mill Playhouse YouTube and Facebook outlets on Monday, June 7 at 7PM.

Among the top nominated high school performances and student achievement efforts, Delaware Valley Regional HS has five nominations, Ridge HS has four nominations, and St. Peter’s Preparatory School, Union HS and Madison HS each have three nominations.

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic caused rolling school building closures and social distancing restrictions, leaving many New Jersey high schools unable to produce a traditional musical at their schools with a live audience.  Despite the restrictions, theater educators found new ways to teach students with strict Covid protocols in place, or explored new concepts for virtual rehearsals and performances.

With this in mind, Paper Mill launched an abridged Rising Star Awards program that preserves essential elements that serve both students and teachers and continues to provide a meaningful recognition platform for the school community.  Paper Mill welcomed video submissions of student performances for a shorter list of categories: Outstanding Solo Performance by an Actor and Actress; Outstanding Performance by a Small Ensemble and Large Ensemble; the Student Achievement Awards for non-performance contributions; the Rising Star Scholarships for graduating seniors and the Theater for Everyone Inclusion and Access Award.  A new honor, Outstanding Educator Award, has been added. Winners will receive the crystal Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award made exclusively by Tiffany & Company.

“After a most difficult year, the Rising Star Awards are a testament to the determination and commitment of student performers and the dedication of the teachers involved in high school theater programs,” said Investors Bank Chairman and CEO Kevin Cummings. “Investors Bank is proud to present the awards and to encourage students to rise up each day in pursuit of their dreams. You are the essence of the show business mantra, ‘the show must go on.'”

In addition to recognizing performances, Paper Mill Playhouse will award $5,000 in scholarships at the awards ceremony.  Five $1,000 cash scholarships are given to outstanding individual students who plan to continue studying theater performance, education, or technical theater in college. In addition, Paper Mill Playhouse is pleased to award a prize of $1,000 to a school receiving the 2021 Rising Star “Theatre for Everyone” Inclusion and Access Award, a partnership with the New Jersey Theatre Alliance and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, to recognize excellence in the promotion and practice of creative inclusion of students and adults with disabilities as performers, designers, musicians, and production staff. This award seeks to recognize and reward a school that takes steps to ensure their performances are accessible to audiences with disabilities.

New to the Rising Star Awards in 2021 is the Outstanding Educator Award which will put the spotlight on educators nominated by their home school districts for their distinguished service to their students and theater programs.  A $1,000 prize will be granted to the recipients’ school theater programs.

Lastly, students receiving a Final Nomination in the Outstanding Performance by an Actor and Actress categories will receive a full scholarship prize to attend Paper Mill Playhouse’s competitive professional training program, the Summer Musical Theater Conservatory, at the Millburn theater during the month of July. Conservatory students take advanced classes in singing, acting and dance on a hybrid schedule – both in-studio and online—and will appear in the filmed musical theater montage, New Voices of 2021: Stand By Me.  New Voices is directed by Paper Mill’s professional creative staff and will be filmed in July with a World Premiere in September.

Rising Star scholarships are made possible by Ruth Bedford in memory of Jane Burgio, Walt Santner in honor of Janet Sovey, and the Douglas Michael Krueger Scholarship Fund Trust.

The 2021 Rising Star Awards Ceremony and the “Theater for Everyone” Inclusion and Access Award are part of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance 2021 Stages Festival, made possible by support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; Bank of America; The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey; OceanFirst Foundation; the George A. Ohl, Jr. Trust; New Jersey Historical Commission; and Fund for the New Jersey Blind. njtheatrealliance.org/stages

LIST OF NOMINEES & WINNERS

 OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS NOMINEES

Alex Belle, Collier HS, “My New Philosophy” from YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN

Emma Casertano, Ocean County Vocational Technical Schools-Grunin Performing Arts Academy, “The Music and the Mirror” from A CHORUS LINE

Leonor Fontanez, Delaware Valley Regional HS, “Cleaning Women” from WORKING

Halle Lipton, St. Peter’s Preparatory School, “Lying There” from EDGES: A SONG CYCLE

Kyra Longenecker, Madison HS, “I Want to Go to Hollywood” from GRAND HOTEL

Khadijah Sankoh, Union HS, “Waiting for Life” from ONCE ON THIS ISLAND

Yemie Woo, Pascack Hills HS, “Fabulous Baby” from SISTER ACT – WINNER

OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR NOMINEES

Will DeLargy, Morristown HS, “All I Care About is Love” from CHICAGO

Collin Flanagan, Madison HS, The Lady Must be Mad” from ILYRIA

Michael Bryant Kessie, Delaware Valley Regional HS, “Joe” from WORKING – WINNER

Nicholas Matos, St. Peter’s Preparatory School, “Monticello” from EDGES: A SONG CYCLE

Miguel Ramirez, Lawrence HS, “Dulcinea” from MAN OF LA MANCHA

Max Rodriguez, Ridge HS, “Gus: The Theatre Cat” from CATS

Jonah Ruderman, Livingston HS, “Who I’d Be” from SHREK: THE MUSICAL

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A SMALL ENSEMBLE NOMINEES

County Prep HS, ”The Most Amazing Thing” from LITTLE WOMEN, featuring Ivellisses Segovia, Mathew Segovia, Kayla Velazquez

Delaware Valley Regional HS, Brother Trucker” from WORKING, featuring Michael Bryant Kessie, Dakota Krouse, Maddy Clyde, Mark Westling, Gabi Pfefferte, Tori Kelly

Ocean County Vocational Technical Schools-Grunin Performing Arts Academy, ”Sing” from A CHORUS LINE, featuring William Einbinder, Gabriella DeBenedict

Pinelands Regional HS, ”Secrets” from THE ADDAMS FAMILY, featuring Nadia Vito, Lily Targett

Ridge HS, Macavity” from CATS, featuring Elisabeth Schmitt, Eileen Brady, Eve Armstrong, Samantha Rascio, Morgan Connell, Gabriella Hairston, Jordan Perla – WINNER

Summit HS, ”King of New York” from NEWSIES, featuring Sydney Veloso, Hope Pierotti, Avery Johnson, Anna Sullivan, Theo Errig, Ethan Engmann

Union HS, ”Forever Yours” from ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, featuring Khadijah Sankoh, Makayla Michel

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A LARGE ENSEMBLE NOMINEES

Columbia HS, “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from HAIRSPRAY

Delaware Valley Regional HS, All the Livelong Day” from WORKING

Madison HS, ”On My Way” from VIOLET

Ridge HS,  “The Jellicle Ball” from CATS

St. Peter’s Preparatory School, “Become” from EDGES: A SONG CYCLE

Summit HS, “Seize the Day” from NEWSIES – WINNER

Union HS, “Mama Will Provide” from ONCE ON THIS ISLAND

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD NOMINEES

Atlantic County Institute of Technology, Dominic Roberts, Dance Captain – WINNER

Bridgewater-Raritan HS, Liz Driscoll, Dance Captain

Bridgewater Raritan HS, Sophia Pedroso, Stage Manager – WINNER

Delaware Valley Regional HS, Simon Kinderman, Designer: Cinematography/Production/Pit – WINNER

Immaculate Heart Academy, Grace Capeless, Assistant Director/Film Editor – WINNER

José Martí STEM Academy, Felix Tavarez, Assistant Choreographer

José Martí STEM Academy, Clarisse Moreno, Kathy Bernal, Oliver Villalta, Writing Team – WINNER

Morristown HS Lorelei Eck, Student Director

Mount Saint Dominic Academy, Hema Davalla & Sophia Garske, Production Stage Managers

Mount Saint Dominic Academy, Kiera Carbone, Ava Ciauro, Lynn Jean-Baptiste, Sound Board Operators

Pascack Hills HS, Valentina Cannao, Scenic Designer & Assistant Director

Piscataway HS, Melly Merida, Scenic Illustrations – WINNER

Randolph HS, Kathleen Brennan, Christine Hamilton, Jilliane Najera, Digital Designers

Ridge HS, Morgan Beatty, Student, Director – WINNER

Summit HS, Emma MacPherson, Costume Crew Head – WINNER

Toms River HS North, Archie Bird, Tech Crew – WINNER

Voorhees HS, Owen Tabor, Choreographer/Dance Captain

Westfield HS, Ben Zakharenko, Sound Designer – WINNER

Westfield HS, Josh Saxon, Scenic Designer / Asst. Technical Director

OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD NOMINEES

Elizabeth Volpe, Atlantic County Institute of Technology

Pete Gambino, Cherry Hill HS East

Michael Penna, Collier HS

John Giresi, Fair Lawn HS – WINNER

Jim DeVivo, Holmdel HS

Blake Spence, Madison HS

Cindy Dwyer, Mater Dei Prep – WINNER

Jodi Bosch, Mount Olive HS

Jensyn Modero, Mount Saint Dominic Academy

Bart DiFrancia, Pinelands Regional HS

Anne Poyner, Summit HS – WINNER

Steven Collins, Union County Academy for Performing Arts

Nancy Reynolds, Voorhees HS

THEATER FOR EVERYONE INCLUSION AND ACCESS AWARD NOMINEES

Collier HS

Madison HS – WINNER

Piscataway HS

The post 2021 RISING STAR AWARD WINNERS appeared first on Paper Mill Playhouse.

June 28–July 23, 2021, at Paper Mill Playhouse and Paper Mill Studios in Milburn, New Jersey.

Paper Mill Playhouse announces auditions for the institution’s prestigious Summer Musical Theater Conservatory for young artists to be held this summer.  Paper Mill Playhouse welcomes audition videos from students 10–18 years old seeking a coveted spot in the competitive conservatory.  The program culminates in a video presentation titled, New Voices of 2021!  This original program will premiere online in September.
The 2021 Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Musical Theater Conservatory will take place June 28–July 23, 2021, at Paper Mill Playhouse and the Paper Mill Studios in Milburn, New Jersey.  Students will be offered a hybrid schedule of live training three days a week and alternating with virtual instruction two days a week. Classes will be modest in size with all current CDC guidelines and state mandated protocols in place for live instruction.
Auditions for the Summer Conservatory are by video submission only. There will be no live auditions scheduled.  For audition video guidelines, submission instructions and other important information on tuition and available scholarships, visit our website at Paper Mill Summer Conservatory Auditions.

          
The Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Musical Theater Conservatory is a program of rigorous study led by Paper Mill’s professional artistic staff. Students have the opportunity to enhance their individual performance potential while developing a broad base of theater experience and knowledge. Students participate in intensive classes including musical theater performance, acting, dance, private voice lessons, monologue coaching, and improvisation, while also attending guest workshops taught by professional actors, directors, and casting agents.  Time during every instructional day is devoted to rehearsing and filming the virtual New Voices performance that debuts September 2021. Key to the curriculum is the development of self-discipline, respect, and a commitment to excellence that will serve these young artists throughout their lives.

As one of the nation’s leading theaters, Paper Mill Playhouse has a well-earned reputation for launching both performers and shows for the Broadway industry. Since its inception in 1996, the Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Musical Theater Conservatory and the New Voices Concert have ignited the careers of many notable performers.  Conservatory alumni include Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables), Tony Award winners Laura Benanti (Gypsy), Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon), Ali Stoker (Oklahoma!), Tony nominee Rob McClure (Chaplin), Jelani Remy (Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations), Shanice Williams, star of NBC’s The Wiz Live! and Olivier Award nominee Jared Gertner (The Book of Mormon).  For the full list of notable alumni, click here.
The New Voices performance is the culmination of the four-week program. Also appearing will be numerous winners and nominees of the 2021 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards presented by Investors Foundation, who win scholarships to attend the conservatory.

The summer of 2020 saw the introduction of online classes, and despite everyone’s desire to be in studio, the virtual conservatory soared and enrolled students from across the country.

A parent in Colorado shared, “We want to thank you for an amazing summer with the Paper Mill Conservatory.  Our son is absolutely LOVING his time with Paper Mill this summer!  You have all done such a marvelous job making the Conservatory so personable and illuminating for the students–truly, a life-changing experience. Your commitment to making the Conservatory happen provided a transformative experience for our son, who not only grew as an artist but also created incredible memories and friendships. You and the other Conservatory teachers & staff were amazing–personable in your interaction with the students and directly impactful on their artistic development.  You should be so proud of what you all accomplished in this unprecedented summer!”

The Summer Professional Training Programs and New Voices are supported by Investors Foundation.  Paper Mill Playhouse Education and Outreach are proudly sponsored by The Goren Family and The Harmony Helper App.

The post Auditions for 2021 Summer Musical Theater Conservatory for Young Artists appeared first on Paper Mill Playhouse.

Directed by MARK S. HOEBEE
Starring
KATHRYN ALLISON, KATE BALDWIN, NATALIE CORTEZ, JOHN TREACY EGAN, MAURICIO MARTINEZ, ROB McCLURE, KYLE TAYLOR PARKER, MAMIE PARRIS, HAYLEY PODSCHUN, NICHOLAS RODRIGUEZ, GRAHAM ROWAT, CHRISTOPHER SIEBER, ELENA SHADDOW, and REMA WEBB

Streaming Dec 19, 2020–Jan 1, 2021
Delivered virtually from the Paper Mill Stage

SOME ENCHANTED EVENING: THE SONGS OF RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN

Directed by MARK S. HOEBEE
Starring
BELINDA ALLYN, ASHLEY BLANCHET, DONNA ENGLISH, NICHOLAS RODRIGUEZ, and BILLY HARRIGAN TIGHE

Streaming Feb 13–26, 2021
Delivered virtually from the Paper Mill Stage

(October 13, 2020) — Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Michael Stotts- Managing Director) has announced the casts for Sing in a New Year! and Some Enchanted Evening: The Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein, the first two productions to be produced on the Paper Mill stage since the pandemic shut down the theater in March.

Sing in a New Year! will bring a roster of Broadway-seasoned Paper Mill family home for the holidays to perform seasonal favorites just in time for the New Year. The intimate cabaret lineup, directed by Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee, includes solos and duets by Kathryn Allison (PMP: New Voices; Broadway: Aladdin, Wicked, Company), Kate Baldwin (PMP: Can-Can, Guys and Dolls; Broadway: Hello, Dolly!, Finian’s Rainbow, Big Fish), Natalie Cortez (PMP: Anita in West Side Story; Broadway: West Side Story, A Chorus Line), John Treacy Egan (PMP: Lend Me a Tenor, The Producers, Oliver!; Broadway: My Fair Lady, The Producers, The Little Mermaid), Mauricio Martinez (PMP: Unmasked; Broadway: On Your Feet!), Rob McClure (PMP: Honeymoon in Vegas, Carousel; Broadway: Chaplin, Beetlejuice, Mrs. Doubtfire), Kyle Taylor Parker (PMP: My Very Own British Invasion; Broadway: Kinky Boots, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Off Broadway: Smokey Joe’s Cafe), Mamie Parris (PMP: Unmasked; Broadway: Cats, School of Rock), Hayley Podschun (PMP: Peter Pan, Holiday Inn; Broadway: Chaplin, Something Rotten!), Nicholas Rodriguez (PMP: Holiday Inn; Broadway: Tarzan), Graham Rowat (Broadway: Sunset Boulevard, Mamma Mia!, Beauty and the Beast), Christopher Sieber (PMP: Cinderella, Annie; Broadway: The Prom, Matilda, Company), Elena Shaddow (PMP: The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, A Christmas Story; Broadway: The Visit, La Cage aux Folles), and Rema Webb (PMP: Unmasked; Broadway: The Color Purple, The Book of Mormon, Escape to Margaritaville). Meghann Zervoulis (Broadway’s The Prom, Mean Girls, West Side Story; Paper Mill’s Mary Poppins, A Christmas Story, New Voices) serves as music director.

Next up will be Some Enchanted Evening: The Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein, directed by Mark S. Hoebee and starring some of theater’s greatest voices including Belinda Allyn (PMP: Beauty and the Beast, West Side Story; Broadway: Allegiance), Ashley Blanchet (PMP: Cinderella; Broadway: Frozen, Beautiful), Donna English (PMP: Beauty and the Beast, Lend Me a Tenor, The Sound of Music, and many more; Broadway: Living on Love, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Lend Me a Tenor), Nicholas Rodriguez (PMP: Holiday Inn; Broadway: Tarzan) and Billy Harrigan Tighe (PMP: Cinderella; Broadway: Pippin).

Paper Mill Playhouse’s 2020–2021 season is proudly sponsored by Investors Bank. Paper Mill Playhouse education and outreach programs are proudly sponsored by The Goren Family & the Harmony Helper App.

Sing in a New Year! and Some Enchanted Evening: The Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein are available now exclusively as part of Paper Mill’s 2020–2021 subscription package of seven shows for $275 per person.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE’S 2020–2021 SEASON

LIVE FROM THE WEST SIDE: THE WOMEN OF BROADWAY

PATTI LUPONE
Streamed Live on Oct 24, 2020, at 8PM
Available to stream on demand for 72 hours after the live presentation

LAURA BENANTI
Streamed Live on Nov 14, 2020, at 8PM
Available to stream on demand for 72 hours after the live presentation

VANESSA WILLIAMS
Streamed Live on Dec 5, 2020, at 8PM
Available to stream on demand for 72 hours after the live presentation

This series of live concert events showcases Broadway’s absolute best and brightest talents sharing beloved show tunes, lesser-known gems, and heartwarming tales, plus a live Q&A with the stars.

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SING IN A NEW YEAR!
Directed by Mark S. Hoebee
Streaming Dec 19, 2020–Jan 1, 2021
Delivered Virtually from the Paper Mill Stage
Subscriber Exclusive!

Paper Mill Playhouse’s popular summertime outdoor Brookside Cabaret comes inside and onto the Paper Mill stage for a very special concert presentation! Over a dozen popular Paper Mill performers, directed by Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee, will sing a unique selection of seasonal favorites just in time to ring in the new year.

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SOME ENCHANTED EVENING: THE SONGS OF RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Concept by Jeffrey B. Moss
For Jerry Kravat Entertainment Services Inc.
Directed by Mark S. Hoebee
Streaming Feb 13–26, 2021
Delivered Virtually from the Paper Mill Stage
Subscriber Exclusive!

This stunning collection of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most beloved compositions will shine the spotlight on five magnificent Paper Mill singers in a glorious parade of hits from Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, Oklahoma!, The Sound of Music, and more. Paper Mill’s own Mark S. Hoebee directs.

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PETE ’N’ KEELY
Book by James Hindman
Music by Patrick Brady
Lyrics by Mark Waldrop
Directed by Mark Waldrop
Dates TBA*
Subscriber Exclusive!

Staged as a live taping of a 1968 television special that reunites a divorced singing duo, this kitschy spoof had New York critics singing its praises. As Pete and Keely stroll down memory lane reprising songs from their days of stardom, they take “unscripted” swipes at each other that dredge up hilarious moments from their turbulent past. This charming musical features unforgettable renditions of the era’s popular favorites such as “Fever,” “Bésame Mucho,” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” as well as original songs in the spirit of the times. Mark Waldrop (When Pigs Fly, Bette Midler’s Divine Miss Millennium Tour, Paper Mill’s Gypsy and Little Shop of Horrors) directs.

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BEEHIVE: THE ’60S MUSICAL
Created by Larry Gallagher
Directed & Choreographed by JoAnn M. Hunter
Dates TBA*
Subscriber Exclusive!

Big hairdos and even bigger voices command the stage in this tuneful tribute to women who rock—the girl groups that made their mark on the music of the ’60s. Featuring such hits as “My Boyfriend’s Back,” “Son of a Preacher Man,” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” Beehive chronicles the dramatic transformations of a volatile decade, told from the perspective of six young women who live through it. JoAnn M. Hunter (Broadway’s School of Rock, Paper Mill’s Unmasked and Cinderella) directs and choreographs.

*Performance dates for Pete ’n’ Keely and Beehive are to be announced, in the hopes that limited audiences (subscribers only) may be invited to safely return to the theater by late spring or summer 2021.

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Note: A livestream option will be available for all shows this season and may become the only possibility if reconvening live audiences is not feasible.
Program and artists are subject to change.
Paper Mill’s 2020–2021 season will be an exclusive subscriber season and all 7 events are available now for $275 per person.

The post Casting Announced for First Two Productions of the Season appeared first on Paper Mill Playhouse.

From May through November 2020, Paper Mill Playhouse produced and streamed 26 weekly episodes of Babbling by the Brook hosted by Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee. His lighthearted virtual conversations with a star-studded roster of Paper Mill veteran performers, writers, directors, and more gives audiences behind-the-scenes insights into past and future productions as well as various elements of the creative process. You can watch the entire catalog of episodes on Paper Mill’s YouTube channel.

BABBLING BY THE BROOK—FULL YOUTUBE PLAYLIST

EPISODE GUIDE

1 Catching up with Tony Award Nominee Rob McClure
2 Clue Preview with Director Casey Hushion & Playwright Sandy Rustin 
3 Catching up with Leading Ladies Donna English & Elena Shaddow 
4 Dreamgirls Reunion with Angela Robinson, LaTonya Holmes & Sharon Wilkins
5 Creative Conversation with Director-Choreographer JoAnn M. Hunter
6 Cinderella Reunion with Ashley Blanchet & Billy Harrigan Tighe 
7 Catching up with Tony Award Winner Ali Stroker
8 Creative Conversation with Tony-Nominated Director-Choreographer Denis Jones
9 Fight Directors Rick Sordelet & Christian Kelly-Sordelet with Actor & Conservatory Alum Collin Kelly-Sordelet 
10 Creative Conversation with Tony-Winning Director-Choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler 
11 Animal Chat with Trainer Bill Berloni
12 Creative Conversation with Music Director Meghann Zervoulis 
13 Team Swing: Brittany Conigatti & Willie Dee 
14 Bandstand & Bruce Writers Richard Oberacker & Robert Taylor
15 Catching up with Tony Award Nominee Kate Baldwin 
16 Creative Conversation with Casting Director Rebecca Scholl 
17 West Side Story Reunion with Belinda Allyn, Natalie Cortez & Matt Doyle 
18 Creative Conversation with Tony-Nominated Scenic Designer David Korins 
19 Star Stage Managers Andrea Cibelli & Beverly Jenkins 
20 Catching up with Leading Funnymen David Josefsberg & Tally Sessions 
21 Alex Brightman & Drew Gasparini on It’s Kind of a Funny Story 
22 The Wanderer Preview with Kenneth Ferrone and Charles Messina
23 Catching up with Don Stephenson
24 Catching up with Gordon Greenberg
25 Pete ’n’ Keely Preview with Director and Lyricist Mark Waldrop
26 Catching up and a Live from the West Side Preview with Laura Benanti

The post Babbling by the Brook appeared first on Paper Mill Playhouse.

In response to the coronavirus national emergency and statewide school, business and institution closures, dozens of New Jersey high schools participating in the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards were forced to cancel their spring musical. Of the 94 schools on the roster, over two-thirds canceled their shows. In the face of this, the theater has canceled the awards program and ceremony which would have been the milestone 25th annual gathering.

The Rising Star Awards will not go on, but to acknowledge the passion that New Jersey students have for musical theater, Paper Mill will present a virtual celebration of the 2020 participating schools with Rising Star Honors presented by the Investors Foundation, a montage of school video submissions of the shows that happened, or didn’t happen. Schools will share highlights of their performances, rehearsals or create new performances by company members.

Rising Star Honors presented by the Investors Foundation will premiere on Monday, June 1, 2020 at 7PM on Paper Mill Playhouse’s Facebook page.

Joining us is our special host, Rising Star winner, Broadway performer and Olivier nominee, Jared Gertner, along with Rising Star alumni from across the nation!   Since their inception in 1996, the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater have ignited the careers of many notable performers, all of whom attended high school in New Jersey.  Many Paper Mill Rising Star nominees and winners are now working professionally and have won esteemed industry awards while working in theater and film. Along with Mr. Gertner, early Paper Mill Rising Star nominees and winners include Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables), Tony Award winners Laura Benanti (Gypsy) and Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon), Tony nominee Rob McClure (Chaplin, Mrs. Doubtfire), and Shanice Williams, star of NBC’s The Wiz Live! Click here for a full list of notable alumni.

“Even though the current pandemic has impacted the Rising Star Awards program, it has not dampened students’ interest and enthusiasm for musical theater. These student performers and theater technicians have worked so hard and it is wonderful to have the opportunity to recognize their talent in a unique way,” said Investors Bank Chairman and CEO Kevin Cummings. “Investors Bank is proud to be a part of this program that acknowledges the students and the high school theater programs in which they participate.”

Rising Star Awards–Presented by the Investors Foundation is generously supported by The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation.
Paper Mill Playhouse Education & Outreach are generously sponsored by The Goren Family & the Harmony Helper App.
Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Paper Mill Playhouse is grateful for generous contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals.

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE, a not-for-profit arts organization under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee (Producing Artistic Director) and Michael Stotts (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.

The post Paper Mill Playhouse Announces Rising Star Honors appeared first on Paper Mill Playhouse.

Find Tickets

Paper Mill Playhouse has selected students to be a part of the theater’s prestigious Summer Musical Theater Conservatory for 2018. Members of the competitive conservatory who earned coveted spots in the Senior (ages 15–18), Junior Plus (ages 13–14), and Junior companies (ages 10–12) are directed and choreographed by Paper Mill Playhouse’s professional artistic staff in a fully produced, original concert titled, New Voices of 2018: From Sea to Shining Sea! The concert is a culmination of the five-week conservatory program. Also appearing are numerous winners and nominees of the 2018 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards presented by the Investors Foundation, who won scholarships to attend the Conservatory. The Summer Musical Theater Conservatory and New Voices are generously supported by the Investors Foundation.

Performances of New Voices of 2018: From Sea to Shining Sea will be held on July 27 at 7:30PM and July 28 at 1:30PM & 7:30PM at Memorial Auditorium at Montclair State University, 1 Normal Ave, Montclair, NJ. Tickets range in price from $25 to $45. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973.376.4343, online by clicking here, or by visiting the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn.

The Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Musical Theater Conservatory is a program of rigorous study allowing students to enhance their individual performance potential while developing a broad base of theater experience and knowledge. Students participate in intensive classes including musical theater performance, acting, dance, and improvisation, while also attending guest workshops led by professional actors, directors, and casting agents. The final weeks are devoted to rehearsals for the New Voices Concert, performed annually by the conservatory’s trained students. The Conservatory offers the unique opportunity for gifted and talented young performers to work at their own level, challenge themselves to achieve new goals, and learn new skills. Key to the curriculum is for the participants to develop self-discipline, respect, and a commitment to excellence that will serve these young artists throughout their lives.

Many of the students from Paper Mill Playhouse’s Conservatory have gone on to appear on Broadway, in regional theater productions, in film and on television.

Conservatory Alumni include:

Anne Hathaway – Twelfth Night, Film: Les Misérables (2013 Academy Award Winner), Rachel Getting Married (2009 Academy Award & Golden Globe nominee), Get Smart, Brokeback Mountain, The Devil Wears Prada, & Disney’s The Princess Diaries
Laura Benanti – Broadway: She Loves Me, Gypsy (2008 Tony Award winner), Into the Woods, The Wedding Singer, Swing!
Julia Knitel – Broadway: Beautiful: the Carole King Musical (u/s Carole King); Bye Bye Birdie
Robert McClure – Broadway: Something Rotten, Honeymoon in Vegas, Chaplin, Avenue Q
Shanice Williams- NBC’s The Wiz Live!
Joshua Dela Cruz – Broadway’s Disney’s Aladdin (Aladdin Understudy)
Ali Stroker – Broadway: Spring Awakening, Oxygen’s The Glee Project: Season 2; Paper Mill’s 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive Ostrovsky)
Nikki M. James – Broadway: Les Misérables, Book of Mormon (2011 Tony Award winner), All Shook Up
Avery Espiritu: Broadway: The King and I
James Ignacio – Broadway: The King and I
Alex Drier – Broadway: Finding Neverland, Assembled Parties
Daisy Hobbs – Broadway: Disney’s Aladdin
Matthew Scott – Broadway: Jersey Boys, A Catered Affair (Ralph), Sondheim on Sondheim
Collin Kelly-Sordelet – Broadway: The Last Ship (Young Gideon)
Jared Gertner – 2014 Olivier Award nominee West End, Broadway & National Tour of The Book Of Mormon (Elder Cunningham)
Veronica J. Kuehn – Broadway: Mamma Mia!, Xanadu; Off Broadway: Avenue Q
Neil McCaffrey – Broadway: Mary Poppins (Michael Banks), Bye, Bye Birdie (Randolph Macafee), Billy Elliot (Michael)
Monette McKay – Broadway: Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, Memphis, Mamma Mia!
Constantine Rousouli – Broadway: Hairspray (Link), Ghost the Musical, Wicked
Jonathan Schwartz – Broadway’s Disney’s Aladdin (Omar)
Elizabeth Egan Gillies – Nickelodeon’s Victorious; Broadway: 13! The Musical
Lael Van Keuran – Broadway: Sister Act
Matt Ban – Broadway: Rock of Ages (Dennis)
Connor Buckley – Star of Fox-TV’s Surviving Jack with Chris Meloni (role of “Jack Dunlevy”)

CLICK HERE FOR IMAGES & HEADSHOTS OF STUDENTS SORTED BY TOWN

2018 CONSERVATORY STUDENTS BY TOWN

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE, a not-for-profit arts organization under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee (Producing Artistic 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. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

The post New Voices of 2018: From Sea To Shining Sea appeared first on Paper Mill Playhouse.

What – Auditions for Paper Mill Playhouse’s competitive Summer Musical Theater Conservatory
When – Saturday, January 27, 2018 & Saturday, February 3, 2018
Where – Montclair State University, College of the Arts/Life Hall, 1 Normal Ave., Montclair, NJ 07043

Paper Mill Playhouse, recipient of the 2016 Tony Award for Regional Theatre, will be holding auditions for students to be a part of the theater’s prestigious Summer Musical Theater Conservatory for 2018. Students who earn coveted spots in the Senior (ages 15–18), Junior Plus (ages 13–14), and Junior companies (ages 10–12) are directed and choreographed by Paper Mill Playhouse’s professional artistic staff in a fully produced, original concert at Montclair State University titled New Voices of 2018: Sea to Shining Sea! The concert is the culmination of the five-week program. Also appearing will be numerous winners and nominees of the 2018 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards presented by the Investors Foundation, who win scholarships to attend the Conservatory. The Summer Musical Theater Conservatory and New Voices are generously supported by the Investors Foundation.

The Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Musical Theater Conservatory is a program of rigorous study allowing students to enhance their individual performance potential while developing a broad base of theater experience and knowledge. Students participate in intensive classes including musical theater performance, acting, dance, private voice lessons, and improvisation, while also attending guest workshops led by professional actors, directors, and casting agents. The final weeks are devoted to rehearsals for the annual New Voices Concert. The Conservatory offers the unique opportunity for gifted and talented young performers to work at their own level and challenge themselves to achieve new goals and learn new skills. Key to the curriculum is the development of self-discipline, respect, and a commitment to excellence that will serve these young artists throughout their lives.

Students can also audition for the theater’s August Intensive Program. This four-week program allows performers between the ages of 10 and 16 to build individual technique and learn about themselves as performers, explore their own abilities, and refine their skills. Like the July Conservatory, admission to the August Intensive is by audition only. Intensive students do not perform in the New Voices Concert; rather, the Intensive classes prepare a musical theater showcase for family and friends. The focus of this program is on strengthening skills and building self confidence in a non-competitive environment. Accepted students are placed in one of two sessions according to age. The small class size in each session allows for individual attention and instruction from the faculty.

“From the first day of class all the way through opening night of New Voices, we require our students to rise to the demands of this rigorous program,”

stated Lisa Cooney, Paper Mill Playhouse Director of Education.

“We ask them to work harder than they ever have before as young performers, and we strive to build an incredible ensemble company, while each student hones their own individual performance skills. Our faculty pushes the students to believe in themselves as professional artists and treats them as such. We find summer after summer that our students meet our expectations and more. When they move on to college or the professional world, they are ready for the challenges they’ll face, and time and again they thrive and ultimately live their dream of being a professional performer. It’s gratifying when they make a name or themselves on Broadway or in Hollywood, but even if they do not, the skills they learn and the work ethic they develop will serve them in any field.”

“Paper Mill Playhouse’s Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory and August Intensive are some of the finest programs for musical theater in the United States,”

stated Mark S. Hoebee, Paper Mill’s Producing Artistic Director.

“It is amazing to see these young performers learn and grow into professional artists with a culminating performance produced by leading industry professionals.”

 

Noted Broadway talent agents and casting director flock to New Voices every summer. Victoria Kress, Abrams Artists Youth Theatrical Agent states,

“(I’m always) super excited to head to Paper Mill Playhouse for their New Voices show! Having trained some amazing performers, I know this night will prove to be no different! It’s one of my best scouting fields trips of every summer.”

Nora Brennan, casting director for Matilda and Billy Elliot, agrees,

“The kids were great, the show was fun and entertaining, and the material was tailored so that each child shone. Well done!”

Paper Mill’s professional casting partner, Telsey + Company, attends annually and often offers workshops to our advanced students. Andrew Femenella of the Telsey + Co. Musical Theatre Department shared,

“Congratulations on the amazing success of this concert. We attended and were blown away by all the young talent up on the stage.”

Dozens of students from Paper Mill Playhouse’s Conservatory have gone on to appear in numerous Broadway productions, film, television, and regional theater. Notable Conservatory Alumni include:

Anne Hathaway – Twelfth Night, Film: Les Misérables (2013 Academy Award Winner), Rachel Getting Married (2009 Academy Award & Golden Globe nominee), Get Smart, Brokeback Mountain, The Devil Wears Prada, & Disney’s The Princess Diaries

Laura Benanti – Broadway: She Loves Me, Gypsy (2008 Tony Award winner), Into the Woods, The Wedding Singer, Swing!

Jelani Remy – Broadway: Disney’s The Lion King (Simba)

Julia Knitel – Broadway: Beautiful: the Carole King Musical (u/s Carole King); Bye Bye Birdie

Robert McClure – Broadway: Something Rotten, Honeymoon in Vegas, Chaplin, Avenue Q

Shanice Williams– NBC’s The Wiz Live!

Joshua Dela Cruz – Broadway’s Disney’s Aladdin (Aladdin Understudy)

Ali Stroker – Broadway: Spring Awakening, Oxygen’s The Glee Project: Season 2; Paper Mill’s 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive Ostrovsky)

Nikki M. James – Broadway: Les Misérables, Book of Mormon (2011 Tony Award winner), All Shook Up

Hunter Kovacs – Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Avery Espiritu – Broadway: The King and I

James Ignacio – Broadway: The King and I

Alex Drier – Broadway: Finding Neverland, Assembled Parties

Daisy Hobbs – Broadway: Disney’s Aladdin

Matthew Scott – Broadway: Jersey Boys, A Catered Affair (Ralph), Sondheim on Sondheim

Collin Kelly-Sordelet – Broadway: The Last Ship (Young Gideon)

Jared Gertner – 2014 Olivier Award nominee West End, Broadway & National Tour of The Book Of Mormon (Elder Cunningham)

Veronica J. Kuehn – Broadway: Mamma Mia!, Xanadu; Off Broadway: Avenue Q

Neil McCaffrey – Broadway: Mary Poppins (Michael Banks), Bye, Bye Birdie (Randolph Macafee), Billy Elliot (Michael)

Monette McKay – Broadway: Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, Memphis, Mamma Mia!

Constantine Rousouli – Broadway: Hairspray (Link), Ghost the Musical, Wicked

Jonathan Schwartz – Broadway’s Disney’s Aladdin (Omar)

Elizabeth Egan Gillies – Nickelodeon’s Victorious; Broadway: 13! The Musical

Lael Van Keuran – Broadway: Sister Act

Matt Ban – Broadway: Rock of Ages (Dennis)

To request more information or to schedule an audition appointment send an email to Summer@PaperMill.org

The post Auditions Announced for the 2018 Summer Musical Theater Conservatory & August Intensive appeared first on Paper Mill Playhouse.