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Paper Mill Playhouse Announces 2023 Rising Star Award Nominations

Ann Marie Heckmann — Mon, 01 May 2023 18:30:30 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 1, 2023

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE ANNOUNCES

2023 RISING STAR AWARD NOMINATIONS

Winners Will Be Announced During a LIVE CEREMONY AND LIVESTREAM JUNE 13, 2023

(Millburn, NJ) May 1, 2023– As one of the nation’s leading theaters and recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award, Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Michael Stotts-Executive Director) has a well-earned reputation for launching both performers and shows to Broadway. 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. 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), Jelani Remy (Lion King, Ain’t Too Proud), Shanice Williams, star of NBC’s The Wiz Live! and Olivier Award nominee Jared Gertner (The Book of Mormon).

The 2023 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards presented by Citizens Philanthropic Foundation and Investors Foundation ceremony will take place at Paper Mill Playhouse on Tuesday, June 13, at 7:30pm, featuring presenters from both Broadway and beyond. The ceremony will be livestreamed on Paper Mill’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Among the top nominated high schools, Columbia High School (Essex County) has 13 nominations, Delaware Valley Regional High School (Hunterdon County) earned 12 nominations, Haddonfield Memorial High School (Camden County) received 10 nominations, Summit High School (Union County) has 9 nominations, Moorestown High School (Burlington County) earned 8 nominations, and Ridge High School (Essex County) was awarded 7 nominations. These totals do not account for Student Achievement and Auxiliary Award nominations.

“The talent we see in New Jersey High Schools is outstanding. This year was more competitive than ever.” commented Mark S. Hoebee, Paper Mill Playhouse’s Producing Artistic Director. “A record 115 New Jersey high schools participated in this year’s Rising Star Awards and each of them are doing such excellent work. When a school is nominated for a Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star award it is a true testament of the hard work they put in to their high school musical. I congratulate them all.”

Past Rising Star nominees and recipients appeared on Broadway in She Loves Me (Laura Benanti), Mrs. Doubtfire (Rob McClure), Aladdin (Josh Dela Cruz, Jonathan Schwartz, Kathryn Allison), Les Misérables (Nikki M. James), Disney’s The Lion King (Jelani Remy), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Julia Knitel), Jersey Boys (Russell Fisher), The Phantom of the Opera (Julia Udine), London’s West End production of The Book of Mormon (Jared Gertner); the Public Theater’s Grounded (Anne Hathaway). Shanice Williams, star of NBC’s The Wiz Live was nominated for a Rising Star Award in 2014.

Paper Mill Director of Education Lisa Cooney explains, “What’s happening in high school musical productions here in New Jersey and around the country is remarkable. Programs like the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards raise the bar and create opportunities for student performers and theater technicians to be recognized for their achievements, while giving them access to thousands of dollars in scholarships and professional training. We consistently hear from top-tier colleges and casting directors that a Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award is a significant accolade for an aspiring theater artist.”

The Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards Presented by Citizens Philanthropic Foundation and Investors Foundation are modeled after the Tony Awards, and Paper Mill Playhouse’s program serves the entire state of New Jersey, with 115 entered productions from public, private and parochial high schools. Paper Mill Playhouse conceived and created the awards in 1996 to give schools the opportunity to showcase their musical arts programs on a statewide level. The musicals are adjudicated by Paper Mill Playhouse throughout the spring by a group of 70 evaluators, with each school receiving three independent evaluations. Schools nominated for Outstanding Overall Musical and Leading Actor/Actress nominees perform at the event, and award recipients are presented with an engraved crystal award from Tiffany & Co.

Paper Mill Playhouse also awards $7,000 in scholarships at the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards Presented by Citizens Philanthropic Foundation and Investors Foundation. Seven $1,000 cash scholarships are given to outstanding individual students who plan to continue studying theater performance or technical theater in college. Paper Mill Playhouse is pleased to award a prize of $500 to a school receiving the 2023 Educational Impact Award, which acknowledges a school that successfully connects the musical to the district’s curriculum, using the production as a teaching tool for the greater student body and local community. Through the Rising Star “Theatre for Everyone” Inclusion and Access Award and a partnership with The Cultural Access Network of New Jersey, a project of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Paper Mill Playhouse will present a cash award of $1,000 to a school to recognize excellence in the promotion and practice of creative inclusion of students and adults with disabilities as performers, designers, musicians and production staff. Additionally, this award seeks to recognize and reward a school that takes steps to ensure their performances are accessible to audiences with disabilities.

Lastly, students receiving final nominations in the lead and supporting acting categories receive a scholarship to Paper Mill Playhouse’s competitive Summer Musical Theater Conservatory, a professional training program, which, along with advanced classes in singing, acting and dance, offers the nominees an opportunity to perform in the season finale concert, “New Voices of 2023: We will Rock You” on July 28 & 29 on the main stage at Paper Mill Playhouse. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at PaperMill.org, or calling the box office at 973-376-4343.

Rising Star Awards – Presented by the Citizens Philanthropic Foundation and Investors Foundation are supported by The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation. The Hearst Foundations are Paper Mill’s Education & Outreach Partner.

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

The Theater for Everyone Inclusion and Access Award is supported by the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

The Rising Star Awards are made possible by support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards are part of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance 2023 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; The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey; OceanFirst Foundation; Fund for the New Jersey Blind; New Jersey Manufacturers; and Customers Bank. www.njtheatrealliance.org/stages

2023 RISING STAR AWARDS NOMINATIONS AND HONORABLE MENTIONS

OUTSTANDING OVERALL PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL

Final Nominations

Columbia HS SOMETHING ROTTEN!

Delaware Valley Regional HS THE ADDAMS FAMILY

Gloucester County Institute of Technology LES MISÉRABLES

Haddonfield Memorial HS HEAD OVER HEELS

Moorestown HS RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA

Ridge HS NEWSIES

Summit HS SOMETHING ROTTEN!

Honorable Mentions

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS CHICAGO

Madison HS LITTLE WOMEN

Westfield HS SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE

OUTSTANDING LEADING PERFORMER IN A FEMALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE

Final Nominations

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS CHICAGO Talia Fabrizzio as “Roxie Hart”

Clearview Regional HS MAMMA MIA! Leah Rose Crossan as“Donna”

Madison HS LITTLE WOMEN Avery Benjamin as “Jo March”

Moorestown HS R & H’s CINDERELLA Sofia Giannetto as “Cinderella”

Nutley HS CHICAGO Valeria Flores as “Velma Kelly”

Ridge HS NEWSIES Libby Schmitt as “Katherine Plumber”

Westfield HS SUNDAY IN THE PARK Bella Jarecki as “Dot/Marie”

Honorable Mentions

Cherry Hill HS East INTO THE WOODS Charlotte Lemaire as “Baker’s Wife”

Immaculata HS SISTER ACT Jewelia Taylor as “Deloris Van Cartier”

Saddle River Day School THE ADDAMS FAMILY Kate Peresvyetova as “Wednesday”

Sayreville War Memorial HS THE LITTLE MERMAID Grace Herrick as “Ariel”

Southern Regional HS 42^ND STREET Mia Spallina as “Peggy Sawyer”

OUTSTANDING LEADING PERFORMER IN A MALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE

Final Nominations

Columbia HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Quincy Hampton as “Nick Bottom”

Delaware Valley Regional HS THE ADDAMS FAMILY Dakota Krouse as “Gomez Addams”

Gloucester County Institute of Tech LES MISÉRABLES Armon Salgado as “Jean Valjean”

Moorestown HS R & H’s CINDERELLA Lucas Kirmsee as “Prince Christopher”

North Hunterdon HS LES MISÉRABLES Alex Lipinski as “Javert”

Piscataway HS THE MYSTERY OF Najm Muhammad as “Clive/John”

EDWIN DROOD

Westfield HS SUNDAY IN THE PARK Evan Leone as “George Seurat”

Honorable Mentions

Ewing HS AIDA Jayden White as “Radames”

Morristown Beard School BE MORE CHILL Ari Mandel as “Michael Mell”

Nottingham HS THE LIGHTNING THIEF Evan Vistoso as “Percy Jackson”

Ridge HS NEWSIES Gabriel Subervi as “Jack Kelly”

St. Joseph Regional HS INTO THE WOODS Thomas Snyder as “Baker”

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMER IN A FEMALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE

Final Nominations

Immaculata HS SISTER ACT Susie Polito as “Mother Superior”

Madison HS LITTLE WOMEN Lily Bias as “Marmee March”

North Hunterdon HS LES MISÉRABLES Lea Chukrallah as “Eponine”

Ocean County Vocational Tech. School SWEENEY TODD Shea East as “Beggar Woman”

Randolph HS FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Amanda Diaz as “Hodel”

Sayreville War Memorial HS THE LITTLE MERMAID Ryan Yuhas as “Ursula”

Summit HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Sarah Walsh as “Bea Bottom”

Honorable Mentions

Columbia HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Scarlett Choi as “Portia”

Gloucester County Institute of Tech LES MISÉRABLE Kenikki Thompson as “Eponine”

Haddonfield Memorial HS HEAD OVER HEELS Mia Bompensa as “Gynecia”

Morris Knolls HS THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Bridget Jacobus as “Drowsy Chaperone”

Pingry School SPRING AWAKENING Brielle Marques as “Martha”

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMER IN A MALE-IDENTIFIED ROLE

Final Nominations

Bergen County Academies FIDDLER ON THE ROO Edward Turner as “Perchik”

Clearview Regional HS MAMMA MIA! Adam Bathurst as “Sam Carmichael”

Columbia HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Owen Umiker as “Will Shakespeare”

Gloucester County Institute of Tech LES MISÉRABLES Neal Reitano as “Thenard”

Haddonfield Memorial HS HEAD OVER HEELS Griffin Adams as “Basilius”

Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS THE DROWSY CHAPERONE David Gomez as “Adolfo”

Summit HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Zach Seigel as “Nigel Bottom”

Honorable Mentions

Columbia HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Scott Barton as “Nigel Bottom”

Gloucester County Institute of Tech LES MISÉRABLES Johnny Brown as “Marius”

West Milford Township HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Jason Pritchett as “Will Shakespeare”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A FEATURED ROLE

Final Nominations

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS CHICAGO: TEEN EDITION Willow Frazier as “Matron ‘Mama’ Morton”

Columbia HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Alonzo Gallo as “Minstrel”

Columbia HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Mac Silverstein as “Brother Jeremiah”

Columbia HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Miller Asch as “Nostradamus”

Gloucester County Institute of Tech LES MISÉRABLES Zachary Palais as “Enjolras”

Immaculata HS SISTER ACT Charles Alexis as “Eddie Souther”

Morris Knolls HS THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Elijah Dor as “George”

Mountain Lakes HS GUYS AND DOLLS Nicholas Tripodi as “Nicely Nicely Johnson”

Southern Regional HS 42^ND STREET Amanda Muldownsy as “Annie Reilly”

Honorable Mentions

Arts HS THE WIZ Zahara Jackson as “Evilene”

Delaware Valley Regional HS THE ADDAMS FAMILY Jessica McGlothlin as “Alice Beineke”

Immaculata HS SISTER ACT Katherine Tami as “Sister Mary Lazarus”

Summit HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Hefzibah Campos as “Nostradamus”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ENSEMBLE MEMBER

Final Nominations

Bergen County Academies FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Amaya Romero as “Fruma Sarah”

Delaware Valley Regional HS THE ADDAMS FAMILY Will Gonzalez as “Lurch”

Morristown HS R + H’S CINDERELLA Charlotte Cama as “Ensemble”

Ridge HS NEWSIES Jaidyn Riley as “Mush”

Rumson Fair Haven HS SPAMALOT Connor Olson as “French Guard”

Union HS MAMMA MIA! Layla Soares as “Lead Dancer”

St. Peter’s Prep LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Gabby Beredo as “Crystal”

Honorable Mentions

Columbia HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Zoe McKay as “Lady Clapham”

Summit HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Ben Strauss as “Shylock”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ENSEMBLE GROUP

Final Nominations

Academy of Performing Arts at UCVTS CHICAGO: TEEN EDITION “Merry Murderesses”

Arts HS THE WIZ “Tornado Dancers”

Delaware Valley Regional HS THE ADDAMS FAMILY “Ancestors”

Haddon Township HS JOSEPH (AND…) “Joseph’s Brothers”

Pinelands Regional HS MATILDA “Older Students”

Summit HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! “Troupe”

Honorable Mentions

Cedar Creek HS. BIG FISH “Alabama Lambs”

Columbia HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! “Troupe”

Highland Regional HS. JEKYLL & HYDE “Red Rat Girls”

Moorestown HS R & H’S CINDERELLA “Mice, Cat, Dove”

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CHORUS

Final Nominations

Columbia HS SOMETHING ROTTEN!

Haddonfield Memorial HS HEAD OVER HEELS

Ridge HS NEWSIES

Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS THE DROWSY CHAPERONE

Summit HS SOMETHING ROTTEN!

Union HS MAMMA MIA!

Westfield HS SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE

Honorable Mentions

Gloucester County Institute of TechLES MISÉRABLES

Moorestown HS R & H’S CINDERELLA

Wallkill Valley Regional HS THE WIZARD OF OZ

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ORCHESTRA

Final Nominations

Bergen County Academies FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Delaware Valley Regional HS THE ADDAMS FAMILY

Randolph HS FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Ridge HS NEWSIES

Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS THE DROWSY CHAPERONE

Southern Regional HS 42^ND STREET

Summit HS SOMETHING ROTTEN!

Honorable Mentions

Carteret HS PIPPIN

Princeton HS NEWSIES

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT BY A TEACHER OR OUTSIDE DIRECTOR

Final Nominations

Columbia HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Tricia Benn, Bethany Pettigrew

Delaware Valley Regional HS THE ADDAMS FAMILY Clinton Ambs

Gloucester County Inst of Tech.LES MISÉRABLES Katie Knoblock

Haddonfield Memorial HS HEAD OVER HEELS Matt DiDonato

Moorestown HS R & H’S CINDERELLA Erica Scanlon Harr

Summit HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Anne Poyner

Wallkill Valley Regional HS THE WIZARD OF OZ Christine Molnar

Honorable Mentions

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS CHICAGO: TEEN EDITION Steven Collins

Madison High School LITTLE WOMEN Blake Spence

Ridge HS NEWSIES Tim Lynch

Westfield HS SUNDAY IN THE PARK Daniel Devlin

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC DIRECTION

Final Nominations

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS CHICAGO: TEEN EDITION Michael Gilch

Columbia HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Jacob C. Ezzo

Delaware Valley Regional HS THE ADDAMS FAMILY TJ Hayden, Adrian Camano

Haddonfield Memorial HS HEAD OVER HEELS Tyler Mills

Moorestown HS R &H’S CINDERELLA Amanda Wise Harris

Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Jan Allen

Westfield HS SUNDAY IN THE PARK John Brzozowski

Honorable Mentions

Cherry Hill HS East INTO THE WOODS Heather Lockart

Gloucester County Institute of Tech. LES MISÉRABLES Anthony Vitalo

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CHOREOGRAPHY AND STAGING

Final Nominations

Columbia HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Tricia Benn, Bethany Pettigrew

Delaware Valley Regional HS THE ADDAMS FAMILY Heather Fleischman

Haddonfield Memorial HS HEAD OVER HEELS Sara DeRossi

Ridge HS NEWSIES Rachel Miranda, Jennifer Digiuseppe

Summit HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Kelly Mott-Sacks

Honorable Mentions

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS. CHICAGO: TEEN EDITION Jay T. Jenkins

Arts HS THE WIZ Gregory Omar Osbourne

Franklin HS DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS Lindsey Della Serra

OUTSTANDING SCENIC ACHIEVEMENT

Final Nominations

Columbia HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Louis J. Medrano

Delaware Valley Regional HS THE ADDAMS FAMILY Josh Paul, Eric Fiorito

Haddonfield Memorial HS HEAD OVER HEELS Bob Shindle

Madison HS LITTLE WOMEN Anthony Freitas

Moorestown HS R & H’S CINDERELLA Andrew Robinson, Jess Rottcamp

Princeton HS NEWSIES Jeffrey Van Velsor, Bridget Schmidt

Wallkill Valley Regional HS THE WIZARD OF OZ Amy Naprstek, Mike Napovier

Honorable Mentions

Bergen County Academies FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Ryan Howell, Bill Pavlu

Pinelands Regional HS MATILDA Rich Pear

Ridge HS NEWSIES Jason M. Stewart

Summit HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Jordan Janota

Union HS MAMMA MIA! Brian Toscano

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING ACHIEVEMENT

Final Nominations

Cedar Creek HS BIG FISH Tyler Daddario

Clearview Regional HS MAMMA MIA! Starlite Audio Visual & Lighting Solutions,

Chris Wood, John Schwab, Nicholas Rossi,

John Rowland

Columbia HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Tara Marie Abbondante

Delaware Valley Regional HS THE ADDAMS FAMILY Clinton Ambs, Kacey Burd

Haddonfield Memorial HS HEAD OVER HEELS Matt DiDonato, Jack Novak,

Camila Manskopf

Madison HS LITTLE WOMEN Cameron Filepas

Moorestown HS R & H’S CINDERELLA Dee Dugan, Chris Miller

Wallkill Valley Regional HS THE WIZARD OF OZ Michael Kimmel, Lisa Weinshrott

Honorable Mentions

Morristown Beard School BE MORE CHILL Nicholas Marmo

Princeton HS NEWSIES Sasha Stepanova

Ridge HS NEWSIES Colin Berry

Westfield HS SUNDAY IN THE PARK Jack Frankola

OUTSTANDING COSTUMING ACHIEVEMENT

Final Nominations

Columbia HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Barbara Canace

Delaware Valley Regional HS THE ADDAMS FAMILY Lisa Cartwright, Scaramouche Costumes

Haddonfield Memorial HS HEAD OVER HEELS Sabrina Windt

Moorestown HS R & H’S CINDERELLA Erin Cramer

Ridge HS NEWSIES Bonnie Grube

Sayreville War Memorial HS THE LITTLE MERMAID Cynthia Gallagher

Summit HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Bonnie Grube

Wallkill Valley Regional HS THE WIZARD OF OZ Christine Molnar

Westfield HS SUNDAY IN THE PARK Hannah Stavin, Suzanna Rogers

Honorable Mentions

Franklin HS DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS Amy Rice

Madison HS LITTLE WOMEN Linda Spence, Blake Spence

Marlboro HS SEUSSICAL Anthony Greco

Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Joanna Sprague

Watchung Hills Regional HS SINGING IN THE RAIN Gail DiCicco

OUTSTANDING HAIR AND MAKE-UP ACHIEVEMENT

Final Nominations

Atlantic County Institute of Tech SEUSSICAL Leah Cacopardo, Erin Hanna,

Debe Carpenter, Catherine Chambers

Elizabeth Volpe

Delaware Valley Regional HS THE ADDAMS FAMILY Carrie Snodgrass

Gloucester County Institute of Tech LES MISÉRABLES Caitlin Geisser

Franklin HS DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS Amy Rice

Haddonfield Memorial HS HEAD OVER HEELS Dawn Sheidt

Sayreville War Memorial HS THE LITTLE MERMAID Grace English, Malaya Emory

Wallkill Valley Regional HS THE WIZARD OF OZ Christine Molnar

Honorable Mentions

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS CHICAGO: TEEN EDITION Derek Alfano

Cherry Hill HS East INTO THE WOODS None Listed

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

(20 finalists, 10 recipients will be announced)

Final Nominations

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS CHICAGO: TEEN EDITION Lilly Resnick, Production Stage Manager

Bergen County Academies FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Sofia Merie Maravillas,

Production Stage Manager

Bergen County Academies FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Marketing Team

Carteret HS PIPPIN Nia Serrano, Dance Captain

Cedar Grove HS THE PROM Katarina Leno, Prop Crew Chief

Eastern Regional HS FROZEN Mazie O’Keefe, Costume Head, Wigs

Eastern Regional HS FROZEN Team Sven, Puppet Build and Operation

Hillsborough HS LEGALLY BLONDE Sinara Sood, Producer

Madison HS LITTLE WOMEN Skye Coen, Production Stage Manager

Morristown HS R + H’S CINDERELLA Ava Zappulla, Student Director

Mount Olive HS MAMMA MIA! Olivier Kacprowicz, Emilie Felix,

Ensemble Captains

Princeton HS NEWSIES Isabella Kolleeny, Lead Painter, Costumes

Princeton HS NEWSIES Azlyn Haley, Head Carpenter

Princeton HS NEWSIES Sasha Stepanova, Lighting Designer

Randolph HS FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Gavin Emdur, Emma Carothers, Dramaturgy

Summit HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Costume Crew

Summit HS SOMETHING ROTTEN! Grace Coyle, Hair, Makeup

Westfield HS SUNDAY IN THE PARK Set DesigCrew

Westfield HS SUNDAY IN THE PARK Ryan Karlin, Production Stage Manager

Westfield HS SUNDAY IN THE PARK Sophie Havens, Music Director

Honorable Mentions

Princeton HS NEWSIES Lily Raphael, Production Stage Manager

Princeton HS NEWSIES Colin Lansky, Sound, Projections

THE EDUCATIONAL IMPACT AWARD

Final Nominations

Carteret HS PIPPIN

Cedar Grove HS THE PROM

Hillsborough HS LEGALLY BLONDE

Jonathan Dayton HS HEATHERS: SCHOOL EDITION

Madison HS LITTLE WOMEN

Morristown HS R + H’S CINDERELLA

Ridge HS NEWSIES

Weehawken HS SISTER ACT

RISING STAR “THEATER FOR EVERYONE” INCLUSION AND ACCESS AWARD

Final Nominations

Atlantic County Institute of Technology SEUSSICAL

Butler HS ALL SHOOK UP

Eastern Regional HS FROZEN

Madison HS LITTLE WOMEN

Jose Marti STEM Academy URINETOWN

Lakeland Regional HS SHREK

Moorestown HS R & H’S CINDERELLA

Morristown HS R + H’S CINDERELLA

Mount Olive HS MAMMA MIA!

Perth Amboy HS INTO THE WOODS

Ridge HS NEWSIES

Secaucus HS THE PROM

Weehawken HS SISTER ACT

West Milford Township HS SOMETHING ROTTEN!

OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD

Final Nominations

Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS Steven Collins

Butler HS Kelsie Daniels

Ewing HS Christine Monaco Caldwell

Madison HS Blake Spence

Manasquan HS Madison Schille

Mount Olive HS Jodi Bosch

Pingry School Alan Van Antwerp

Princeton HS Julianna Krawiecki

Ridge HS Tim Lynch

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE, recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, is a nationally renowned not-for-profit theater under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee (Producing Artistic Director) and Michael Stotts (Executive Director). A beloved New Jersey arts institution since 1938, Paper Mill creates and produces groundbreaking new musicals and reimagined classics. Several productions have gone on to Broadway and launched national tours, including Disney’s Newsies, Les Misérables, Honeymoon in Vegas, A Bronx Tale, and Bandstand. The theater is also the home to an award-winning center for musical theater education and artist training, with outreach programs that impact thousands of students each year. As one of the nation’s premier musical theaters, Paper Mill fosters a creative environment to advance the art form, educate students, develop future theater lovers, nurture inclusion, and provide access for all. We acknowledge that our theater stands on the traditional land of the Lenni-Lenape, and we honor the Indigenous people who inhabited it for thousands of years before European settlers arrived. 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.

# # #

WEBSITE/SOCIAL ACCOUNTS

Website: PaperMill.org
Facebook: facebook.com/PaperMillPlayhouse

Twitter: twitter.com/Paper_Mill

Instagram: instagram.com/papermillplayhouse

YouTube: youtube.com/user/PaperMillPlayhouse
TikTok: tiktok.com/@papermillplayhouse

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PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE GALA

Ann Marie Heckmann — Tue, 25 May 2021 17:20:42 +0000

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE GALA

“TOGETHER AT HOME”

FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2021

Honoring Merck with an evening featuring special guests Andy Blankenbuehler, Deborah Cox, Beth Leavel, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Rob McClure, Alan Menken, Chita Rivera, Stephen Schwartz, Susan Stroman, and more
plus students from Paper Mill education programs.

(Millburn, NJ) Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Mike Stotts-Managing Director) is hosting its largest fundraising event of the year, the Paper Mill Playhouse Together at Home Gala, to be held virtually on Friday, June 4, 2021. The event will be hosted on Virtual Tables, a unique, interactive platform designed to evoke the excitement and glamour of Paper Mill’s in-person galas. The virtual cocktail party begins at 6:30pm, followed by a star-studded one-hour program at 7:00pm that will include performances, tributes, and a live auction including a chance to bid on tickets to Elton John’s Final Farewell at Madison Square Garden Concert and a New York Yankees luxury suite experience for two people to watch the game with world series champion players. Silent auction will be active during the event and continue until 10:00pm the night of the event.

The gala is proudly sponsored by Investors Bank, FirstEnergy, and David Yurman. In addition to VIP tickets, show-only tickets are available for a suggested donation of $30. All proceeds from the gala support Paper Mill’s world-class productions, professional training programs, celebrated arts education programs, and community outreach.

“This year’s event is more critical than ever,” said Mike Stotts, Paper Mill’s managing director. “The proceeds from our gala will help ensure that we are ready to launch an exciting season of live theater this fall, bring students back to our Theater School for in-person instruction, and serve our most vulnerable children through our Theater for Everyone program.”

“This gala promises to be an entertaining and fun way to support the theater when we need it most,” said Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee. “We’ve lined up several of Paper Mill’s favorite artists to perform and reminisce about their experiences at our theater. There will also be a chance to bid on many exciting auction items. After a long and trying year, this will be an especially joyful celebration.”

This year’s honoree is Merck, a longtime partner of Paper Mill and steadfast supporter of the performing arts. Paula Alston, Vice President of Facilities at Merck, will receive the Byrne/Keane Arts Advocate Award. And special recognition will be given to the Paper Mill staff for their tireless dedication over the past year.

“We are thrilled to honor our longtime partner Merck, whose support makes some of our core programs possible,” said Gala Chair Carolyn Ferolito. “And it was especially important to us to recognize the devoted staff members of Paper Mill, who went above and beyond to keep our theater afloat while the world was shut down. Our staff members often don’t get accolades for the critical work they do behind the scenes, but all of them are stars. And this year more than ever, they deserve a standing ovation.”

For more information on the Paper Mill Playhouse Gala or to purchase individual tickets, tables, or raffle tickets, please contact Leigh Schaedel at 973-315-1663 or lschaedel@papermill.org, or visit Paper Mill’s website at www.papermill.org/support-us/events/.

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE, recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, is a nationally renowned, not-for-profit theater under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee (Producing Artistic Director) and Mike Stotts (Managing Director). A beloved NJ arts institution since 1938, Paper Mill creates and produces groundbreaking new musicals and reimagined classics. Several productions have gone on to Broadway and launched national tours, including Disney’s Newsies, Les Misérables, Honeymoon in Vegas, A Bronx Tale, and Bandstand. The theater is also the home of an award-winning center for musical theater education and artist training, with outreach programs that impact thousands of students each year. As one of the nation’s premier musical theaters, Paper Mill fosters a creative environment to advance the art form, educate students, develop future theater lovers, nurture inclusion, and provide access for all. 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.

www.PaperMill.org
facebook.com/PaperMillPlayhouse
Twitter: @paper_mill
Instagram: papermillplayhouse

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PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE ANNOUNCES 2021–2022 SEASON AND PLANS TO REOPEN IN THE FALL

Ann Marie Heckmann — Tue, 18 May 2021 21:08:22 +0000

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE ANNOUNCES 2021–2022 SEASON
AND PLANS TO REOPEN IN THE FALL

SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD
A JOLLY HOLIDAY WITH DISNEY ON BROADWAY
CLUE
THE WANDERER (World Premiere)
SISTER ACT

MILLBURN, NJ (May 18, 2021) — Paper Mill Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee and Managing Director Michael Stotts have announced the lineup for the upcoming reopening season and look forward to welcoming audiences back to the theater for live performances.

The Paper Mill Playhouse 2021–2022 lineup includes three eagerly anticipated productions that were postponed from previous seasons—Sister Act, Clue, and the world-premiere musical The Wanderer. Season subscriptions are on sale now and are available by visiting the theater’s website at www.PaperMill.org. Paper Mill Playhouse’s 2021–2022 season is proudly sponsored by Investors Bank.

Paper Mill will open its 2021–2022 season with Songs for a New World, the groundbreaking musical that put Tony Award–winning composer-lyricist Jason Robert Brown on the map (October 13–November 7, 2021). From the deck of a Spanish sailing ship bound for a new land to the ledge of a Fifth Avenue penthouse, Songs for a New World transports audiences through time to meet a startling array of characters on the brink of a life-changing decision. Brown (Honeymoon in Vegas, Parade, The Bridges of Madison County) weaves their stories together in a powerful collection of songs that examine life, love, and the choices we make. Carolyn Cantor (Paper Mill’s Diary of Anne Frank) directs.

Next up, Paper Mill brings audiences a delightful show for the whole family—A Jolly Holiday with Disney on Broadway (December 1, 2021–January 2, 2022). Some of Broadway’s brightest stars will perform hits from Disney’s biggest Broadway shows in this festive concert. Enjoy your favorite songs from The Lion King, Tarzan, Mary Poppins, Aladdin, Hercules, The Little Mermaid, Newsies, Beauty and the Beast, Aida, High School Musical, Freaky Friday, and Frozen. Like Mary Poppins herself, this show is guaranteed to make your heart feel light!

Murder and blackmail are back on the menu with Clue (January 26–February 20, 2022), which gets its Paper Mill production after a postponement from the fall of 2020. Casey Hushion (Paper Mill’s upcoming streaming production of Beehive) directs this hilarious farce-meets-murder-mystery based on the cult 1985 Paramount movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro game. Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? One of America’s most treasured pieces of pop culture comes to the stage in a production that will leave you dying of laughter.

The season continues with the long-awaited world-premiere musical The Wanderer (March 24–April 24, 2022), rescheduled from the 2019–2020 season, directed by Kenneth Ferrone and choreographed by Sarah O’Gleby. The new musical is based on the life and music of Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Dion DiMucci, an Italian-American kid from the Bronx who skyrocketed to fame as a teenage heartthrob in the 1950s and early ’60s with hits like “Runaround Sue,” “Teenager in Love,” and “I Wonder Why.” Now, his extraordinary journey comes to the stage in a moving and intimate new musical about a life lived in the glow of the spotlight and in the shadow of addiction. The Wanderer is the riveting true story of New York’s rebel king, the man Bruce Springsteen calls “the link between Frank Sinatra and rock and roll.” Starring Michael Wartella (Chasing Rainbows, Wicked) as Dion, Christy Altomare (Anastasia), and Joey McIntyre (Wicked, Waitress, New Kids on the Block). The Wanderer is written by Charles Messina (A Room of My Own) and is produced in association with Jill Menza and Charles Messina.

And finally, the sisters will sing when Sister Act takes the stage (June 1–26, 2022) after a postponement from the spring of 2020. Based on the 1992 hit film, this feel-good musical comedy smash sizzles with powerful music, spectacular dancing, and a story that’s guaranteed to lift your spirits. The madcap plot is set in motion when disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder and must go into hiding in a convent, where she helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. Featuring original music by Tony and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (Newsies, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors), Sister Act was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

“We are so thrilled that we are able to bring three of our previously postponed shows into next season—Sister Act, Clue, and the world premiere of The Wanderer,” said Mark S. Hoebee, Producing Artistic Director of the Millburn theater. “And the entire family of course will enjoy A Jolly Holiday on Broadway with Disney. We chose to kick off this reopening season with Jason Robert Brown’s Songs for a New World, because right now all of us are re-emerging into a new world. At this moment, we need the power of theater to help us begin to heal and move forward. After this long, dark year, we are ecstatic to be able to welcome live audiences back to Paper Mill for a season filled with music, laughter, and light.”

“We simply could not have made it through this crisis without the support of the loyal subscribers and donors who have kept our theater going and our spirits lifted while our doors have been closed,” said Managing Director Michael Stotts. “Thanks to their generosity, we were able not only to survive but to emerge ready and able to continue producing the world-class musical theater for which Paper Mill is renowned. We are eternally grateful, and our hearts are full. All of us at Paper Mill Playhouse look forward to turning the lights back on and welcoming our Paper Mill family back to our theater for a joyful 2021–2022 season!”

“After the devastating year we all have endured, the 2021-2022 season of Paper Mill Playhouse is a beacon of hope. Investors Bank is honored to provide its support, particularly for the inspiration, enrichment, and arts education Paper Mill brings to our students, our families, and our community. We are proud to see the lights shining and the curtain going up on the treasure that is Paper Mill’s new season.” said Investors Bank Chairman and CEO Kevin Cummings.

Paper Mill Playhouse continues to prepare for the most responsible opening possible and will reopen in the fall with a thorough Covid safety plan that incorporates the latest recommendations from its medical advisors and the CDC. The theater will announce the full details of our finalized plan over the summer. The health and safety of patrons, artists, and staff remains Paper Mill’s top priority as they plan their return.

Paper Mill Playhouse will produce eight performances a week, Wednesday through Sunday. Three-, four- and five-show subscription packages are available now starting at just $114. Each subscription package includes a different level of special benefits (see www.PaperMill.org for details). Accessibly priced youth subscriptions are available for children under 18 with the purchase of an adult subscription. Tickets to individual shows will be on sale beginning September 7. That date may be adjusted if there are continuing unknowns about mandated Covid-related capacity and distancing restrictions. Visit www.Papermill.org for the most up-to-date information. Tickets and subscriptions may be purchased by calling 973.671.4355, or online at www.PaperMill.org. The box office will reopen in person on September 7 at noon. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted.

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE’S 2021-2022 SEASON

SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD

Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown
Directed by Carolyn Cantor
Oct 13–Nov 7, 2021

It’s about one moment, that moment you think you know where you stand…

This groundbreaking musical put Tony Award–winning composer-lyricist Jason Robert Brown on the map. From the deck of a Spanish sailing ship bound for a new land to the ledge of a Fifth Avenue penthouse, Songs for a New World transports audiences through time to meet a startling array of characters on the brink of a life-changing decision. Brown (Honeymoon in Vegas, Parade, The Bridges of Madison County) weaves their stories together in a powerful collection of songs that examine life, love, and the choices we make.

***

A JOLLY HOLIDAY WITH DISNEY ON BROADWAY

Dec 1, 2021–Jan 2, 2022

A merry and magical celebration for the whole family

Celebrate the holidays with some of Broadway’s brightest stars performing hits from Disney’s biggest Broadway shows in this festive concert. Enjoy your favorite songs from The Lion King, Tarzan, Mary Poppins, Aladdin, Hercules, The Little Mermaid, Newsies, Beauty and the Beast, Aida, High School Musical, Freaky Friday and Frozen. Like Mary Poppins herself, this show is guaranteed to make your heart feel light!

***

CLUE

Based on the Screenplay by Jonathan Lynn
Written by Sandy Rustin
Additional Material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price
Based on the Paramount Pictures Motion Picture
Based on the Hasbro Board Game Clue
Original Music by Michael Holland
Directed by Casey Hushion
Jan 26–Feb 20, 2022

A hilarious farce-meets-murder-mystery

Getting its Paper Mill production after a postponement in the fall of 2020, Clue puts murder and blackmail back on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble for a dinner party at Boddy Manor. Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the cult 1985 Paramount movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro game, this farce-meets murder-mystery is bloody good fun.

***

THE WANDERER

Book by Charles Messina
Choreographed by Sarah O’Gleby
Directed by Kenneth Ferrone
Mar 24–Apr 24, 2022

The riveting true story of New York’s rebel king

Dion. One name set the standard of cool for a generation. An Italian-American kid from the Bronx, Dion DiMucci skyrocketed to fame as a teenage heartthrob in the 1950s and early ’60s with hits like “Runaround Sue,” “Teenager in Love,” and “I Wonder Why.” Now, his extraordinary journey comes to the stage in a moving and intimate new musical about a life lived in the glow of the spotlight and in the shadow of addiction. Starring Michael Wartella (Chasing Rainbows, Wicked) as Dion, Christy Altomare (Anastasia), and Joey McIntyre (Wicked, Waitress, New Kids on the Block).

***

SISTER ACT

Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Glenn Slater
Book by Cheri Steinkellner & Bill Steinkellner
Additional Book Material by Douglas Carter Beane
Based on the Touchstone Pictures Motion Picture Sister Act Written by Joseph Howard
Choreographed by Anthony Van Laast
Directed by Jerry Zaks
Choreography Recreated by Janet Rothermel
Direction Recreated by Steven Beckler

June 1–26, 2022

“One big, spirit-soaring joyful noise!” —The London Times

Finally, the sisters will sing after a postponement in the spring of 2020. Based on the 1992 hit film, this feel-good musical comedy smash sizzles with powerful music, spectacular dancing, and a story that’s guaranteed to lift your spirits. The madcap plot is set in motion when disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder and must go into hiding in a convent, where she helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. Featuring original music by Tony winner and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (Newsies, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors), Sister Act was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

***

Paper Mill Playhouse offers its audiences the opportunity to enhance their theater experience with behind-the-scenes views of mainstage productions. Have you ever wanted to sneak a peek behind the curtain? Or wondered what the director was thinking, or how the cast prepares for a show? Join us for one of many revealing insider’s experiences. Visit the Paper Mill Playhouse website at www.PaperMill.org for dates for our Director’s Viewpoint Series, Conversation Club Series, Q&As with the cast, and more.

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.

Programs, dates, and artists are subject to change.

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE, recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, is a nationally renowned, not-for-profit theater under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee (Producing Artistic Director) and Michael Stotts (Managing Director). A beloved NJ arts institution since 1938, Paper Mill creates and produces groundbreaking new musicals and reimagined classics. Several productions have gone on to Broadway and launched national tours, including Disney’s Newsies, Les Misérables, Honeymoon in Vegas, A Bronx Tale, and Bandstand. The theater is also the home of an award-winning center for musical theater education and artist training, with outreach programs that impact thousands of students each year. As one of the nation’s premier musical theaters, Paper Mill fosters a creative environment to advance the art form, educate students, develop future theater lovers, nurture inclusion, and provide access for all. 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.

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www.PaperMill.org
facebook.com/PaperMillPlayhouse
Twitter: @paper_mill
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2021 RISING STAR AWARD WINNERS

Bridget Bross — Fri, 14 May 2021 19:35:46 +0000

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE ANNOUNCES RISING STAR AWARD WINNERS
Presented by the Investors Foundation

WATCH ON FACEBOOK

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

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.

“We are very excited to celebrate excellence in high school musical theater with the students of New Jersey. For many New Jersey schools, the prestigious honor of a Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star nomination is the culmination of their hard work in a high school musical. Many of our Rising Star nominees and winners are now working professionally and have won esteemed industry awards while working in theater, television and film.”

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

“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

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Auditions for 2021 Summer Musical Theater Conservatory for Young Artists

Bridget Bross — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 16:21:30 +0000

A program of rigorous study led by Paper Mill’s professional artistic staff

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.

“Paper Mill Playhouse’s Summer Musical Theater Conservatory is one of the finest young artist professional development programs for musical theater in the United States. It is amazing to see these young performers learn and grow into professional artists culminating in a performance produced by leading industry professionals.

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

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.

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

–stated Lisa Cooney, Paper Mill Playhouse Director of Education

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.

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Broadway World’s New Jersey Awards Announced

Bridget Bross — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 19:46:31 +0000

Winners have been announced for the 2020 BroadwayWorld New Jersey Awards—which were back bigger than ever, celebrating the best in local theater of the past decade!

Community theater productions, student productions, and college productions were all included! Eligibility was for productions which opened between 2011 and September 30, 2020. Voting ran through December 31. The public submitted the nominees and voted for their favorites. Check out the results below!

Congratulation to all!

Paper Mill Playhouse’s 2020 New Jersey Awards

Best Ensemble (Equity) HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME –2015
Best NJ Pre/Post Show Dining 
Best Theater Staff 
Best Youth Theatre Camp/After School Program Of The Decade 
Best Performer Of The Decade (Equity) Nick Cordero –A BRONX TALE –2016
Best Production Of A Musical Of The Decade (Equity) NEWSIES –2011
Best Set Design Of The Decade (Equity) Alexander Dodge –THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME –2015
Best Theater Company Of The Decade (Equity)
Best Top Arts Supporting Organization in NJ

For a complete list of all winners, to go BroadwayWorld.com here.

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The Goren Family & the New Harmony Helper App Become Inaugural Sponsor for Paper Mill Playhouse Education/Outreach Programs

Bridget Bross — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 17:58:23 +0000

The Goren Family and the Harmony Helper app have partnered with Paper Mill Playhouse as the inaugural sponsor of the not-for-profit’s education and outreach programs. The sponsorship includes additional resources for Paper Mill’s staple arts education programs including: Adopt-A-School Project, Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards presented by Investors Foundation, annual New Voices Concer t, S ummer Musical Theater Conservatory, and the company’s Theater for Everyone program, among others. The Goren Family and the Harmony Helper App are also a major sponsor of Paper Mill Playhouse’s mainstage production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, running from Nov 20–Dec 29.

“Paper Mill Playhouse is an invaluable non-profit organization that enriches the national theater community and gives performers of all abilities the opportunity to participate in the arts. Harmony Helper is thrilled to give back to this organization that represents our shared values. Much like Paper Mill Playhouse, our goal at Harmony Helper is to provide equal access to training resources for performers.”

–Andrew Goren, founder and chief executive officer of Harmony Helper.

James Fakult, Chair of Paper Mill’s Board of Trustees, says, “Paper Mill Playhouse is deeply grateful for the Harmony Helper app and the Goren family’s visionary support of our arts education and outreach programs. Paper Mill champions nearly 40,000 students each year with transformative education programs, which are at the heart of our not-for-profit organization.”

Harmony Helper®, the premier app that provides singers the convenience and control of a 24/7 digital rehearsal room anytime, anywhere, announced the full launch on October 29 of the first and only product that adds customizable sheet music scanning to simplify practicing and help singers deliver their best performance. The Harmony Helper app allows singers that cannot afford a vocal coach or rehearsal space to develop the skill levels they need to make the most of their time in the spotlight. It levels the playing field for amateurs and pros alike.

“Paper Mill feels a keen responsibility to ensure children should have access to theater’s life-changing opportunities, regardless of economic, physical, or developmental challenges. Paper Mill responds with high-quality arts education, cultural partnerships, and outreach – impacting teens, aspiring artists, and families of children with autism and other cognitive and developmental disabilities,” stated Michael Stotts, Paper Mill’s Managing Director.

Based on patented technology, the app is the first comprehensive, easy-to-use learning tool that features accurate real-time feedback, vocal part customization, pitch tracking, record/playback, and vocal part volume control.

Harmony Helper’s new customizable sheet music scanning feature is the first and only of its kind. Users simply upload or take a photo of their sheet music. Harmony Helper then uses Optical Music Recognition (OMR) technology to auto-generate vocal parts. The user then creates their own custom vocal part by answering a few questions about the song. The song is then translated into an easy-to-read piano roll format with accompaniment and flexible part volume controls, giving singers the ability to isolate specific vocal parts and sound while practicing. This unique feature makes all music available to practice the moment a singer is ready to begin learning. For singers who are just learning or struggle with reading sheet music, this patented technology eliminates the friction to allow the aspiring singer to practice. Performers no longer need to be dependent on scheduling time with accompanists to play and record music, and the real-time feedback feature takes away the stress of scheduling with a coach to quickly prepare for an audition or performance.

“Harmony Helper is an indispensable educational resource that will change how every individual and music group approaches learning music,” said Mark S. Hoebee, Producing Artistic Director at Paper Mill Playhouse. “Harmony Helper solves a myriad of logistical issues facing performers and beginners while giving students the confidence they need to master their music. I consider this app a true game-changer for the arts industry.”

“Learning to sing requires only one really big commitment: practice. Harmony Helper allows you to practice singing anytime, while simultaneously training both your brain and ear. Unlike other apps on the market, Harmony Helper makes it possible for singers to practice any song they want with no song library limit. The sheet music scanner feature puts control back into the singer’s hands, without having to impose on your Musical Director or accompanist to record their individual parts. As a Broadway performer, this is incredibly valuable and a first for the industry.”

–Rob McClure, Tony-nominated actor and artistic advisor at Harmony Helper

Harmony Helper’s transformative features include:
• Sheet Music scanning/conversion: Allows singers to simply take a photo of any sheet music or upload directly into the app. Using OMR technology, written music is converted to MusicXML and MIDI so it can be viewed in a piano roll format, heard, and rehearsed.
• Vocal part customization: Singers create their custom vocal part for a more personalized experience.
• Real-time feedback: Patented pitch tracker accurately visualizes the singer’s pitch and timing in real-time, calibrated to their abilities and level of expertise.
• Vocal Part Volume Controls: Hear the song in a multitude of different ways using volume controls for vocal parts, metronome, and accompaniment.
• Guided Approach to Learning: Patented 5-Step Approach to Learning and Holding Harmonies equips singers with the necessary tools to tackle even the most complex songs, so they can walk into every live performance or rehearsal confidently prepared.
• Easy Record and Playback: Listen to a song anytime and anywhere, then step into a quiet room to record/practice. Then listen to the recording take alone or with other vocal parts.

In the coming months, Harmony Helper will be announcing the general release of its group sharing features. The patented technology will enable music directors, coaches, and teachers to seamlessly share songbooks and instructions with performers and group members. Performers will receive their music via the app and can easily isolate their part so they can practice on their own time, not just when the director or accompanist is available.

Harmony Helper is now available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

HARMONY HELPER is a singer’s best friend and the only app that utilizes patented technologies to provide singers with the convenience and control of a 24/7 digital rehearsal room anytime, anywhere, regardless of skill level. Harmony Helper improves singing accuracy and builds confidence, helping singers and performance groups deliver their best performances. The innovative learning tool is easy-to-use and complete with the most comprehensive list of features, including part customization, sheet music scanning, real-time feedback, vocal part volume control and a novel 5-step approach to mastering a song. Founded in 2017 by CEO and founder Andrew Goren, Harmony Helper is comprised of a passionate team of expert technologists, seasoned entrepreneurs, and well-respected Broadway performers and performance experts. For more information, visit https://harmonyhelper.com.

Harmony Helper and the Harmony Helper logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Harmony Helper. All other product and company names and marks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners and are mentioned for identification.

The post The Goren Family & the New Harmony Helper App Become Inaugural Sponsor for Paper Mill Playhouse Education/Outreach Programs appeared first on Paper Mill Playhouse.

Cast and Creative Team Announced for Chasing Rainbows: The Road To Oz

Bridget Bross — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 15:21:19 +0000

Before she burst onto the big screen as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland was a young vaudeville trouper named Frances Gumm. In this highly anticipated new musical chronicling Garland’s early career from vaudeville baby to MGM teen star in the making, the road to Oz is paved with adversity. At its heart a story of love between a father and daughter, featuring such legendary songs as “Over the Rainbow,” “You Made Me Love You,” and “Everybody Sing,” Chasing Rainbows is a poignant coming-of-age tale about “the little girl with the big voice,” who went on to become one of the world’s most beloved entertainment icons.

The show has already earned praise from Liza Minnelli, who said, “My mother said that her biography is in her music, and now a talented creative team is using that music to tell the story of her early years and her extraordinary rise to fame.”

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Paper Mill Playhouse, recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award, presents the New Jersey premiere of Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz with a book by Marc Acito, musical adaptation & additional music by David Libby and conceived by and additional lyrics by Tina Marie Casamento. Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz begins performances Thursday, Sep 26, and will continue through Sunday, Oct 27. Bank of America is the major sponsor for Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz. Paper Mill Playhouse’s 2019—2020 season is proudly sponsored by Investors Bank. Opening Night is set for Sunday, Oct 6, 2019, at 7:00PM.

Directed and choreographed by Tony award nominee Denis Jones, with music direction by Lawrence Yurman, the principal cast features Ruby Rakos (Billy Elliot) as Judy Garland/Frances Gumm, Tony Award nominee Max Von Essen (An American in Paris, Paper Mill’s The Baker’s Wife) as Frank Gumm, Olivier Award-winner Lesli Margherita (Matilda, Dames at Sea) as Ethel Gumm, Karen Mason (Mamma Mia!, And the World Goes ‘Round) as Ma Lawlor/Kay Koverman, Stephen DeRosa (Into the Woods, HBO’s Boardwalk Empire) as Louis B. Mayer, Michael Wartella (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Tuck Everlasting) as Mickey Rooney, and Colin Hanlon (ABC’s “Modern Family”, Paper Mill’s Benny & Joon) as Roger Edens.

Rounding out the cast are Tia Altinay, Mackenzie Bell, Kristen Grace Brown, Lamont Brown, Joe Cassidy, Clara Cox, Tessa Grady, Sophie Knapp (Teaneck, NJ), Molly Lyons, Kimberly Immanuel, Christina Maxwell, Kevin B. McGlynn, Allsun O’Malley, Samantha Joy Pearlman, Drew Redington, Joshua J. Schwartz, Parker Slaybaugh, Sean Thompson, Violet Tinnirello, and Kathy Voytko (Bloomfield, NJ).

The production team includes scenic design by Alexander Dodge, costume design by Linda Cho, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, sound design by Matt Kraus, projection design by Peter Nigrini, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, and makeup design by Dena Olivieri. John Fricke serves as creative consultant. The production stage manager is Bonnie Panson. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting.

Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz will be performed at Paper Mill Playhouse eight times a week, Wed—Sun. Performance schedule: Wednesday at 7:30PM, Thursday at 1:30PM and 7:30PM, Friday at 8:00PM, Saturday at 1:30PM and 8:00PM, and Sunday at 1:30PM and 7:00PM. Season subscriptions are on sale now. Individual tickets go on sale Monday, Aug 19, starting at $34. Groups of 10 or more may receive up to a 40% discount. Students may order $23-$28 rush tickets over the phone or in person at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office on the day of the performance.

“If you grew up watching The Wizard of Oz, it’s almost impossible to imagine that movie with anyone else but Judy Garland as Dorothy,” commented the show’s conceiver Tina Marie Casamento, a member of the theater faculty at New Jersey’s Rider University.

“But it is the iconic performance that almost didn’t happen. Chasing Rainbows is about how, against all odds, the teenage Frances Gumm became the legendary Judy Garland, and it’s a story I’ve wanted to tell as a musical for years, since first reading a Garland biography. It’s the ultimate story of knowing there’s something special inside of you and waiting for that chance to share your gifts with the world. I’m grateful we are able to include so many of the songs, recorded by or associated with Judy Garland in the telling of her early career, and the unprecedented support of the Garland Estate for this production.”

–Tina Marie Casamento, Conceiver

RUBY RAKOS (Judy Garland/Frances Gumm), a Long Hill, New Jersey native, is thrilled to be making her Paper Mill Playhouse debut with Chasing Rainbows! Broadway: Billy Elliot (Tracey Atkinson). Regional: The House on the Hill (world premiere, CATF), Chasing Rainbows (Flat Rock Playhouse, Goodspeed Musicals). She is a graduate of the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan.

MAX VON ESSEN (Frank Gumm). Paper Mill: The Baker’s Wife, My Fair Lady. Broadway: Anastasia, An American in Paris (Tony, Drama Desk, Grammy nominations), Evita, Les Misérables (revival), Dance of the Vampires, Jesus Christ Superstar, closing company of the original Les Misérables. NY: Yours Unfaithfully, The Dreyfuss Affair, Death Takes a Holiday, Hello Again, Jerry Springer: The Opera, Finian’s Rainbow. Tours: Falsettos, Xanadu, Chicago, West Side Story. TV/Film: “Law & Order: SVU,” “Elementary,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “The Good Wife,” “Royal Pains,” “Gossip Girl,” “Seven Lovers,” Sex and the City 2, “Submissions Only” (web series). Debut album, Call Me Old Fashioned, now available.

LESLI MARGHERITA (Ethel Gumm), an Olivier Award winner for her West End debut as Inez in Zorro The Musical, Lesli made her Broadway debut as Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda The Musical. She played Mona Kent in the Broadway premiere of Dames at Sea. Off-Broadway, she played Cindy Lou Who in Who’s Holiday!, earning Drama Desk, Lortel and Off-Broadway Alliance nominations. She recently starred opposite Yvette Nicole Brown in the ABC sitcom pilot “Most Likely To”. She played recurring roles on “Homeland” (Showtime), “Instinct” (CBS), and “Seven Seconds” (Netflix). She starred opposite Topher Grace, Taye Diggs & JC Chasez in the feature film Opening Night available on Netflix and iTunes

KAREN MASON (Ma Lawlor, Kay Koverman) received the 2019 MAC Lifetime Achievement Award and has won twelve MAC Awards, including six consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year awards, among numerous other honors. Theatrical credits include Madame Giry in Love Never Dies (North American premiere tour), Tanya in the original cast of Mamma Mia! (Drama Desk nomination), Norma in Sunset Boulevard, Queen of Hearts in Wonderland, Velma in Hairspray, And the World Goes ’Round (Outer Critics Circle Award), and many more. Karen has headlined Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Feinstein’s/54 Below, Birdland, and venues around the world. Her acclaimed recordings include the singles “It’s About Time,” an anthem for marriage equality, and “Hold Me” (Daytime Emmy Award).

STEPHEN DeROSA (Louis B. Mayer). Broadway: Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus, On the Town, Betrayal, The Nance, Hairspray, Twentieth Century, Henry IV, Into the Woods, The Man Who Came to Dinner. National Tour: West Side Story. Off-Broadway: The Government Inspector (Red Bull Theater), These Paper Bullets! (Atlantic Theater Company), Love’s Fire (The Acting Company), The Mystery of Irma Vep. Regional credits include Arena Stage, Yale Rep, McCarter Theatre, Westport Country Playhouse, Cape Playhouse, George Street Playhouse, Berkshire Theatre Group. Selected Film/TV: The Blacklist, Café Society, The Deuce, Vinyl, Divorce, The Good Wife, and as Eddie Cantor on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. MFA, Yale Drama.

MICHAEL WARTELLA (Mickey Rooney) is excited to be making his Paper Mill debut! Broadway/National Tours: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Tuck Everlasting, Wicked. Off-Broadway: Rent (New World Stages), The Kid (The New Group), Seussical (TheatreWorksUSA), Oliver Twist (TFANA). Regional: Chasing Rainbows (Flat Rock Playhouse, Goodspeed Musicals), Midsummer, A Prayer for Owen Meany, (Denver Center Theatre Company). Film/TV: Mysteries of Laura, Blood Night: The Legend of Mary Hatchet, Loving Leah.

COLIN HANLON (Roger Edens) recently appeared at Paper Mill as Mike in Benny & Joon. He appears on “Modern Family” as Steven and has had guest starring roles on “Difficult People,” “The Sinner,” “The Good Fight,” and in the upcoming film Yes. Coproducer and star of the web series Submissions Only (Stage Network). New York premieres: Dot (Vineyard, dir. Susan Stroman), A. R. Gurney’s Final Follies (Cherry Lane, dir. David Saint). Broadway: Falsettos, Rent, Wicked (tour), In Transit. Four shows at George Street Playhouse, most recently The Nerd (dir. Kevin Cahoon); four seasons at NYS&F and the O’Neill; Next Fall (St. Louis Rep). Off-Broadway includes I Love You Because and Pirates of Penzance.

MARC ACITO (Book) authored the Broadway musical Allegiance, which NY Newsday recognized for its “well-structured book” and “fully-developed characters.” Acito’s comedy Birds of a Feather won the Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play. He won the Ken Kesey Award for his novel How I Paid for College, then adapted it as a one-man musical. Coming up: a musical in Mandarin for Broadway Asia in Beijing; and The Secrets of the Universe (and Other Songs) about the relationship between Albert Einstein and Marian Anderson, part of a trilogy about science and ethics. Proud member of the Dramatists Guild, MENSA, and Weight Watchers.

DAVID LIBBY (Musical Adaptation, Additional Music, Orchestrations, Dance & Vocal Arrangements) is a composer, arranger, and music director. Theater credits include Music Director for the Off-Broadway production of Play it Cool (Outstanding New Musical nominee, Outer Critics Circle) and keyboards on the National Tours of Beauty and the Beast and Kiss Me Kate (2001 revival). David composes music for film and digital media, his credits including Mister Green (Best Short Film, London Sci-Fi Festival), Super Power Blues (PBS affiliate WNET People’s Choice Award), and online episodes of Marvel Entertainment’s “The Incredible Hulk” and “Spiderman.” BA, Bowdoin College. MM Jazz Studies, Rutgers University.

TINA MARIE CASAMENTO (Conceiver, Additional Lyrics) is a director, teacher, producer and actress with over 30 years-experience in the industry who is passionate about creating inspired and emotionally compelling theatre. Tina Marie conceived/wrote the treatment for Chasing Rainbows, leading to a development deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Tina Marie attended Carnegie Mellon University (acting), and University of Maryland (full scholarship in Creative and Performing Arts). Committed to nurturing young talent, she is on staff at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ, and teaches master classes and workshops throughout the country. She served as chair and national adjudicator in Theatre for YoungArts, and is a recipient of the Teacher Recognition Award by the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

DENIS JONES (Director & Choreographer) Paper Mill Playhouse: Holiday Inn, Mary Poppins, Honeymoon in Vegas, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Damn Yankees, The Full Monty, High School Musical, Meet Me in St. Louis. Broadway: *Tootsie, *Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn (*Tony Award nominations for best choreography), Honeymoon in Vegas. Other recent credits: How to Succeed… (Kennedy Center); Hey, Look Me Over! And Paint Your Wagon (NY City Center Encores!); Crazy for You (Signature—Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Choreography); Thoroughly Modern Millie (Goodspeed); The Wiz and 42nd Street (Muny—St. Louis Theater Circle Award for Outstanding Choreography); Moonshine: That Hee-Haw Musical (Dallas Theater Center); A Funny Thing…Forum (Two River/Williamstown).

LARRY BLANK (Orchestrations) is a three-time Tony nominee for his orchestrations on Catch Me If You Can, White Christmas, and The Drowsy Chaperone. He has received six Drama Desk Award nominations for A Christmas Story, Honeymoon in Vegas, Catch Me If You Can, The Drowsy Chaperone, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, and Fiddler on the Roof. He was co-orchestrator for the stage and film versions of The Producers and provided orchestrations for the film version of Chicago. He orchestrates and conducts the Olivier Awards in London. Most recently Larry orchestrated and conducted FX’s Fosse/Verdon. He composed, arranged, and orchestrated Dolly Parton’s latest project, Christmas on the Square, for Warner Brothers.

LAWRENCE YURMAN (Music Director) is a pianist, arranger and conductor with over 30 years of experience on Broadway and beyond. Notable Broadway appearances include the 2018 revival of The Iceman Cometh (onstage pianist), War Paint (music director/conductor) starring Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (music director/arranger) starring Harry Connick, Jr., It Shoulda Been You, and Grey Gardens. He has performed extensively with Christine Ebersole and Lea Salonga in NYC, across the country, and abroad. Larry is pleased to be making his Paper Mill debut with this show.

ALEXANDER DODGE (Scenic Design). Paper Mill: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Importance of Being Earnest, Master Class. Broadway: Anastasia (Outer Critics Circle nomination), A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder (Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle nominations), Present Laughter (Tony nomination), Old Acquaintance, Butley, Hedda Gabler. Recent Off-Broadway and regional: Harry Clarke (Minetta Lane/Audible), the premiere of the musical The Flamingo Kid choreographed by Denis Jones (Hartford Stage). Opera: Samson et Dalila (Metropolitan Opera), The Thirteenth Child (Santa Fe Opera), Ghosts of Versailles (LA Opera), Dinner at Eight (Minnesota and Wexford), Il trittico (Deutsche Oper Berlin), and Lohengrin (Budapest). MFA, Yale.

LINDA CHO (Costume Design). Broadway: Anastasia (Tony nomination), A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder (Tony Award, Henry Hewes Award, Outer Critics Circle nomination), The Lifespan of a Fact, Velocity of Autumn. Her extensive body of work includes productions at acclaimed theaters and opera companies across the country and around the world. She served as the American costume design curator for the International Prague Quadrennial; received TDF’s Irene Sharaff Young Master Award; was honored with the Ruth Morley Design Award from the League of Professional Theatre Women; and is currently on the advisory committee for the American Theatre Wing. MFA, Yale School of Drama.

JAPHY WEIDEMAN (Lighting Design). Paper Mill: The Sting. Broadway: Dear Evan Hansen, The Visit, The Nance, Of Mice and Men, and Airline Highway, all received Tony Award nominations for best lighting design. Other Broadway: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bright Star, Lobby Hero, Sylvia, Old Times, The Heidi Chronicles, Macbeth (Drama Desk nomination), Cyrano de Bergerac, The Snow Geese. Extensive Off-Broadway, opera, and international productions. Up next is Dear Evan Hansen on London’s West End.

MATT KRAUS (Sound Design). Broadway: Liza’s at the Palace…, Kristin Chenoweth: My Love Letter to Broadway, Kathy Griffin Wants a Tony. Off-Broadway: Caucasian Chalk Circle, 50 Shades! The Musical Parody, Forbidden Broadway, Voca People. Audio coordinator for remote shoots at “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Regional: Paper Mill Playhouse (Beauty and the Beast, Holiday Inn, Lend Me a Tenor, Newsies), St. Louis Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Walnut Street, and more. Matt has also played the world’s most prestigious venues: Hollywood Bowl, Hampton Court Palace, Olympia in Paris, Sydney Opera House, Monte Carlo Sporting Club, and Vienna State Opera House. Matt won a Daytime Emmy for his work on Disney’s Broadway Hits at Royal Albert Hall.

PETER NIGRINI (Projection Design). Broadway: Beetlejuice, Ain’t Too Proud, Sponge Bob, Dear Evan Hansen, Amelie, and A Doll’s House, Part 2, among others. Other recent designs of note include Here Lies Love at the Public Theater, for which he won the first Drama Desk awarded for projection, and also at the Public Theater Grounded for which he won the first Lucille Lortel awarded for projection.

CHARLES G. LAPOINTE (Hair & Wig Design). Paper Mill Playhouse: Newsies, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Holiday Inn, The Sting, The Color Purple, 1776. Numerous Broadway, touring, West End, and international productions including Hamilton, The Cher Show (Drama Desk Award), The Band’s Visit, Beautiful, Ain’t Too Proud, Beetlejuice, The Lifespan of a Fact, SpongeBob SquarePants (Drama Desk Award), Jersey Boys, Motown, Memphis, On Your Feet!, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, The Color Purple, Newsies, In the Heights. Television: “The Wiz Live!” (Emmy Award nomination), “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” (Emmy Award nomination, Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Award), Hairspray.

DENA OLIVIERI (Makeup Design) is thrilled and honored to join the creative team of Chasing Rainbows at Paper Mill Playhouse, following her Paper Mill debut with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast this past spring. She won best makeup in the Rhode Island BroadwayWorld Awards for her Beauty and the Beast makeup design in 2017.

TARA RUBIN CASTING (Casting). Previous Paper Mill: The Sting, Bandstand, A Bronx Tale, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Can-Can, Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Tour. Selected Broadway: King Kong, Summer, Prince of Broadway, Indecent, Bandstand, Sunset Boulevard, Miss Saigon, Dear Evan Hansen, A Bronx Tale, Cats, Falsettos, Disaster!, School of Rock, Les Misérables, The Heiress, The Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliot, Shrek, Spamalot, …Spelling Bee, The Producers, Mamma Mia!, Jersey Boys. Off-Broadway: Jersey Boys; Here Lies Love; Old Jews Telling Jokes; Love, Loss, and What I Wore. Regional: Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Yale Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Old Globe, Asolo Rep.

JOHN FRICKE (Creative Consultant) is the preeminent Judy Garland and The Wizard of Oz authority. He’s written seven books on those topics and received Emmy Awards for co-producing Garland documentaries for PBS and A&E. As creator and consultant for Oz/Garland projects, John has worked with (among others) Warner Bros., TCM, Turner Entertainment, the Smithsonian, EMI, and Sony. He delivers the commentary tracks on eight Garland DVD releases, including Oz; he’s appeared multiple times on Today, TCM, CNN, NPR; and he’s lectured at Lincoln Center, the Paley Center, MOMA, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the Deauville Film Festival.

BONNIE PANSON (Production Stage Manager). Broadway: Over 25 shows including Anastasia; Gigi; Bring It On; Spider-Man; Chicago; Dance of the Vampires; Seussical; Bring in ’da Noise, Bring in ’da Funk; Kiss of the Spider Woman; Starlight Express; The Pirates of Penzance. Off-Broadway: Trip of Love, The Last Five Years, directed by Jason Robert Brown. Regional credits include Hartford Stage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and four seasons at the Muny in St. Louis. Adjunct professor at Columbia University in the School of the Arts MFA program.

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Accessibility Performances for Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz

Paper Mill Playhouse, a leader in accessibility, will offer audio-described performances for Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz on Sunday, Oct 20, at 1:30PM and Saturday, Oct 26, 2019, at 1:30PM. Prior to these performances at noon, the theater will offer free sensory seminars. Sensory seminars offer an opportunity for patrons with vision loss to hear a live, in-depth description of the production elements of the show and hands-on interaction with key sets, props, and costumes. There will be a sign-interpreted and open-captioned performance on Sunday, Oct 27, at 7PM.

Free Audience Enrichment Activities for Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz

CONVERSATION CLUB: Join us Thursday evenings, Sep 26, Oct 3, 10, and 17 one hour before curtain for an informal, informative gathering. You’ll learn more about the performance you’re about to see.

THE DIRECTOR’S VIEWPOINT: One hour before curtain on Wednesday, Oct 2, a pre-show discussion with the show’s director in the Renee Foosaner Art Gallery.

Q&A WITH THE CAST: After the matinee on Saturday, Oct 26, stick around for a lively Q&A with cast members directly following the performance.

The post Cast and Creative Team Announced for Chasing Rainbows: The Road To Oz appeared first on Paper Mill Playhouse.

Winner of Two People’s Choice Awards

Bridget Bross — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 18:19:33 +0000

Paper Mill Playhouse is pleased to announce it has won two, 2019 Discover Jersey Arts People’s Choice Awards. Paper Mill Playhouse was awarded, “Favorite Large Theater to See a Musical,” and “Favorite Choral Group” by the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation. Presented by Discover Jersey Arts, a program of the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation and New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the annual Awards highlight the work of New Jersey’s vital and thriving arts community.

The awards presented to Paper Mill Playhouse were accepted by Managing Director Mike Stotts (second from left) and Director of Press and Public Relations Shayne Miller (third from left, also the director of the theater’s award-winning show choir) at a ceremony in Burlington, New Jersey this week.

“We’re so grateful for this designation and to be among the top arts organizations in the state. We are thankful for the outpouring of support from the community that we serve and thrilled we were chosen as New Jersey’s ‘Favorite Place to see a Musical’. We are overjoyed to receive an award for the Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir. Programs like our show choir, Theater School, classes for students with autism and other developmental disabilities and our Summer Musical Theater Conservatory give students a supportive environment in which to study and explore elements of performance and learn essential life skills.”

–Mike Stotts, Managing Director of the Millburn theater

This year, nearly 14,000 arts lovers cast their ballots for their favorite local groups and downtowns. Paper Mill Playhouse garnered over 8,000 votes between the two categories and has won more People’s Choice Awards than any other arts organization in the program’s history.
Paper Mill Playhouse was one of 104 arts organizations and 11 downtown districts nominated in 19 categories, including favorite art museum, opera company, small theater, choral group and more. Nominees were determined by their peers in the Jersey Arts Marketers network, made up of hundreds of arts groups from around the state.

“The arts in New Jersey are vibrant, diverse and innovative,” said Adam Perle, President & CEO of ArtPride New Jersey, during this year’s awards ceremony at Lyceum Hall Center for the Arts in Burlington, N.J. “We are extremely proud to host the annual JerseyArts.com People’s Choice Awards, and to honor the outstanding cultural industry that makes our state such an incredible place to live, work and play.”

For detailed results and more information, click here.

“The thousands of fans who come out and vote every year for their favorites are further proof that the arts matter in New Jersey,” said Allison Tratner, Executive Director of the State Arts Council. “As drivers of tourism and the economy, these distinctive arts destinations anchor communities in every corner of the state, and help connect us with the creativity so vital to our quality of life.”

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE, (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Mike Stotts-Managing Director) recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, is where American musical theater is celebrated, cherished, and pushed in exciting new directions. A beloved New Jersey arts institution since 1938 and a nationally renowned not-for-profit regional theater, Paper Mill has been consistently recognized for the high-quality artistry of its reimagined classic musicals as well as its commitment to supporting the development of new works and the careers of Broadway’s best talent and emerging artists both onstage and behind the scenes. Paper Mill Playhouse boasts award-winning access services and outreach initiatives as well as performer training programs that impact more than 35,000 students each year. Paper Mill Playhouse productions have launched national tours and gone on to Broadway—including Disney’s Newsies, Les Misérables, Honeymoon in Vegas, A Bronx Tale, and Bandstand—as well as television broadcasts on Showtime and PBS and original cast recordings. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE BROADWAY SHOW CHOIR (Shayne Austin Miller, Director) is a tuition-free, audition-based performance show choir that stems from Paper Mill Playhouse’s award-winning Arts Education and Outreach programs. The choir consists of 70 singer/dancers between the ages of 15 and 22. The Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir acts as ambassadors to Paper Mill Playhouse with an array of performance opportunities throughout the community and beyond. Over the past six seasons, the Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir has delighted more than 450,000 people across the region with rousing renditions of Broadway, pop, and classics. The choir has performed at prestigious venues including MetLife Stadium, Lincoln Center, Sun Arena, NJPAC, The State Theatre, Mayo Center, Bergen PAC, Paper Mill Playhouse, The Empire State Building, Asbury Park Convention Center, SOPAC, among others. The choir will be on-tour throughout the state, April–June. The Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir is presented by Overlook Medical Center.

ABOUT JERSEYARTS.COM AND DISCOVER JERSEY ARTS
JerseyArts.com is the official website of Discover Jersey Arts, a cosponsored project of the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation and New Jersey State Council on the Arts dedicated to increasing the awareness of and participation in the arts in New Jersey. The site features a comprehensive cultural event calendar and arts directory; feature stories, videos and podcasts; details on Jersey Arts Membership, including discounts and exclusive member events; an online gallery of New Jersey artists; and other content about the state’s cultural community.

ABOUT THE NEW JERSEY STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS
The New Jersey State Council on the Arts is a division of the NJ Department of State. It receives funding in direct appropriations from the State of New Jersey through a dedicated Hotel/Motel Occupancy fee and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. Since 1966, its volunteer members and professional staff have worked to improve the quality of life in New Jersey through strategic support of the arts. To learn more about the Council, click here.

ABOUT THE ARTPRIDE NEW JERSEY FOUNDATION
The ArtPride New Jersey Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) organization that promotes the value of the arts to New Jersey’s quality of life, education and economic vitality through research and a variety of programs and services. For more information about ArtPride, click here.

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Award-Winning American Performer Reports on Paper Mill

Bridget Bross — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 15:17:20 +0000

If you have attended any opening night performance at Paper Mill Playhouse this season you may have noticed a beautiful woman being filmed in the lobby or at the after party. Theater Journalism still has a chance in this country when someone like Jennifer Jones is reporting. It’s not traditional theater criticism, its building a brand and personality around the theater to create new fans of the genre. But the really exciting part is who Jennifer actually is.

Jennifer Jones is an award-winning American performer recognized worldwide for her groundbreaking accomplishments and equal rights advocacy in the arts. She’s part of an exclusive, legendary group of inspirational trailblazers who have transcended racial barriers, a unique honor that comes along once every generation.

In 1987, she became the first African American Radio City Music Hall Rockette, making her the first black female performer since the troupe’s 1925 foundation to be honored with the distinction. Her RCMH Rockette national debut was in 1988 during the Super Bowl XXII Halftime Show.

Jones’ revolutionary milestone abolished a longstanding Radio City Music Hall Rockettes policy against hiring African Americans for its chorus line so as not to distract from its hallmark of perfectly-synchronized precision and rigid color uniformity.

By transcending the racial barrier, she ushered-in a transformative, modern era for the RCMH Rockettes, among others: in 1989, she was crowned Miss Morris County Pageant Queen in her native New Jersey as its first African American champion.

She enjoyed a fifteen-year career with the RCMH Rockettes, which included a national tour and televised performances. As an ambassador, she was a staunch advocate of labor rights, rallying for her colleagues during various contract disputes over job protections.

In 2002, she hung-up her RCMH Rockettes’ dance heels and joined the Rockette Alumnae Association.

Born and raised in New Jersey, she began dancing at an early age, nurturing a unique and dynamic approach to the arts, and mastering innovative interpretations of tap, ballet, jazz, and modern repertoires. She honed her acclaimed high-kicks at New York City’s Broadway Dance Center, and was mentored by Frank Hatchett, the American Jazz dance icon.

During her penultimate year rostering at the RCMH Rockettes, she performed in the ensemble of the 2001 Broadway revival of 42nd Street, which won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical that year.

As a Tony Award-winning performer, Jones’ pioneering legacy has continued to inspire notable causes. In 2016, she was honored by the Harlem School of the Arts with a world premiere tribute, “The Harlem City Music Hall Dance Spectacular,” written and directed by Aubrey Lynch II, which was an emblematic parable of how she overcame adversity through pure determination, bravery, hard work, and talent.

In August 2018, she was appointed an “O Mag Insider” by O, The Oprah Magazine, a group founded in early 2017 that represents the most influential, aspirational supporters of the award-winning women’s magazine published by Hearst Communications, Inc., hand-chosen from thousands of submissions from readers across the country.

Next time you attend an opening night performance, make sure to say hello to Ms. Jones. She’s both inspiring and relevant having broken the racial barrier of such an iconic tradition as The Rockettes. Below you will find her review of My Very Own British Invasion and her website.

ROCKETTE JENN
My Very Own British Invasion Review
Click here to meet Jennifer Jones

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