Paper Mill Playhouse Unveils 2014-15 Season with Broadway Bound CAN-CAN, US Premiere of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, EVER AFTER & More

Paper Mill Playhouse has just announced the lineup for its 2014-2015 season, featuring four musicals and one Tony Award- winning play, including at least one production bound for Broadway. Paper Mill Playhouse will open its 2014-2015 season with a Broadway-bound, world-class revival of Can-Can, introducing a brand-new book to accompany its incredible Cole Porter score. This fresh new production features direction by the legendary David Lee (Frasier, Cheers) and showstopping choreography by Patti Colombo (Paper Mill's Peter Pan, On the Town, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers). The show features a re-crafted script by Joel Fields (Ugly Betty, The Americans) and David Lee.

Just in time for Christmas, Paper Mill Playhouse will present Elf, a fantastical holiday musical for the entire family based on the 2003 film that starred Will Farrell. Elfwas a smash hit on Broadway and now Paper Mill Playhouse will give this heartwarming tale its New Jersey premiere.

Warm your winter spirit with the comedy that won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Master of comedy Christopher Durang mixes four distinct characters and dishes up a hilarious stew in this play that Backstage called "breathtakingly funny and quietly poignant."

Next spring, Paper Mill Playhouse will once again partner with Disney Theatrical Productions with which it has previously partnered on Newsies and High School Musical, to present the US premiere of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, inspired by the classic Victor Hugo novel and created for the stage by two masters of stage and screen, composer Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Pocahontas) and lyricist Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin). An intimate retelling of the famous love story scripted by Peter Parnell, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is produced in association with La Jolla Playhouse (Christopher Ashley, Artistic Director/Michael Rosenberg, Managing Director).

Finally, Paper Mill Playhouse will close its 76th season with the world-premiere musical Ever After, a sparkling new show based on the 1998 film that starred Drew Barrymore. Ever After will be directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall.

"What a thrill to produce another show heading for Broadway next season," commented Mark S. Hoebee, Producing Artistic Director for the Millburn theater. "Paper Mill Playhouse is honored to bring so many incredible artists to work in New Jersey next season. The list is remarkable and includes Kathleen Marshall, Patti Colombo, Scott Schwartz, David Lee, legendary composers Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz (lyrics), future theatrical legends like Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler and our producing partners Jonathan Burrows and Kevin McCollum. We are proud to have created an irresistible lineup of stories you will love, glorious music that will warm your heart and many memorable moments of theater magic."

"We are very proud of our recent accomplishments," remarked Managing Director Todd Schmidt. "In just the past two seasons, Paper Mill Playhouse has grown its subscriber base by more than 50% to over 21,000 and the theater has seen a more diverse audience visit our campus. With Newsies a hit on Broadway, LES MISERABLES and Honeymoon in Vegas heading to Broadway in 2014 and at least one show in our upcoming season with Broadway plans, Paper Mill Playhouse is THE place to premiere a production with Broadway aspirations. Of course, none of what we do would be possible without the generous support of our donors, subscribers, patrons, foundations and corporate partners, including season sponsorship from our friends at Investors Bank."

"Investors Bank is proud to continue our support of Paper Mill Playhouse for their 2014-2015 season," said Kevin Cummings, President and CEO. "Paper Mill Playhouse provides accessibility to Broadway-quality theatrical performances outside of the hustle of a city environment. This allows theater patrons the chance to experience superb performances in a local theater atmosphere while also supporting their community. In addition, Paper Mill's outreach partnerships with not-for-profit organizations create a win-win. We are honored to be a partner with Paper Mill Playhouse as their mission closely mirrors Investors Bank's in improving the communities we serve. We wish them continued success with the new season's performances."

Paper Mill Playhouse will produce eight performances a week, Wednesday throughSunday. Three, four and five-show subscription packages are available now starting at just $84. Each subscription package includes a different level of special benefits (see www.papermill.org for details). Single tickets will go on sale in June starting at just $28. Student rush tickets are $20 and available the day of the performance in person or by phone and will only be distributed with current student ID. Tickets and subscriptions may be purchased by calling 973.376.4343, or at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.papermill.org. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. Groups of ten or more can receive up to a 40% discount on tickets and should call 973.315.1680. Titles, casting and dates subject to change.

Paper Mill Playhouse's 2014-2015 Season

Can-Can

October 1 through October 26, 2014

Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter

Book by Abe Burrows

Revised by Joel Fields and David Lee

A brand-new production of Cole Porter's classic musical heading to Broadway from Paper Mill Playhouse. Pistache, a Parisian café owner, decides to feature the scandalous dance, the Can-Can, but will her defiance of the law end her business and her love life? This fresh new production features direction and a re-crafted script by the legendary David Lee (Frasier, Cheers) and showstopping choreography by Patti Colombo (Peter Pan, On the Town, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers).

Elf

November 26, 2014, through January 4, 2015

Book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin

Music by Matthew Sklar

Lyrics by Chad Beguelin

It's the fantastical holiday musical for the entire family in its New Jersey premiere! This is the hilarious and joyous tale of Buddy, an orphan who is mistakenly transported to the North Pole and raised by Santa's elves. Now, as a grownup, he embarks on a journey to discover his true identity. Based on the 2003 film that starred Will Farrell, Elf was a smash hit on Broadway. This is a holiday treat for your whole family from Paper Mill Playhouse.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

January 21 through February 15, 2015

By Christopher Durang

Winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play! Outrageously funny! The master of comedy, Christopher Durang, mixes four distinct characters and dishes up a hilarious stew. "Will Vanya and Sonia ever find happiness? Will Masha sell the Bucks County farmhouse out from under them? And will Spike ever put his pants on?" -USA Today. Touching and wickedly, hysterically funny.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (US Premiere)

March 4 through April 5, 2015

Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

Book by Peter Parnell

Directed by Scott Schwartz

Based on the novel by Victor Hugo

PRODUCED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH DISNEY THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS

Inspired by the classic Victor Hugo novel, this is the only stage collaboration between two giants of the American musical theater-composer Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Pocahontas) and lyricist Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin). An intimate retelling of the famous love story featuring a lush, emotionally rich score, Hunchback of Notre Dame will leave you inspired. See it now in its US premiere.

Ever After (World Premiere)

May 21 through June 21, 2015

Book and Lyrics by Marcy Heisler

Music by Zina Goldrich

Directed by Kathleen Marshall

The world premiere of a sparkling new musical! Adapted from the film that starred Drew Barrymore, directed and choreographed by three-time Tony winner Kathleen Marshall, Ever After is a wondrous tale that sets the Cinderella legend straight with the "true" story of Danielle de Barbarac, beautiful and independent, friend of da Vinci, a renaissance woman for all time. Fantastically funny, hopelessly romantic, it's the must-see musical you've been waiting for!

Paper Mill Playhouse offers our audience an opportunity to enhance their theater experience with behind-the-scenes views of our 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? Well, here's your chance! 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&A With the Cast and more.

Paper Mill Playhouse offers people with disabilities the opportunity to see live theater with dignity and independence through our 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.

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theaters. Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, 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.