Cody, Hanes, Schecter and More Lead Paper Mill Playhouse's ON THE TOWN

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for On the Town. Directed by Bill Berry with choreography by Patti Colombo, On the Town will run at the Millburn theater from November 11 through December 6, 2009. On the Town is generously supported by a gift from The Ferolito Family.

On the Town, Leonard Bernstein's and Jerome Robbins' dance spectacular sails onto the Paper Mill Playhouse stage just in time for the holidays. A musical devoted to celebrating New York City in all its glorious diversity, On the Town is the story of Three Sailors - Gabey, Chip, and Ozzie - who are on a 24-hour leave and searching for romance and boy do they find it! On the Town opened on Broadway in 1944 and introduced America to such standards as, "New York, New York" and "I Can Cook Too". ".altogether transporting music," as Charles Isherwood of the New York Times described it; On the Town is a "wonderland of pleasure, romance and hot fun."

On the Town brings a spectacular cast to the Paper Mill stage including: Jennifer Cody (Hildy Esterhazy) performed in Paper Mill Playhouse's production of Cinderella as 'Joy'. Ms. Cody won the Kevin Kline Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical for her role in Hello, Dolly! and was nominated for a Drama League award. Her Broadway credits include: Shrek The Musical; Pajama Game; Taboo; Urinetown; Seussical; Grease; Beauty and the Beast; and Cats. Her television and film credits include: The Princess and the Frog; Law & Order; Rosie Live; The Battery's Down; and The Understudies.

Tyler Hanes (Gabey) has performed on Broadway in A Chorus Line; Hairspray; Sweet Charity; and The Frogs. Off-Broadway he performed in Juno and was featured in the national tour of Fosse. His film and television credits include: In the Blood; Phoebe in Wonderland; and One Life to Live.

Jeffrey Schecter (Ozzie) performed on Broadway in A Chorus Line; Pajama Game; A Tree Grows in Brooklyn; Wonderful Town; Beauty and the Beast; and Guys and Dolls. Mr. Schecter was in the Off-Broadway show The Tin Pan Alley Rag and the national tours of West Side Story; Beauty and the Beast; Ragtime; and Guys and Dolls. His film credits include: Every Little Step; Farm Girl in NY; Mix; Tower of Babble; and ED TV. He has appeared on television in All My Children; Lab Rats; Scare Tactics; Strong Medicine; Bull; Titans; and Saved By the Bell.

Brian Shepard (Chip) returns to Paper Mill Playhouse where he last performed in My Fair Lady. He was in the Broadway companies of Guys and Dolls; Young Frankenstein; Spamalot; Annie Get Your Gun; and Peter Pan. MR. Shepard appeared in the national tours of Jesus Christ Superstar and Seussical the Musical.

Kelly Sullivan (Claire DeLoone) recently performed at Paper Mill Playhouse as 'Pam' in The Full Monty and 'Shelby' in Steel Magnolias. Her Broadway credits include: Young Frankenstein; Contact; and Bells Are Ringing. Off Broadway Ms. Sullivan performed at New World Stages in Burleigh Grime$ and at York Theatre in Mirette; Enter Laughing; and Grind.

Yvette Tucker (Ivy) appeared on television in Samantha Who?; The Sarah Conner Chronicles; Journeyman; Scrubs; Close to Home; Charmed; Cold Case; The Suite Life of Cody and Zak; Passions; and Jack and Jill. Ms. Tucker's theater credits include: The Spirit of Bach; On Your Toes; Can-Can; The Studio; Never Gonna Dance; On the Town; The Wild Party; The Sirens of TI; and Peter Pan. Her film credits include: Sarah's Choice; Perfect World; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; and Miss Congeniality 2.

Bill Nolte (Judge Pitkin) has performed in the Broadway productions of The Producers; Amour; Jane Eyre; 1776; King David; A Christmas Carol; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Secret Garden; Me and My Girl; and Cats. Off-Broadway Mr. Nolte appeared in Sail Away; Fanfare; and The Wild Party.

Rounding out the On the Town cast are: Steven Ted Beckler, Paige Faure, Tyler Foy, Cameron Henderson, Tari Kelly, Logan Keslar, Dana Maddox, Lindsay Moore, Casey Muha, Caitlin Mundth, Philip Northington, James A. Pierce III, Catherine Ricafort, Rod Roberts, Ryan Sandberg, Michael Scirrotto, Molly Tynes, Kyle Vaughn, Jacob Widman, and Paige Williams. 

On the Town will be directed by Bill Berry. Mr. Berry recently was named Producing Director at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, Washington. He has directed productions of Cabaret; West Side Story; Wonderful Town; Smokey Joe's Café; The Wizard of Oz; Songs For A New World; Godspell; Reading Rainbow; A Christmas Carol; and Little Shop of Horrors. Choreographer Patti Colombo returns to Paper Mill Playhouse after the critically acclaimed productions of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Kiss Me, Kate, which she choreographed in 2007 and 2008. Ms. Colombo received a Tony® Award nomination for her work on Broadway's production of Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby. She received Emmy® and American Choreographers Award nominations for her choreography of the A&E production of Peter Pan.

Walt Spangler will serve as the Scenic Designer. Costume design is by David C. Woolard. Lighting design is by Tom Sturge. Sound design is by Randy Hansen. Mark Adam Rampmeyer is the Hair and Wig designer. Tom Helm will serve as Musical Director. The Production Stage Manager is Richard C. Rauscher. Casting by Alison Franck

Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theatres. 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, and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support is provided by generous contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of Theatre Communications Group, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

On the Town will play the following performance schedule: Wednesdays at 7:30PM, Thursdays at 1:30PM & 7:30PM, Fridays at 8:00PM, Saturdays at 1:30PM & 8:00PM and Sundays at 1:30PM & 7:00PM. Single tickets are now on sale and range in price from $25 to $92. Student rush tickets are $20 and are available the day of performance in person with current student ID. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343, or at the Paper Mill Box Office on Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.papermill.org.

Paper Mill Playhouse gift cards, available in any denomination, can be purchased at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. Groups of ten or more can receive up to a 25% discount on tickets and should call 973-379-3636 ext. 2438.

Photos of Jen Cody and Tyler Hanes by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.