Full Casting Announced for Paper Mill Carnival; Pollock to Replace Hayden

Final casting has been announced for the Paper Mill Playhouse's upcoming production of Carnival.  Elena Shaddow, Charlie Pollock (replacing Michael Hayden), and Paul Schoeffler will comprise the love triangle at the heart of the delicate Bob Merrill musical, which will be presented at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn, NJ from March 8th through April 9th; opening night is set for March 12th.

Shaddow (Fiddler on the Roof, Nine) will play Lili while Shoeffler (Sweet Charity, Peter Pan) will be seen as Marco, and Pollock (I Love You, You're Perfect Now Change) will play Paul; Hayden departed the production due to having been cast in the upcoming Broadway play Festen. In addition, the show will feature Jennifer Allen as Rosalie, Eric Michael Gillett as Jacquot and Nick Wyman as Schlagel.  The ensemble will comprise Jason Babinsky, Alexander Cassens, Albert Christmas, Michael Fielder, Hector Flores, David Garry, Vincent German, Nikka Lanzarone, Richard Pruitt, Benji Randall, Julia Sann, Mam Smith and Mindy Wallace.

Erica Schmidt will direct the colorful Carnival, Peter Pucci will handle the choreography and Tom Helm will serve as musical director.

In Carnival, Lili is "a shy lonely orphan who is enchanted with the desire to join the glamorous carnival. Searching for her place in the carnival, she joins a puppet act and soon finds that love makes the world go 'round," state Paper Mill press notes. In addition to "Love Makes the World Go Round," the musical's score includes "Mira," "Her Face," "Beautiful Candy," "Always, Always You" and other songs. With music and lyrics by Merrill and a book by Michael Stewart, Carnival opened on Broadway on April 13th, 1961 and ran for 719 performances. It starred Anna Maria Alberghetti (who won a Tony Award for her work), Jerry Orbach and Kaye Ballard, among others.
 
Carnival's creative team will include Michelle R. Phillips (costumes), Christopher Barreca (sets), Donald Holder (lighting), Randy Hansen (sound), Jason Hayes (hair, wigs and make-up), Jesse Mooney Bullock (puppet design), Frank Maugeri (puppet coach), Chic Silber (circus effects), Peter Samelson (magic design).

In conjunction with the Main Stage producton of Carnival, The Renee Foosaner Art Gallery, located on the Mezzanine Level of the theatre, will continue its series of art exhibitions with "Art Organized by the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art" on display March 8 - April 9, 2006.   The Renee Foosaner Art Gallery is open one hour prior to performances, during intermission and on Fridays from 12PM - 3PM. Admission to the exhibits is free.

The 2005-2006 season continues with William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (April 19 ­ through May 21, 2006) with music by the new age group GrooveLily and concludes with Jerry Herman's Hello, Dolly! (June 7 ­ through July 23, 2006).

Tickets range from $19-$68. Call (973) 376-4343 or visit www.papermill.org.