Kelsey Grammer & Rob McClure to Lead Paper Mill Playhouse's Industry Reading of THE OUTSIDER

Paper Mill Playhouse will be hosting an invite-only, industry reading of Paul Slade Smith's The Outsider this March in New York City. In line with Paper Mill Playhouse's mission of fostering a creative environment for advancing the art form, the theater is bringing together top industry professionals to aid in the development of the play.

At once a razor-sharp comedy and a sincere tribute to democracy, The Outsider is a timely and hilarious take on modern American politics. Ned Newley (Lenny Wolpe) doesn't even want to be Governor. He is terrified of public speaking; his poll numbers are impressively bad. To his ever-supportive Chief of Staff (Rob McClure), Ned seems destined to fail. But a political guru named Arthur Vance (Kelsey Grammer) sees things a little differently: Ned might be the worst candidate to ever run for office. Unless the public is looking for... the worst candidate to ever run for office.

Joining Grammer, McClure (Noises Off, Honeymoon in Vegas) and Wolpe (The Drowsy Chaperone, Bullets Over Broadway), are Erin Noel Grennan (Chicago Med, Reckless at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park), Lisa O'Hare (A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder), Kristen Sieh (O, Earth, RoosevElvis) and Steve Rosen (Guys and Dolls, Spamalot). Don Stephenson (Titanic at Lincoln Center, Guys and Dolls at Goodspeed) directs.

Paul Slade Smith (playwright) is currently appearing on Broadway in Finding Neverland. His play Unnecessary Farce has had over 190 productions in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, Singapore, Iceland and Switzerland. As an actor, Paul's credits include Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Goodman, Steppenwolf, American Repertory Theatre, and national tours of Wicked and The Phantom of the Opera.

In its sole previous production (2015), The Outsider was hailed by critics as "a great American play" and "an exceptional world premiere". To learn more about the play, its reviews and awards, visit www.TheOutsiderPlay.com.

Photos by Walter McBride