'Meet Me in St.Louis' at Papermill Opens 11/11, Cast Details

Paper Mill Playhouse announces its mainstage production of Meet Me in St. Louis, based on the classic MGM movie musical starring Judy Garland.  Travel back to the turn of the century St. Louis, where the streets buzz with trolley cars, and the people buzz with excitement.  Directed by Paper Mill's Acting Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee, this nostalgically romantic production captures the exuberance and innocence of the original in an utterly entertaining experience the whole family will enjoy.

Meet Me in Saint Louis will run at the Millburn Theatre from November 7 - December 16.  Meet Me in St. Louis officially opens November 11 at 7:30PM.  Sponsored by RBC Dain Raushcer.  The book for Meet Me in St. Louis is by Hugh Wheeler, with music and lyrics by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane.

Meet Me in St. Louis will play the following performance schedule: Wednesdays at 7:30PM, Thursdays at 2:00PM & 7:30PM, Fridays at 8:00PM, Saturdays at 2:00PM & 8:00PM and Sundays at 2:00PM & 7:30PM.

Single tickets are now on sale and range in price from $25 to $92.  Student rush tickets are $16.25 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. 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. 

Paper Mill is proud to announce two special Family Theater Days, Wednesday, November 21 at 2PM and Tuesday, December 11 at 6:30PM.  Patrons who purchase an adult ticket can receive a child's ticket (18 and under) free for these two performances only. This offer is subject to availability, and is not valid on previous purchases.

"Meet Me in St. Louis, the beloved MGM movie musical explodes on stage in this Paper Mill premiere.  It's turn of the century St. Louis, the World's Fair is coming soon - and so is a world of changes for the Smith family. While older sisters Rose and Esther dream of happily-ever-after with their handsome beaus, the younger girls, Agnes and Tootie, spend their hours dreaming up mischief. But when their father announces the family is moving to New York, will all those dreams become one big nightmare?" explain press notes. Featuring show-stopping choreography and a treasured score, Meet Me in St. Louis includes the beloved standards "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "The Boy Next Door," and "The Trolley Song."

Meet Me in St. Louis brings an all-star cast with familiar favorites and brilliant newcomers to the Paper Mill Stage.  Brynn O'Malley returns to Paper Mill as Esther (Bway: Hairspray, Beauty and the Beast; Las Vegas: Avenue Q). Four-time Tony-Award nominee and Drama Desk Award winner Gregg Edelman (Bway: Cats, Oliver, Les Miserables, Anything Goes, Cabaret, City of Angels, Falsettos, Passion, 1776, Into the Woods and Wonderful Town).  Donna English (Anna Smith) returns to Paper Mill where she has appeared as Mrs. Chasen in Harold and Maude, Elsa in The Sound of Music and Rose in The Secret Garden. Patti Mariano, a Broadway star since 1957, will play Katie (Bway: The Music Man, Bye Bye Birdie, Sail Away, I Had A Ball, George M, Godspell, The American Dance Machine, Rags, The Full Monty and 42nd Street).  After recently appearing on the Paper Mill Stage in A Wonderful Life, JB Adams returns as Grandpa (Bway: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Beauty and The Beast, Parade, Me and My Girl, and Annie). Barrymore-Award winning actor Brian Hissong will make his Paper Mill debut as John Truitt.  Julia Osborne graces the Paper Mill Stage once again as Rose who last played Inez in Paper Mill's The Baker's Wife and was seen as Edith in Pirates! last spring. Christian Del Croix (Lon) played Gideon to critical acclaim in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Paper Mill last season.  Sophie Rudin, who appeared at Paper Mill as Zuzu in A Wonderful Life and more recently in The Coast of Utopia at Lincoln Center will sing and dance her way into your heart as Tootie Smith. 

Rounding out the Meet Me in St. Louis cast is: Roni Caggiano (Agnes Smith), Ashley Arcement, Tommy Berklund, Jessica Bircann, Elliot Bradley, Alicia Charles, Matt Condello, Allison Couture, PatRick Cummings, Leah Greenhaus, Wes Hart, Erin Henry, Mary Jo McConnell, Jake Pfarr, Ed Romanoff, Dani Spieler, Dennis O'Bannon and Jessica Rochwarger.

Meet Me in St. Louis will be directed by Paper Mill's Acting Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee, a director and choreographer whose work has been seen at theaters all over North America.  Last year he directed the Actor's Fund Benefit Concert of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at the August Wilson Theatre which starred Terrence Mann, Emily Skinner and Jennifer Hudson.  Mark has directed five companies of Victor/Victoria including the first national tour starring Grammy Award winner Toni Tennille, Almost Like Being In Love: An Evening of Lerner and Loewe which toured the United States and Canada starring Diahann Carroll and national tours of Dreamgirls starring Frenchie Davis and Company.  At Paper Mill he has helmed productions Hello, Dolly! starring Tovah Feldshuh, Harold and Maude: The Musical starring Estelle Parsons, The King & I starring Kevin Gray and Carolee Carmello, The Will Rogers Follies starring John Davidson and in 2002, Mark was granted special permission from Sir Cameron Macintosh to direct an all-new production of Miss Saigon for Paper Mill's stage.

Choreographer Denis Jones returns to the Paper Mill Playhouse where he last appeared as Stan Harding in Applause.  Denis choreographed the Broadway concerts of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, A Wonderful Life and On the Twentieth Century, all benefiting the Actor's Fund of America.  Denis is the Associate Choreographer to Jerry Mitchell for Broadway's Legally Blonde and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.  Paper Mill's resident master of music Tom Helm will be the music director for Meet Me in St. Louis.  Scenic design is by Rob Bissinger, whose recent projects include Associate Scenic Design for the Broadway runs of All Shook Up, Dance of the Vampires, Hairspray, 42nd Street and Thoroughly Modern Millie.  Costumes will be designed by Thom Heyer who designed Jackie Mason's Laughing Room Only on Broadway in 2003.  Lighting design is by Charlie Morrison. Sound design is by Randy Hansen.  The Production Stage Manager is Brian Meister.  Casting by Alison Franck.

Papermill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theatres. Paper Mill's 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. Additional major support is provided by funding through a grant from the New Jersey Department of State, the National Endowment for the Arts, and generous contributions from many 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.

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