Minnelli, Cuccioli, Etc. Join 4/9 Paper Mill Rally

On Monday, April 9th at 7 PM, an array of Broadway stars will head to Millburn, NJ for a rally to save the imperiled Paper Mill Playhouse.   

The evening will feature the participation of Jersey Boys' and Tony Award Winner-John Lloyd Young, Liza Minnelli, Robert Cuccioli, Judy McLane, Leslie Kritzer, George Dvorsky, Glory Crampton, Nell Benjamin, Michelle Ragusa, Matthew Scott, James Brennan, Nick Corley, Daniel Goldstein, Danette Holden, Kate Baldwin, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Thom Christopher Warren, many surprise guests, and the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers cast, along with hundreds of students touched by Paper Mill Playhouse.

Political leaders, including Senate President-Governor Richard Codey, Sen. Tom Kean Jr., Former Governors Brendon Byrne and Tom Kean Sr., will be present.  In addition, nearly 4,000 theatre lovers and patrons are expected to attend. 

As previously announced, the Paper Mill Playhouse is in danger of not lasting past this theatre season.  Although the theater is engaged in accelerated negotiations to obtain a loan that would allow it to finish the season, it is premature to claim that the theater will remain open. Since Tuesday's announcement that the theater was in danger of shutting its doors on Friday, April 6, it has received hundreds of thousands of dollars of cash donations. Because of this unprecedented support, the Board of Trustees, which met in emergency session on Thursday evening, decided to continue the rehearsal process for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, which is scheduled to open on Wednesday, April 11.  

"This outpouring of public support has given us a brief reprieve during which we will continue to work round-the-clock on the many initiatives we have undertaken to save the season and the theatre," says Board Chairman, Ken Thorn.   Diane Claussen, Paper Mill's Managing Director says, "Due to community and board contributions, Paper Mill Playhouse will be able to meet its payroll and essential operating expenses for one week.  Unless donations continue to come into the theater, we will be forced to consider closing our doors as early as next weekend."

"Paper Mill is still very far from its fundraising goal. Although we have received unprecedented and heartwarming support from the public, it was not possible to raise $1.5 million in three days.  However, the generous donations we have received so far do allow us to keep the theatre open for one more week, launch our next production, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers—and continue our intense fundraising drive," says Mark S. Hoebee Paper Mill's Acting Artistic Director.

Diane Claussen explained that the short-term reprieve will also allow the theatre to continue its efforts to secure a "bridge loan" to complete the season.  "A loan will permit us to finish the season and to continue our efforts to raise money.  We cannot end the season in a deficit position.  We believe in the people of New Jersey.  They understand that this great not-for-profit theatre needs their help—we just have to give them the time and the chance to respond."  Efforts to obtain a loan improved this past week when two local developers offered to guarantee the loan.

Dan Baer, mayor of Millburn where the theatre is located, has been leading the crusade to save the 69-year old theatre.  Mr. Baer has reached out to residents, business owners and county officials including the Essex County Economic Development Corporation to garner support.

Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theatres and is supported 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, in addition to contributions from many corporations, foundations, businesses and individuals.  Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of the Theatre Communications Group, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

Paper Mill Playhouse is located at Brookside Drive in Millburn, NJ 07041.  Visit www.papermill.org for more on the theatre or to make a donation.

Photo of Liza Minnelli by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.