Paper Mill Announces '12-'13 Season - MILLIE, MERMAID & More!

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee- Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) has announced the 2012-2013 season, featuring four musicals and one play.

Paper Mill Playhouse will open its 2012-2013 season with one, singular sensation, A Chorus Line. Winner of nine Tony® Awards including "Best Musical," A Chorus Line continues to resonate with audiences of every generation.

In November, Millburn is alive with The Sound of Music. Based on Maria von Trapp's inspiring true life story, The Sound of Music features an unforgettable score by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein with such memorable songs as "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi," "Edelweiss," and "Climb Every Mountain."

Paper Mill Playhouse will warm your winter spirit with the classic comedy Lend Me a Tenor. A sensation on Broadway and in London's West End, Lend Me a Tenor is guaranteed to leave you teary eyed with laughter.

Winner of six Tony® Awards including "Best Musical," Paper Mill Playhouse will showcase for the first time, the 1920's musical romp, Thoroughly Modern Millie. Based on the movie starring Julie Andrews in the title role, Thoroughly Modern Millie is a high-spirited musical extravaganza filled with flappers, dapper gentlemen and a dragon-lady villainess.

Paper Mill Playhouse closes its season with the New Jersey premiere of Disney's The Little Mermaid, based on the 1989 Disney film of the same title. With an award-winning score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, The Little Mermaid tells the story of Ariel, a courageous young mermaid who defies the rules and follows her heart. 

"I'm thrilled to bring this line up of Broadway blockbusters to Millburn," says Mark S. Hoebee, Producing Artistic Director for the Millburn theater. "The shows we will produce in the 2012-2013 season are all audience favorites and among the most celebrated titles in the musical theater canon. This delightful lineup has something for everyone. Time and again, we hear stories from our patrons who bring several generations of family together to enjoy our productions. This family-friendly season continues this tradition, while bringing two Paper Mill Playhouse premieres to our stage."

"With two Paper Mill premieres, a New Jersey premiere and the return of audience favorites, we are proud to have created an irresistible line-up of stories you know and love, glorious music, and many memorable moments of theatre magic.," remarks Managing Director Todd Schmidt. "We could not produce such a season without the continued support of our partners at Investors Bank."
"Investors Bank is proud to support Paper Mill Playhouse for their 2012-2013 season," said Kevin Cummings, President and CEO. "Paper Mill continues to thrive in their mission to preserve and nurture the American Musical Theater art form with superb performances, while at the same time giving back to the community through its outreach partnerships with organizations like New Eyes for the Needy and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We hope these traditions will endure for years to come."

Paper Mill Playhouse will produce eight performances a week, Wednesday through Sunday. Three, four and five-show subscription packages are available now starting at $87. Each subscription package includes a different level of special benefits (see www.papermill.org for details). Single tickets will go on sale this June starting at just $26. Student rush tickets are $26 and are available the day of the performance in person with current student ID. Tickets and subscriptions may be purchased by calling 973.376.4343, or at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 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 973.315.1680. Titles and dates subject to change.

A Chorus Line

October 3rd through October 28th 2012
Book: James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante
Music: Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics: Edward Kleban

A Chorus Line is "One Singular Sensation" that garnered virtually every imaginable award including the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize. This groundbreaking musical, set during an audition for an upcoming Broadway show, shines a light on the hopes, fears and dreams of performers vying for a chance to do what they all know they were born to do. A Chorus Line is an enthralling and emotional metaphor for what drives each of us to achieve our dreams.

The Sound of Music
November 23rd through December 30th 2012
Book: Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse
Music: Richard Rodgers
Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II

One of the most beloved and inspirational stories of all time, this tale of love and courage is Rodgers and Hammerstein's final triumphant collaboration. Based on the true story of the Von Trapp family this musical masterpiece has become a beacon of hope and joy for generations. You will revel in the glorious sounds of iconic melodies like "My Favorite Things", "Edelweiss" and "Climb Every Mountain." Don't miss this holiday tradition for the entire family.

Lend Me A Tenor
February 13th through March 10th 2013
Book: Ken Ludwig

An hysterically funny, door-slamming comedy! The renowned "Il Stupendo" is scheduled to sing the lead in the opera Otello. Chaos ensues when his wife mistakenly leaves him a "Dear John" letter and the distraught singer is accidentally given a double dose of tranquilizers. What follows is a laugh out loud chain reaction of mistaken identity, plot twists, double entendres and musical mayhem!

Thoroughly Modern Millie
April 10th through May 5th 2012
Book: Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan
Music: Jeanine Tesori
Lyrics: Dick Scanlan

Winner of the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Musical - an effervesant musical romp that will have you dancing the Charleston. It's the roaring twenties and young Millie Dillmount has just arrived in New York City, a place filled with frisky flappers, dashing leading men, and a dragon lady of a villainess. Wonderfully funny with fabulous music and raise-your-eyebrows dance numbers, it's a perfectly shaped evening of madcap merriment.

Disney's The Little Mermaid
May 29th through June 30th 2013
Book: Dough Wright
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Glenn Slater and Howard Ashman

In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. Based on one of Hans Christian Anderson's most beloved stories, with music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, it's a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. Come fall in love with the magic for the first time - or all over again!

Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theaters. 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. 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.