Paper Mill Playhouse Partners with Jersey Cares for 16th Annual Coat Drive

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) is proud to partner with Jersey Cares as a collection site for their winter coat drive. New and gently used coats can be brought during the run of Paper Mill Playhouse's production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas and the 2011 Holiday Village and Animated Light Spectacular, now through December 24th.

Over the past fifteen years, Jersey Cares has collected, sorted and distributed thousands of winter coats to New Jersey residents in need through this program. The donated winter coats benefit at-risk men, women, children, and infants in our area. Last season Paper Mill Playhouse patrons contributed over 450 coats to this worthy cause. Coats can be dropped off in the baskets inside the theater's lobby at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, NJ.

"Paper Mill Playhouse is thrilled to partner once again with Jersey Cares," stated Mark S. Hoebee, Paper Mill Playhouse's Producing Artistic Director. "When two not-for-profit organizations come together to serve the community there is true holiday magic. Through the generosity of our patrons, Paper Mill Playhouse has been able to provide warmth to thousands of underserved New Jersey residents."

The Millburn theater's FREE 2011 Holiday Village and Animated Light Spectacular features more than 75,000 animated lights, timed to music that will bring holiday cheer to the masses.. The 2011 Holiday Village and Animated Light Spectacular celebrate the opening of Irving Berlin's White Christmas, starting performances on Wednesday, November 16. The 2011 Holiday Village and Animated Light Spectacular will run seven days-a-week through December 24th. Check the Paper Mill Playhouse website (www.papermill.org) for a complete schedule of events and show times.

On Monday and Tuesday evenings, guests can enjoy some of the best choirs in the state performing holiday selections in the theater's courtyard. Beginning November 28th, Monday and Tuesday night visitors will have an opportunity to shop in the Paper Mill Playhouse Holiday Gift Bazaar in the theater's lobby and art gallery from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. In addition, guests can receive free photos with Santa Claus, free hot cocoa and warm apple cider in The Carriage House.

The Animated Light Spectacular is provided by Brooklyn based, Themeatricals Inc. Lead by Ryan Powers and Chris Schneider, Themeatrical's mission is to provide audiences with themed and theatrical experiences using innovative and interactive technologies, www.themeatricals.com. Other considerations provided by The Spoon Group of Rahway, NJ and Props For Today of New York, NY - the newly merged Prop N Spoon. Prop N Spoon offers the finest quality custom fabrication, rental and production services available to the theater, entertainment, corporate, marketing and special event industries, www.thespoongroup.com. The Paper Mill Playhouse Holiday Gift Bazaar is managed by the Office of Street Fairs, presenters of high-quality street fairs with juried craft shows throughout New Jersey for more than 25 years, www.streetfairs.org.

Irving Berlin's White Christmas runs at Paper Mill Playhouse from November 16 through December 24 and will be performed eight times a week, Wednesday through Sunday. (Check the Paper Mill Playhouse website papermill.org for special holiday schedules.) Three and four show subscription packages are available, starting at $84. Single tickets are on sale from $25. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343, 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. Investors Bank is the proud sponsor of Paper Mill Playhouse's 2011-2012 season.

Based on the beloved Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye film, this merry musical tells the tale of two famous song-and-dance men who stage a show in a scenic, snow-topped Vermont inn - and end up finding love with two singing sisters under the mistletoe. With laughter, crazy plot turns, Broadway-size production numbers and the unforgettable music and lyrics of the legendary Irving Berlin, a book by David Ives and Paul Blake, Irving Berlin's White Christmas is a brightly wrapped holiday gift.

Irving Berlin's White Christmas will be directed by Marc Bruni, with choreography by Randy Skinner. The cast features: James Clow (Bob Wallace), Tony Yazbeck (Phil Davis), Jill Paice (Betty Haynes), Meredith Patterson (Judy Haynes), Edward James Hyland (General Waverly) and Lorna Luft (Martha Watson).

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, and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional major support is provided by generous contributions from numerous 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.

JERSEY CARES is a non-profit, community-based organization established in 1993 that works to meet compelling community needs by encouraging civic engagement. With local service agencies, corporations and civic-minded individuals as our partners, we link volunteers with meaningful service projects to improve and enhance our communities. Jersey Cares aims to promote the ethic of community service among concerned citizens and channel volunteers into activities that positively impact the lives of people who need our help the most.

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