Paper Mill's 'For Kids, By Kids' to Tour ONCE ON THIS ISLAND and SLEEPING BEAUTY

Paper Mill Playhouse, recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, has announced its "For Kids, By Kids" tour featuring the Junior All Stars and Children's Theatre on Tour.

The Paper Mill Playhouse Junior All Stars (ages 9-12) and Children's Theatre on Tour (ages 13-17) are a selective group of performers who, as a part of their training, go out into the community and share their talents with schools, senior residences, and centers for children with disabilities. Paper Mill Playhouse has expanded these outreach efforts, free of charge to neighboring not-for-profits and schools this season.

"It is sheer joy to see our entire cast reach out after the show and share conversations and stories with the audiences, says Theatre School Director, Alexandra Yates. "It is a wonderful opportunity for our students to give as well as receive. We believe this experience truly helps the students feel like they are making a difference in the lives of others, as well as their own. That is what true star quality is all about."

This February, Paper Mill Playhouse's Children's Theatre on Tour will present Once on this Island, Jr. for six performances: February 7, 10 am at Livingston Horizon School (Cerebral Palsy Center of NJ); February 9, 1pm at Montessori Children's Academy Short Hills; February 11, 2pm at Livingston Library; February 13, 1pm at Cerebral Palsy Center Belleville; February 15, 10am at Roseland Stepping Stones and February 16, 12:30 at Short Hills Temple B'nai Jeshurun.

In March, the Paper Mill Playhouse Junior All Stars will present Sleeping Beauty, Kids on March 7, 10am Livingston Horizon School (Cerebral Palsy Center of NJ); March 8, 10 am at Short Hills Montessori Children's Academy; March 10, 10am at Roseland Stepping Stones; March 15, 1pm at the Belleville Cerebral Palsy Center; March 16, 12:30pm at Short Hills Temple B'nai Jeshurun and March 18, 2pm at the Livingston Library.

"To uplift someone's spirit by sharing a performance is the responsibility of every performer, remarked Lisa Cooney," Paper Mill's Director of Education. "Paper Mill Theatre School's touring companies provide free entertainment to communities that need it the most."

Paper Mill Playhouse Theatre School offers a wide array of classes for children and adults ages 4 to 94. Theatre School student touring companies, the Junior All-Stars, and the teen's Children's Theatre on Tour perform at schools, hospitals, senior & community centers, and special needs facilities. Paper Mill Playhouse has given rise to many notable performers over the years including: Oscar and Golden Globe nominated actress Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables; Rachel Getting Married; The Devil Wears Prada), Tony award-winner Laura Benanti (She Loves Me, Gypsy, Into the Woods), Julia Knitel (Beautiful: the Carole King Musical, Bye Bye Birdie) Robert McClure (Something Rotten, Honeymoon in Vegas, Chaplin, Avenue Q) Shanice Williams (NBC's The Wiz Live!), Tony award-winner Nikki M. James (LES MISERABLES, Book of Mormon) and many more.

Junior All Stars:

Noalee Rubin, Short Hills

Ellie Black, Millburn

Sara Solomon, Millburn

Lily Tan, Short Hills

Evan Samaro, Chester

Georgia Post-Lipnick, Maplewood

Michelle Ovchinsky, Short Hills

Sanaa Qandar, Millburn

Abby Pierson, Short Hills

Charlotte Post-Lipnick, Maplewood

Chase Thompson, Chester

Caitlyn Costello, Basking Ridge

Sophie Davenport, Chatham

Ruby Kresch, Short Hills

Ben Sadowski, Madison

Brooke Lelia, Livingston

Katherine Morshedian, Summit

Amelia LeRoy, Chatham

Avery Benajmin, Madison

Judith DiMinni, Short Hills

Children's Theatre on Tour:

Lauren Updyke, Millburn

Megan Bodmer, Oxford

Samantha Tempkin, Springfield

Julia Gesner, Millburn

Alex Karch, Short Hills

Paola Navarro, Springfield

Jessica Woodlee, Livingston

Rachel Bachman, Springfield

Bobby Axelrod, Montlcair

Mia Montero, Berkley Heights

Lucian Zanes, Montclair

Will Flamm, Montclair

Ella Fine, Montclair

Paige Wasserman, North Caldwell

Rachel Gesner, Millburn

Meghan Durkin, Maplewood

Lauren Fabio, Flanders

Layla Clark, Chatham

Caroline Kiernan, Chatham

Amanda Heckmann, Millburn

Bridget McGarry, Chatham

Lauren Fabio, Flanders

Sami Kelleher, Summit

Quinn Davidson, Livingston

Alexa Kerner, Millburn

Matt Green, Millburn

Matt Siroty, Westfield

Victoria Napolitano, Westfield

Sydney Wolfe, Millburn

Jessi Stier, Millburn

Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee (Producing Artistic Director) and Todd Schmidt (Managing Director) and recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, 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. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

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