Paper Mill Playhouse hosted its largest fundraising event of the year, The 75th Anniversary Gala, on May 10th, 2013. The 75th Anniversary Gala celebrated Paper Mill's legacy as a world-class producer of theater and its role as a pioneer in arts education for three-quarters of a century. The evening offered dinner, dancing, live and silent auctions and entertainment by students from Paper Mill Playhouse's arts education programs, The Eddie Bruce Band, and headliner Jeremy Jordan, star of Broadway's Newsies and NBC's Smash. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photos from the festivities below!
Tony Award nominee Jeremy Jordan currently stars in NBC's musical drama Smash as a Brooklyn-based composer creating a groundbreaking rock musical. Jeremy is from Corpus Christi, Texas, and studied at Ithaca College, where he earned a BFA with honors in performance theater. In 2009, he got his Broadway start understudying the lead in the hit musical Rock of Ages. He went on to star as Tony in the revival of West Side Story and as Clyde Barrow in the Frank Wildhorn musical Bonnie & Clyde. Last year, Jeremy starred opposite Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton in the Todd Graff-Warner Bros. film Joyful Noise, and he originated the role of Jack Kelly in Disney's hit musical Newsies, which received its world premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse in 2011 before moving to Broadway. He was Tony-nominated for Best Actor in a Musical for that lead performance.
The Eddie Bruce Band marries a smoking hot dance ensemble, concert quality vocalists and masterful musicians that drive the dance floor. For more than 25 years, The Eddie Bruce Band has been performing his unique repertoire of music that ranges from Top 40, R & B, Disco and house music to Swing and Sinatra. Eddie Bruce's interest in music began when he was a child, and he has never wavered from this passion. He has blended his natural entrepreneurial skills with his love of music and created one of the most successful orchestras in the region and one of the best reputations as a much sought-after performer. A regular at Caesars Atlantic City, the Eddie Bruce Orchestra has also performed at Bally's Park Place, the Etess Arena of Trump Taj Mahal as well as such major events as the prestigious Grand Gala Opening of the KimMel Center for The Performing Arts in Philadelphia.
Finally, students from Paper Mill Playhouse's Theatre School, Summer Musical Theater Conservatory and Broadway Show Choir delivered a memorable performance during the celebration. The education and outreach programs of Paper Mill Playhouse serve nearly 40,000 young people and educators annually in all regions of the state through in-school residencies, training and recognition programs, as well as its Children's Theatre Series. For 25 years, Paper Mill Playhouse has been helping students of all ages and skill levels develop their passion for performance and communication- qualities that are invaluable in every career, from Broadway to the boardroom. Education programs include: The Paper Mill Theatre School, The Adopt-a-School Project, The Rising Star Awards, Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory, August Musical Theatre Intensive, Guest Artist Master Classes and Professional Development Seminars.
2013 Celebration Honorees:
Byrne/Kean Arts Advocate Award
*Kevin Cummings, President and CEO, Investors Bank
The Byrne/Kean Arts Advocate Award is presented to organizations and individuals for their passionate work on behalf of New Jersey's arts community.
Antoinette Scudder Patron of the Arts Award:
*Carolyn Ferolito, Philanthropist and Paper Mill Playhouse Trustee
Named after Paper Mill Playhouse co-founder who purchased the derelict Diamond Paper Mill and transformed it into the Paper Mill Playhouse, this award is given to a dedicated patron of the arts, either individual or foundation.
Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Paper Mill Playhouse 75th Anniversary Gala
Irene and RoBert Clarke
Lorna Kelly (Live Auction, Auctioneer)
Elliot Stupak and Susan Stupak
Todd Schmidt (Managing Director of Paper Mill Playhouse) and Mark S. Hoebee (Producing Artistic Director of Paper Mill Playhouse)
Justin Walder and Lana Gold Walder
J.D. DeLeon and Theresa deLeon
Governor Brendan T. Byrne
Governor Brendan T. Byrne
Mary Jo Cody and Governor Richard Cody
Kenneth P. Wenger (Chairman Board of Trustees Paper Mill Playhouse), Stuart Geffner and J.D. DeLeon
75th Anniversary Gala Chairs-Pamela Hirsch and Howard Hirsch
Kenneth P. Wenger
Students from Paper Mill Playhouse Education Programs
Students from Paper Mill Playhouse Education Programs
Students from Paper Mill Playhouse Education Programs
Students from Paper Mill Playhouse Education Programs
Students from Paper Mill Playhouse Education Programs
Students from Paper Mill Playhouse Education Programs
Students from Paper Mill Playhouse Education Programs-
Olivia Arcuri, Aaron Braden, Juliette Candela, Alexander Carr, Daniel Coelho, Benjamin Dantowitz, Missy Dreier, Mitchell Epstein, Sarah Ethridge, Serina Figueiras, Dana Goodstein, Dion Grier, Lulu Guerrero, Kelly Hedden, Jaycee Holmes, Gregory Ippolito, Wakeem Jones, Ethan Lynch, Carly Maitlin, Nicolas Noa, Ryan Parker-Santiago, Jasmine Plantt, Victoria Prasad, Wilson Rios, John Eric Roper, Shanice Scales-Williams, Allison Scott, Robert Serrano, Gregory Shapiro, Katie Shults, Isabel Stein, Caitlin Tarpey, Cristina Tsanas, Andrea Wright
Todd Schmidt, Kevin Cummings (Byrne/Kean Arts Advocate Award Recipient), John Neitzel and Mark S. Hoebee
Kevin Cummings
Kevin Cummings
Carolyn Ferolito (Antoinette Scudder Patron of the Arts Award Recipient) and Howard Hirsch
Carolyn Ferolito
Carolyn Ferolito
Meg Zervoulis (Accompanist)
Mark S. Hoebee and Jeremy Jordan
Mark S. Hoebee, Jeremy Jordan and Todd Schmidt
Mark S. Hoebee, Jeremy Jordan and Todd Schmidt
Carolyn Ferolito and Jeremy Jordan
Howard Hirsch, Jeremy Jordan and Pamela Hirsch
Kenneth P. Wenger and , Jeremy Jordan
Jeremy Jordan and Mr. Mrs. Kevin Cummings
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