Patty Shilling’s love of American theater has helped her to win a nice prize from a theater close to Verona.
Shilling–a self-avowed “huge fan of Broadway”–correctly guessed three of the five shows that will be at the Paper Mill Playhouse during the 2014-2015 season, using photo clues that could charitably be described as obscure. For her efforts she gets a pair of tickets, courtesy of the Millburn-based theater.
The lineup for Paper Mill’s 2014-2015 season features four musicals and one Tony Award- winning play, and at least one production bound for Broadway. The Playhouse will open with a Broadway-bound revival of Can-Can, introducing a brand-new book to accompany the Cole Porter score. Then, just in time for Christmas, Paper Mill Playhouse will present Elf, a musical based on the 2003 film that starred Will Farrell. Over the winter, the feature is the comedy that won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.
Next spring, Paper Mill Playhouse will once again partner with Disney Theatrical Productions with which it has previously partnered on Newsies and High School Musical, to present the U.S. premiere of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, inspired by the classic Victor Hugo novel and created for the stage by two masters of stage and screen, composer Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Pocahontas) and lyricist Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin). Finally, Paper Mill will close its 76th season with the world-premiere musical Ever After, a sparkling new show based on the 1998 film that starred Drew Barrymore.
Shilling three correct guesses were Hunchback, Elf and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.
“What a thrill to produce another show heading for Broadway next season,” commented Mark S. Hoebee, producing artistic director for the Millburn theater. “Paper Mill Playhouse is honored to bring so many incredible artists to work in New Jersey next season. The list is remarkable and includes Kathleen Marshall, Patti Colombo, Scott Schwartz, David Lee, legendary composers Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, future theatrical legends like Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler and our producing partners Jonathan Burrows and Kevin McCollum. We are proud to have created an irresistible lineup of stories you will love, glorious music that will warm your heart and many memorable moments of theater magic.”
“We are very proud of our recent accomplishments,” remarked Managing Director Todd Schmidt. “In just the past two seasons, Paper Mill Playhouse has grown its subscriber base by more than 50% to over 21,000 and the theater has seen a more diverse audience visit our campus. With Newsies a hit on Broadway, Les Misérables and Honeymoon in Vegas heading to Broadway in 2014 and at least one show in our upcoming season with Broadway plans, Paper Mill Playhouse is THE place to premiere a production with Broadway aspirations. Of course, none of what we do would be possible without the generous support of our donors, subscribers, patrons, foundations and corporate partners, including season sponsorship from our friends at Investors Bank.”
