SAVE THE PUBLIC'S 'PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE'
By Gordon Bishop (05/15/07)
New Jersey's official State Theater - the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn - is in debt to the tune of $3 million. Even with grants from the State and thousands of faithful subscribers and ticket buyers, this grand Broadway-styled theater needs you - "the people" - to come to the rescue.
After having seen its latest production – the classic musical “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” – all I can say is “Wow!” to a brilliant, spectacular performance.
This was the best professional musical I’ve seen since first going to the theater 48 years ago when I was a 21-year-old reporter/columnist at the North Jersey Herald-News and then 27 years at the Newark Star-Ledger, New Jersey’s largest newspaper.
The dancing blew me away as I sat in my aisle seat, clapping and whistling at every gymnastic feat executed by these incredible dynamos. I have never seen dancing like that. It was beyond belief. The choreographer is Patti Colombo, a miraculous lady. The show is directed by Scott Schwartz.
In their road tour, a Houston critic described this unique production of 7 Brides & 7 Brothers as “an outrageously talented cast, genius choreography, beautiful scenery, and delightful music come together to make this show one not to be missed. The music director is maestro Tom Helm.
It’s all a perfect 10! – The energized cast, the scenic design by Anna Louizos, the costume design by Jess Goldstein, the lighting design by Donald Holder, the Sound design by Randy Hansen, the sound effects by Christopher “Kit” Bond – and the entire creative crew.
I know this weekly syndicated column is a change of pace for this writer. But it’s good now and then to applaud true talent when it comes to New Jersey, my home state.
What’s sad is that this great regional theater in the heart of the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region is now struggling to balance their nonprofit budget. With a population of more than 8.5 million people in New Jersey, one would think that there are certainly enough theatergoers to support the No. 1 theatrical venue in the Garden State.
Ironically, the Paper Mill Playhouse resides in one of the most upscale communities in America – Millburn, NJ. Short Hills, a high-end neighborhood, lies within Millburn.
The name “Paper Mill” comes from a mill along a meandering stream that provided newsprint to the Newark Evening News, once the largest daily newspaper in New Jersey that ended when that the Newark Star-Ledger purchased paper in 1971.
The Paper Mill was founded in 1938 (the year I was born) by Edward Scudder, an owner of the Newark Evening News along with his brother, Richard, who now lives along the Navesink River at the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County.
The Playhouse suffered a short setback when the wood structure went up in flames in 1980. A bigger, better, first-class theatrical house replaced the grand, old dame.
The state theater became a showcase for new musicals that premiered in Millburn on their way to Broadway in the Big Apple.
During the 2006-07 season alone, over 236,000 New Jersey residents are enjoying a string of classics: Frankenstein, Meet Me in St. Louis, The Miracle Worker, Steel Magnolias, Kiss me Kate and The Little Shop of Horrors – quite a balanced mix for everyone.
Paper Mill Playhouse has historically operated at a ratio of 80% earned revenue/20% contributed revenue. This arrangement places an incredibly heavy burden on ticket sales alone.
The national average for the not-for-profit theatre industry is 50% earned/50% contributed revenue ratio, according to Kenneth H. Thorn, Chairman, Paper Mill Playhouse Board of Trustees.
Those who have supported the Paper Mill Playhouse over the past half-century, including this writer and his wife Jeanne, must now do double-duty to close the $3 million debt in the current budget.
This year alone over 130 schools in 18 of the 21 counties in New Jersey will participate in the Playhouse’s educational outreach programs, such as the Rising Star Awards (which awards $60,000 annually in college scholarship money) Adopt-a-School, and the Young Critics Program.
The legendary Paper Mill Playhouse is good for education, the economy and many institutions and organizations throughout the State that give New Jersey its dynamic diversity as one of the great tourist attractions along the East Coast.
California may have Hollywood, but New Jersey attracts many of those Hollywood stars, superstars and entertainers at the rare and historical Paper Mill Playhouse.
It’s a one-of-a-kind place!
Let’s save the Paper Mill Place – NOW!
(Gordon Bishop is a “Who’s Who in the World” author, historian, nationally syndicated columnist and New Jersey’s first “Journalist-of-the-Year” – 1986/New Jersey Press Association.)
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