Papermill Playhouse

[brdwaybaby17]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 4:38pm

I was just wondering, what is the Papermill Playhouse?? Because I have heard their recording of Children of Eden, and I was just wondering what they were all about. Thanks!

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 5:01pm

Paper Mill Playhouse, "The State Theatre Of New Jersey," is a non-profit theatre located in Millburn, New Jersey, about a 40-minute train ride from New York's Penn Station. The quality of the productions is excellent and you will find many of Broadway's brightest stars in their shows. Some of their productions have moved on to Broadway (I’m Not Rappaport with Judd Hirsch and Ben Vereen is a fairly recent example). If you are a tourist, it is very easy to fit a Paper Mill show into a New York trip. If there is ever something on their schedule that you are interested in and you plan on being in NYC, I strongly recommend taking the train out to Millburn. Check out their web site for more information.
Paper Mill Playhouse

Updated On: 1/26/04 at 05:01 PM

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 8:09pm

....Not to be confused with The State Theater in New Brunswick (NJ).

I've been to the The Papermill quite a few times. The selections tend to be non-controversial shows, and from what I've observed, the subscription base leans toward the older and very suburban demographic. That being said, I've seen The King and I (with Kevin Gray and Carolee Carmello), Anything Goes (Chita Rivera), Pippin (Jack Noseworthy), and A Chorus Line there over the past two or three years and have always found their productions to be very good. I recall being particularly impressed by the Pippin set which was gorgeous. And Millburn, where the theater is located, is also a pleasant little town with some decent restaurants within walking distance from both the train station and the theater.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 8:19pm

I can only add to the "nice" comments, having been in a zillion houses! Paper Mill is a favorite among the Broadway folk as it's a hop from NY. They always get a lot of big names and put on top notch shows. I reviewed there very briefly but it's 90 min. from home & I started missing shows.

Actually I went there just to straighten Charlies Siedenburg's (PR) bow tie after I hugged him! BTW, bring your wallet for the adjacent restaurent.$$

Pati b

[brdwaybaby17]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 8:32pm

Ahhhhh thanks for letting me know. It was really starting to bug me!! lol

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 1/26/04 at 11:56pm

I never actually sat down to think about it, but iflitifloat is quite right about the non-controversial selections at Paper Mill. Proven Broadway musicals and comedies for the most part, most of them family-friendly. Miss Saigon is about as edgy as they get. That said, it's often a great chance to see a quality production of a musical that hasn't been revived on Broadway in awhile. I had never seen a professional company perform My Fair Lady, for example, until I saw it a Paper Mill.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 1/27/04 at 10:39am

Ifitfloat is right, the fare is often safer. But I have been impressed with both their traditinal shows, a lovely CAROUSEL a couple of years back, and their efforts to invigorate a flop, like RAGS (a favorite of mine, which they did very nicely.) (Ms. Float and I disagree on their PIPPIN. I thought it was ghastly, top to bottom, the charming original turned into a creepy high tech parade of waxed pecs and forced camp. Others did love it.)

Of course, their production of FOLLIES is somewhat legendary, poignently so this week, with the passing of Anne Miller. Her Carlotta is preserved on the Papermill CD, and it's still my favorite, over everyone's. She's one dame who has the resume to back up all the words of "Still Here". Written for Yvonne de Carlo, the song sums up a helluva lot of La Miller's career. The Papermill production had a rave from Brantley, and would've moved to b'way. The story circulating was: Mrs. Goldman, widow of James, stopped it. I'm not sure if it was that simple, but I am sadder than ever that Miller didn't get to do "I'm Still Here" on the broadway stage, a move of only 18 miles that would've likely given her a Tony. (Donna McKechnie was also praised for her Sally, though not everyone agreed.)