The following is from the Paper Mill Playhouse
Paper Mill Playhouse, recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, is pleased to announce 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.
Maplewood performers include: Georgia Post-Lipnick, Charlotte Post-Lipnick, and Meghan Durkin. From Millburn, the theatre names: Ellie Black, Sara Solomon, Sanaa Qandar, Lauren Updyke, Julia Gesner, Sydney Wolfe, Jessi Stier, Alexa Kerner, Matt Green, Amanda Heckmann, and Rachel Gesner.
“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 Misérables, 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, Montclair
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.
