The F.M. Kirby Foundation is pleased to celebrate 40 years of continuous partnership with Paper Mill Playhouse. Opening its doors in 1938, Paper Mill Playhouse’s mission is to foster a creative environment to advance the musical theater art form, educate students, and develop future theater lovers.
A home for cherished revivals and an incubator for new works, Paper Mill has established itself on the national stage through numerous Broadway transfers and a reputation for excellence, including the Regional Theatre Tony Award in 2016. As the largest producing theater in New Jersey, Paper Mill welcomes over 220,000 patrons each year.
Paper Mill’s audience spans all 21 counties in New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area. The theater identifies and supports talented artists throughout the region, including actors, directors, composers, and choreographers. With $36.7 million of economic impact in the Garden State annually, Paper Mill Playhouse is a cultural hub for the arts community.
In addition to their mainstage productions, Paper Mill’s Education and Outreach programming eliminates the barriers that prevent participation. Theater for Everyone programs provide top-quality performances, theater classes, and outreach for families of children with autism and developmental disabilities. Similarly, the Lend Your Voice Project enables children with multiple disabilities to gain the confidence and pride of performing in a school music by helping them explore their strengths and boost self-confidence. The Adopt-A-School Project has been a multi-year outreach experience for teens in under-resourced New Jersey high schools since 1989, where they gain personal access to professional theater artists, world-class musical productions, artist residencies, and theater workshops. Through their artistic, education, access, and community engagement programming, Paper Mill Playhouse contributes to the vibrancy of New Jersey arts and culture.