Meet the Man Behind Max: Paper Mill Star David Josefsberg

Josefsberg has scored stellar reviews in his Paper Mill performance, Lend Me A Tenor

David Josefsberg lights up the Paper Mill Playhouse stage in “Lend Me a Tenor,” a door-slamming farce that has been a staple of professional and community theaters since its debut in 1986 on London’s West End. Patch's reviewer wrote, "David Josefsberg sets the pace as Max, the assistant to the manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera House (circa 1934). Max dreams of being an opera star himself, but he’s the reserved and nervous type, which keeps him behind the scenes despite a booming tenor voice of his own." So who is this booming tenor and nearby neighbor? David Josefsberg, who lives in South Orange, answered a few questions for us.  This is Part I of our interview; check back later this week for Part II. Can you describe your role of Max …

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A Door-Slamming Farce, "Lend Me A Tenor" Reviewed

Paper Mill Playhouse's new show starts out funny and keeps getting funnier — even if you’ve seen it all before.

  New Jersey loves its sopranos, but for the next few weeks, tenors are the dominant class in the northern area codes. And theater fans from Cape May to Cliffside Park will want to share the mayhem and merriment at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn. No doubt the majority of regular theatergoers have seen at least one production of “Lend Me a Tenor,” a door-slamming farce that has been a staple of professional and community theaters since its debut in 1986 on London’s West End. It debuted on Broadway in 1989, where it earned nine Tony nominations (winning two), and was revived there in 2010. Playwright Ken Ludwig, who has seen his comic hit translated into 16 languages, attended Sunday’s press opening at Paper Mill and shared a standing …

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Paper Mill's Little Mermaid at Livingston Library

Reserve tickets Friday for the Feb. 23 performance.

The Paper Mill Playhouse Children's Theatre on Tour Company will present "The Little Mermaid" at the Livingston Public Library on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available the Children's Information Desk, 10 Robert H. Harp Drive, beginning Friday, Feb. 15, according to an email from the library. Reservations for tickets may also be made by calling the Library at 973-992-4600 x270 on Friday. Reserved tickets must be picked up at the Children's Desk by Wednesday, Feb. 20.  Remember to bring your Livingston Library Card.

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Can you Guess Paper Mill's 75th Anniversary Season?

The Millburn playhouse releases five images that hold very obscure clues to next year's season.

Each year the Paper Mill Playhouse sends out five images that hold small clues into its upcoming season titles.  Can you tell what the shows are for the 2013-2014 season by this collage of images? The playhouse says each image holds very obscure clues. Next year, the Millburn playhouse will celebrate its 75th anniversary season.  The answers will be announced on Feb. 25.

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Mary Silva

8:57 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013

Good night. On the collage, the drawing of Priscilla Presley... It's mine (: It would be highly apreciatted if you could at least add credits somewhere, here's the original upload to my DA page. Thank you. http://lostdeviltwin.deviantart.com/art/Priscilla-Presley-on-her-wedding-day-309240913   more ›

Paper Mill is People's Choice By Far

The Millburn playhouse was voted the best theater in New Jersey to see a musical.

Theater-goers have voted, and the Paper Mill Playhouse was picked as a favorite in New Jersey by a landslide. In the Fifth-Annual JerseyArts.com People's Choice Awards, the Millburn theater was voted New Jersey's Favorite Theater to See a Musical, garnering 3,122 votes out of a possible 4,200 public votes cast. "Paper Mill Playhouse is both humbled and honored to receive the 2012 People's Choice Award for Favorite Place to see a Musical," Paper Mill Playhouse Managing Director Todd Schmidt said. "These awards are a gift from the audiences and students we serve throughout the state of New Jersey." In the last few years Paper Mill has produced some of the most successful musicals, having the 25th Anniversary of 'Les Misérables' produced at …

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Joanne Smythe

8:39 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Also, instead of a schedule that looks like the following: musical, musical, musical, musical, musical, musical, how about a balanced schedule such as: comedy, drama, musical, children, comedy, drama, musical, children.   more ›

Lighting Key in 'Master Class' Sets

Production in previews through Saturday, opens Sunday

The sets for "Master Class" may seem simple, but they took months of research, planning and building. The designers started six months ago with research, and audiences are now getting the first views of the set at the Paper Mill Playhouse. "Master Class" is in previews until Sunday, which is when the show officially opens for its run through April 5. "Master Class" is the story of renowned opera diva Maria Callas teaching a master class. Alexander Dodge, a set designer, said the director wanted to keep the set as close to the 1970s style of the Juilliard School, which is where the play takes place. "It's your classic band shell stage," he said. The designers looked at old images of the school and where Callas would have taught her class, …

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'Master Class' Playing at Paper Mill

Show is in previews through Saturday and opens Sunday

A banner on Main Street reminds drivers "Master Class" is opening at the Paper Mill Playhouse. The show, which is the story of renowned opera diva Maria Callas, is in previews through Saturday. The show opens on Sunday. You can find more details about the show here, here and here.

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The Spotlight's on Wine at Paper Mill

Olympic skater Baiul, ex-N.J. Gov. Byrne among guests to raise money for theater's education and outreach programs.

The spotlight at Paper Mill Playhouse Saturday night was not on the stage but rather on the glass–a wine-tasting fundraiser to benefit the theater's education and outreach programs. Former Olympic and world champion skater Okasana Baiul and ex-New Jersey Gov. Brendan Byrne were among the guests who sampled wines from around the world and enjoyed a gourmet food-tasting. The event was supported by Kings Fine Wines in Short Hills, Restaurant MC and Cafe Monet. Also among the guests was Sean Larkin, a Short Hills resident who owns Larkin Winery, whose cabernet franc recently received favorable notices from the Wine Spectator's Robert Parker. The event was organized by Sharon Sandbach, president of the Paper Mill Guild, and Esther Harper, …

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Star-Ledger: Symphony and Opera Teaming Up

Opera New Jersey and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will perform together this summer

Opera New Jersey and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will perform together this summer, according to the Star-Ledger. None of the performances will take place in Millburn, but the symphony performs at the Paper Mill Playhouse. The closest performance between the two organizations will be in Newark, according to the report. The opera will hire the symphony for performances of Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor," Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Mikado" and Mozart's "Abduction from the Seraglio" in Princeton this summer, according to the report. The two organizations will then perform together Bizet's "Carmen" in three performances in Newark, New Brunswick and Princeton next winter, according to the report. Read the full report: Jersey Symphony, …