Shining Stars Network Cabaret
Paper Mill Playhouse
Paper Mill Playhouse welcomes the New Jersey-based non-profit Shining Stars Network for the “Shining Stars Network Cabaret”, a showcase at the theater’s outdoor Brookside Cabaret featuring young artists with disabilities. Performers will present an evening of music celebrating their love of all things music and dance! The cabaret will take place on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets for the cabaret are $35 with a $25 food and beverage minimum per person. Seating begins at 5:15 p.m. Tickets may be purchased directly from Shining Stars Network by emailingshiningstarsnetwork@gmail.com.
Shining Stars Network, celebrating their ten-year anniversary, is well-known for creating opportunities in the performing arts for the special needs community to showcase their many talents. By producing inclusive entertainment, opportunities are provided for people with and without disabilities to work together to create experiences that enhance their lives. Shining Stars Network believes that everyone deserves the chance to showcase their abilities and talents and to connect with their community. Shining Stars performers are individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities who perform in inclusive events that build self-esteem and friendships. To promote an inclusive environment, Shining Stars Buddies, neurotypical high school students who mentor Shining Star cast members, will be performing alongside the cast. Starting from a local group from Cranford, New Jersey, there are now Shining Stars performers from five different New Jersey counties.
“We are beyond thrilled to partner with the iconic Paper Mill Playhouse to bring this show to life,” noted Shining Stars Network co-founder and CEO Mike Curci. “Our cast is very excited and we can’t wait for our stars to shine at such an amazing venue as we celebrate ten years on stage.”
This event marks an expansion of Paper Mill Playhouse’s Theater For Everyone programs, the award-winning initiative that strives to weave inclusion throughout the fabric of the institution, creating opportunities for people of all abilities to learn, perform and attend performances with independence and dignity.
“Shining Stars Network Cabaret” is an opportunity to foster a love for performing for these young artists whose gifts are many, and who have an enthusiasm for music, dance and theater that is huge!” remarked Paper Mill Playhouse Producing Artistic Director, Mark Hoebee. “We’re very pleased to offer our cabaret stage to these performers. This event speaks to our core mission to provide theater for everyone, in a most meaningful way.”
“Our special performers are talented and love to take the stage,” shared Shining Stars co-founder and show director, Sally Curci. “Each and every year our audience has grown along with our cast. They continue to inspire us every day. Each opportunity offers our cast to create lifetime memories and we are so excited to give our special cast the chance to perform at such a great venue!”
Long a national leader in cultural accessibility, Paper Mill Playhouse offers a myriad of award-winning access programs and services, including audio description, sensory seminars, Braille and large-print programs for the visually impaired, and open-captioning and assistive listening devices for those with hearing loss. In addition, Paper Mill offers autism-friendly performances of both mainstage and children’s shows throughout the season. Upcoming Access performances include an autism-friendly performance of the one-hour musical The Lightening Thief on December 11, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., followed by Paper Mill mainstage autism-friendly performances of The Sound of Music on December 30, 2022, at 1:30 p.m., and Disney’s Hercules on March 12, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. For more information, please visit PaperMill.org/access for-all/.
Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee Producing Artistic Director, Michael Stotts – Managing Director and recipient of the 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. Paper Mill Playhouse Education and Outreach are proudly sponsored by Hearst Foundations. Major funding for autism-friendly programs is provided by Merck and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support includes BD, The Karma Foundation, and The Summit Foundation.
Shining Stars Network is a non-profit organization founded by Sally and Mike Curci that shines the light on the special needs community by creating opportunities in the performing arts, with the goal of building self-confidence and self-esteem while enjoying the experience of performing on stage. In addition, their Shining Stars Ambassadors basketball team travels to play local first responders while building friendship and understanding. Camp Shine (for ages 10-20 years) and the Shining Stars Summer Workshop (21 and over performers) are two-week intensive programs open to everyone. There are also two full productions each year — “An Evening of Shining Stars” — set for May 13, 2023 — and the “Shining Stars Christmas Spectacular” on December 9, 2022. For more information on any of their programs or to purchase show tickets, please visit shiningstarsnetwork.org or send an email to ShiningStarsNetwork@gmail.com.
