Paper Mill Hires New Managing Director

The Paper Mill Playhouse has tapped a managing director from another New Jersey theater to take on the role in Millburn.

The playhouse has appointed Todd Schmidt as its new managing director. He was the managing director at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick before taking the Paper Mill post. He replaces Mark Jones, who was executive director and left his post in June. The Paper Mill leadership changed the role to that of a managing director to be on equal footing with its producing artistic director.

"Paper Mill Playhouse has truly turned a corner," said Ken Wenger, Paper Mill Board of Trustees, in a press release. "His experience with financial oversight, board development, administrative leadership and building contributed support will allow Paper Mill Playhouse to grow. Finding a candidate already engaged in the New Jersey arts community, who knows our stakeholders and our mission was an important element of the search."

Further, Wenger said in the release Schmidt is the right match to work with Producing Artistic Director Mark Hoebee.

"I am thrilled to have Todd as a partner to help the organization grow and carry forward our artistic achievements," said Hoebee in the press release. "At George Street Playhouse, Todd consistently raised contributed income while presenting the governing body with a solid, balanced budget. We are delighted to add Todd's dedication, commitment, and passion to strengthen our service to our patrons and reinforce our commitment to the highest standards of theatrical performance, arts education, and community outreach to the residents of New Jersey and beyond."

Schmidt said in the press release he was honored to join the playhouse and work with Hoebee.

"Paper Mill Playhouse is a vital artistic and education center recognized throughout the region and the nation for its high-quality, innovative theater and training programs and I am proud to be a part of the future of this historic arts institution," he said in the release. "I value Mark Hoebee's wonderful artistic vision for Paper Mill Playhouse and aspire to support the many programs Paper Mill Playhouse has to offer."

Previous to his work with George Street Playhouse, Schmidt served as the executive producer of Peninsula Players Theatre, America's oldest professional resident summer theatre, in Door County, Wis. While with the Peninsula Players, he produced more than 70 plays and led the theater through a period of growth that revitalized and reorganized the organization culminating in the opening of a new state-of-the-art performance space in 2006, according to the Paper Mill press release. He raised more than $7 million dollars through a capital campaign, the release states. 

Schmidt is vice chairman of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance and is past president of the Council of Resident Summer Theatres and the Peninsula Arts and Humanities Alliance.  He is a founding member of Theatre Wisconsin, the alliance of professional theaters in the state.  He holds an MFA degree from the Goodman School of Drama at DePaul University and a BA from Auburn University in Alabama.  He has been on the faculty of Loyola University-Chicago, directed for Oakland University in Detroit and has worked with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and Apple Tree Theatre.