Paper Mill Playhouse Announces 2025 Rising Star Award Nominations

The 30th annual celebration of high school musical theater excellence will culminate in a live awards ceremony and student performances on June 3 in Millburn.

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced the nominees for the 30th Annual Rising Star Awards, an event that honors excellence in high school musical theater across New Jersey. The awards ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at the Paper Mill Playhouse’s historic theater in Millburn.

Established in 1996, the Rising Star Awards have recognized and supported student achievement in musical theater for three decades. Many alumni of the program have gone on to achieve significant success on Broadway and beyond, including Anne Hathaway, Laura Benanti, Nikki M. James, Rob McClure, Jared Gertner, and 2025 Tony Award nominee Julia Knitel.

The 2025 Rising Star Awards competition included productions from 138 high schools in 20 counties. A team of more than 60 independent evaluators assessed performances between January 23 and April 13, with each school receiving three adjudications. The program mirrors the structure of the Tony Awards, recognizing excellence across performance, direction, design, and technical production.

Nominees for Outstanding Overall Musical and all Leading Performer categories will perform live during the June 3 ceremony. Winners will be presented with engraved crystal awards courtesy of MTM Recognition.

In addition to performance-based honors, the program will distribute $7,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors who plan to pursue theater in college. Special awards include:

• Educational Impact Award ($500): For schools that incorporate their musical into cross-curricular instruction.

• Theater for Everyone Inclusion and Access Award ($1,000): For schools demonstrating accessibility and inclusion for students and audiences with disabilities.

• Outstanding Educator Award ($1,000): For an exemplary teacher, with the prize supporting the school’s theater department.

Students nominated in leading and supporting roles also earn scholarships to attend the Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Musical Theater Conservatory. This training program culminates in the New Voices of 2025: Groundbreakers concert on August 1 and 2, celebrating musicals that have transformed American theater. Tickets for the concert are available at PaperMill.org.

The Rising Star Awards are presented by Investors Foundation and Citizens Philanthropic Foundation, with support from several educational and philanthropic organizations including the Michael J. Kosloski Foundation, the Hearst Foundations, and the New Jersey Cultural Access Network.

For a complete list of nominees and information on tickets for both the awards ceremony and the New Voices concert, visit PaperMill.org.