Casey Hushion Named Associate Artistic Director at Paper Mill, villagegreennj.com reports

Director Casey Hushion has taken on the role of associate artistic director at Paper Mill Playhouse, villagegreennj.com reported. The Maplewood resident stepped into the position in September after a national search conducted by Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee.

Directing Roots at Paper Mill Playhouse

Hushion previously directed six productions at the theater: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Murder on the Orient Express, Mystic Pizza, Clue, Beehive, and A Jolly Holiday: Celebrating Disney’s Broadway Hits. Her background also includes serving for 10 years as artistic director of North Carolina Theatre in Raleigh.

On Broadway, she worked as an assistant or associate director on productions such as In the Heights, Mean Girls, and The Prom. Hoebee noted her familiarity with the venue during the appointment announcement.

Casey is a gifted director and a generous collaborator. She knows Paper Mill and our audiences, and as a member of our community, she understands the important role this theater plays here. I couldn’t be more excited to have her beside me as we shape Paper Mill’s next chapter.

Mark S. Hoebee

Collaborating on Season Planning and New Works

In her new post, Hushion works closely with Hoebee and Christopher Slavik, Paper Mill’s associate producer. Her responsibilities span multiple departments, including season planning and evaluating scripts and new works for development.

She also focuses on identifying creative teams and designers for individual productions while building ongoing relationships with those artists. Hushion first started working at the theater as it emerged from the pandemic.

I just feel so lucky and grateful to be making a more permanent home here and to be anchored to this institution that I love so much and that gives so much back to our community. It’s just about as good as it gets.

Casey Hushion

Connecting Local Broadway Talent to Regional Stage

Having lived in Maplewood for 16 years, Hushion is part of the local commuter community of theater professionals who travel to and from New York. She and her husband, Marc Kessler, moved to the area from Manhattan after discovering the town through theater friends.

She emphasized the advantage of having numerous theater families gathered across Maplewood, South Orange, and West Orange. That concentration of Broadway talent provides a direct connection to the institution.

Established in 1938, Paper Mill Playhouse is a not-for-profit theater that has sent multiple shows to Broadway, including The Great Gatsby, Disney’s Newsies, Bandstand, Honeymoon in Vegas, A Bronx Tale, and the 25th anniversary production of Les Misérables.