(MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse has announced it is the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for Celebrating America250: Arts Projects Honoring the National Garden of American Heroes. A grant of $25,000 will support the theater's upcoming production of 1776, playing April 1-26, 2026 at the theater.

NEA Senior Advisor Mary Anne Carter said, "As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, the National Endowment for the Arts is honored to support communities across the country in recognizing the individuals whose contributions have defined our history. Paper Mill Playhouse's project in Millburn, New Jersey plays a significant role in commemorating these heroes' legacies while affirming the enduring role of the arts in shaping America's future."

History comes to life in 1776, the Tony winning musical that brings the story behind the creation of the Declaration of Independence to the stage with witty satire, compelling drama, and a thrilling score. With music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and book by Peter Stone, 1776 follows John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and their fellow delegates as they navigate fiery debates, political tensions, and personal conflicts in their struggle to unite thirteen colonies. The production will be directed by Mark S. Hoebee and casting will be announced in Spring 2026.

The NEA was named as a key partner in President Trump's Executive Order 13978 - "Celebrating America's Birthday," which calls for the establishment of the Garden of Heroes. The National Endowment for the Humanities is supporting the design and creation of the statues that will make up the National Garden. The 50 NEA-supported Arts Projects Honoring the National Garden of American Heroes will honor these individuals highlighted through a variety of artistic disciplines.

For more information on other projects included in the NEA's grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

Paper Mill Playhouse, recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award, is a nationally renowned not-for-profit theater under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee (Producing Artistic Director) and Michael Stotts (Executive Director). A beloved New Jersey arts institution since 1938, Paper Mill creates and produces groundbreaking new musicals and reimagined classics. Several productions have gone on to Broadway and launched national tours, including The Great Gatsby, Disney's Newsies, Bandstand, Honeymoon in Vegas, A Bronx Tale, and Les Misérables (25th Anniversary production).

The theater is also the home to an award-winning center for musical theater education and artist training, with outreach programs that impact thousands of students each year. As one of the nation's premier musical theaters, Paper Mill fosters a creative environment to advance the art form, educate students, develop future theater lovers, nurture inclusion, and provide access for all. Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for 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.

Disney's Frozen is currently playing at Paper Mill Playhouse through Sunday, January 11 only. The rest of the season features Come From Away, 1776, and West Side Story.