Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Michael Stotts-Managing Director), has announced the cancelation of the 2020 Rising Star Awards. Paper Mill will instead host a virtual celebration honoring the passion and talent of New Jersey high school students, many of whom were unable to perform their high school musicals due to the current COVID-19 health crisis. In response to the coronavirus national emergency and statewide school, business and institution closures, dozens of New Jersey high schools participating in the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards were forced to cancel their spring musical. Of the 94 schools on the roster, over two-thirds canceled their shows.  In the face of this, the theater has canceled the awards program and ceremony which would have been the milestone 25th annual gathering. The Rising Star Awards will not go on, but to acknowledge the passion that New Jersey students have for musical theater, Paper Mill will present a virtual celebration of the 2020 participating schools with Rising Star Honors presented by the Investors Foundation, a montage of school video submissions of the shows that happened, or didn’t happen. Schools will share highlights of their performances, rehearsals or create new performances by company members.  Rising Star Honors presented by the Investors Foundation will premiere on Mon June 1 at 7:00 PM on Paper Mill Playhouse’s Facebook page.  Joining will be host, Rising Star winner, Jared Gertner, along with Rising Star alumni from across the nation. Press contact: Hawley Abelow/Paper Mill Playhouse (973/315-1644)...