Paper Mill Playhouse Appoints Paul Brewster McGinley as Director of Education
Tom O’Connor Consulting Group (TOCG) is pleased to announce that Paul Brewster McGinley has been appointed Director of Education by Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee, Producing Artistic Director; Michael Stotts, Executive Director) in Millburn, New Jersey, following our extensive national search led by Dr. Edie Demas, Vice President of Organizational Strategy.
As shared in a release from the company, Paper Mill Playhouse is proud to announce that, following a national search, Paul Brewster McGinley has joined Paper Mill Playhouse as the theater’s new Director of Education. Educational programming represents the heart of Paper Mill's nonprofit mission, serving nearly 40,000 students yearly through transformative programs. The organization maintains a deep commitment to accessibility, ensuring theater opportunities reach children regardless of economic, physical, or cognitive challenges. Signature initiatives include the Adopt-A-School Project, the Theater School, Theater for Everyone programs, the Rising Star Awards, and the Summer Conservatory.
“This role brings together everything I care deeply about—supporting young people, building meaningful programs, and working alongside visionary educators and artists,” said McGinley in the company’s statement. “Paper Mill’s extraordinary legacy in arts education, paired with its deep commitment to access and excellence, makes this an especially exciting moment to join the team. As the next leader of Paper Mill’s Education department, I’m excited to build on its strong foundation while charting a course for long-term growth.”
“I am very excited to have Paul McGinley join our leadership team at Paper Mill,” said Executive Director Michael Stotts in the company’s statement. “His vast knowledge and experience in the world of theatre education will help us to realize the full potential of our education programs and ultimately the creation of a new facility that will become a center for musical theatre education in the State of New Jersey.”
“I am extremely proud of the education programs that have been developed at Paper Mill over the last 35 years,” said Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee in the company’s statement. “For the past 17 years, these programs have been led by Lisa Cooney, who will remain on the staff. We look forward to Paul bringing a new perspective which will help to develop and grow these programs, creating deeper and more meaningful impact on the thousands of students we serve each year.”
“It was a pleasure to work with Paper Mill on this search. I am thrilled that the result was Paul.” said Edie Demas. “He is the right person at the right time to fulfill the role and to lead the next chapter in the organization’s evolution.”
About Paper Mill Playhouse
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.
About Tom O’Connor Consulting Group
Tom O’Connor Consulting Group (TOCG) is a NYC-based consultancy that supports arts institutions and leaders with two integrated services: organizational strategy and executive search. Consulting specialties include marketing, strategy, assessment, and organizational development. Founded in 2015, TOCG is a fully remote company with team members spanning the country and the globe.
Select clients have included Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Carnegie Hall, Cincinnati Opera, Huntington Theatre Company, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Lincoln Center Theater, The Metropolitan Opera, Next Chapter Podcasts, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, SPACE on Ryder Farm, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, and more.
Explore our site to learn more about Our Services, Our Team, and Our Clients. Sign up for email alerts of future searches.