The Bodyguard to Launch US Tour During Paper Mill Playhouse's 2016-17 Season

Millburn, New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse has announced the lineup of productions set for its 2016-17 season.

Mel Brooks' record-breaking musical comedy The Producers will open the season, running from September 28-October 23. The production features music and lyrics by Brooks, a book by Brooks and Thomas Meehan, and original direction and choreography by Tony winner Susan Stroman.

In November, the theater will launch the national tour of the U.S.-premiere musical The Bodyguard, starring Grammy Award-nominated R&B singer Deborah Cox. Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s Oscar-nominated film, which starred Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, The Bodyguard had its world premiere in London’s West End where it was nominated for four Laurence Olivier Awards including best new musical and won best new musical at the WhatsOnStage Awards. The production features a book by Academy Award winner Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman) and a score of classic songs including "Queen of the Night," "So Emotional," "One Moment in Time," "Saving All My Love," "Run to You," "I Have Nothing," "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," and "I Will Always Love You." Thea Sharrock directs, with choreography by Karen Bruce. Performances will run from November 25, 2016-January 1, 2017.

Ken Ludwig's A Comedy of Tenors will follow, running from February 1-26, 2017. A sequel to Ludwig's hit comedy Lend Me a Tenor!, the play is set on the backdrop of "one hotel suite, four tenors, two wives, three girlfriends, and a soccer stadium filled with screaming fans."

Next up will be Million Dollar Quartet, running from March 29-April 23, 2017. The Tony-nominated musical is inspired by the famed recording session that brought together rock 'n' roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins for the first and only time. The production features a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, and an original concept and direction by Mutrux. The score of rock 'n' roll hits includes "Blue Suede Shoes," "Great Balls of Fire," "Walk the Line," "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," "Folsom Prison Blues," and more.

Closing out the season will be Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins. Based on the book by P.L. Travers and the subsequent film starring Julie Andrews, the production features original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, a book by Julian Fellowes, and new songs and additional music and lyrics by Anthony Drewe and George Stiles.

Paper Mill Playhouse is currently presenting the world-premiere production of A Bronx Tale, directed by Jerry Zaks and Robert De Niro.

For more information about the upcoming Paper Mill season, click here.

For tickets to A Bronx Tale, click here.