Playbill has partnered with Inspired to create and amplify stories of inspiration that advocate for young people across the country to have access to arts and cultural experiences. The following article is written by the team at Situation Project and adapted from their online publication Inspired. Click here to learn more.

This spring, Paper Mill Playhouse is making room. Not just in its seats, but in the world of professional theatre itself.

With the launch of Take a Ticket, a new access initiative tied to the world premiere of Take the Lead, the theatre is offering up to 1,000 free tickets to students from 10 New Jersey high schools. The goal is straightforward: to make sure students from the surrounding community have the opportunity to experience live theatre, some for the very first time.

It’s a first for Paper Mill, too, and one that’s built on a long-standing commitment to education, access, and representation. “It has always been key in our history to champion students,” said Priscilla Cordero, Community Engagement and Audience Development Manager. “Paper Mill is on a mission to continue to make pathways for our community members who exist at varied intersections of the human experience.”

Why Take the Lead?

The musical at the heart of this initiative isn’t just entertaining, it’s a story that reflects the lived experiences of many of the students being invited in.

Take the Lead is based on the 2006 dance film starring Antonio Banderas and the true story of Pierre Dulaine, a professional ballroom dancer who brought the art form into New York City public schools. The show blends ballroom and hip-hop, telling the story of students who rise above expectations and find strength through creativity, connection, and movement.

“The Drake kids [in the musical] are up against a world that tells them they can’t,” said Cordero. “But they find a way to prove societal expectations wrong. We know that our local students are doing the same in their hallways, classrooms, after-school practices, and beyond.”

That parallel is part of what makes Take a Ticket so meaningful. Students are being invited not only to watch the show, but to see themselves in it.

Representation, Access, and the Student Journey

Arts education is widely known to support student development—building confidence, creativity, and social-emotional skills—but access to those experiences is still unequal. Take a Ticket is one way Paper Mill is working to change that.

“Our efforts to make sure we communicate to communities and schools across Essex County were targeted to minimize barriers, whether they be communicative or financial,” said Cordero.

This is more than a one-time offer. It’s part of a broader vision for a more equitable, inclusive, and welcoming theater.

And while Take the Lead may center on the character of Pierre, it’s the students—on stage and off—who take the spotlight. “It was our intention to invite students to witness a new musical coming together on a stage,” Cordero said, “especially one that features characters that could easily be going through similar issues and journeys.”

A First Theatre Experience—But Not the Last

For many of these students, Take the Lead may be their introduction to live, professional theatre. But Paper Mill hopes it’s just the beginning.

“We hope students can walk away from Take the Lead and turn inwards,” said Cordero. “To find their own inner creativity and strength to figure out a way through any hurdle they might face—like the students in this production exemplify on stage.”

To support that, the theatre continues to offer year-round discounted student tickets, including $20 tickets for any performance.

What’s Next

Take the Lead begins previews March 29 and runs through April 27, with opening night on April 6. Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli (Newsies), the show features a dynamic creative team and cast, including Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, Tam Mutu, and Vincent Jamal Hooper.

And through Take a Ticket, a new generation of theatregoers will be in the audience.

Learn more about Paper Mill’s access initiatives at papermill.org/discounts.

Inspired was created by Situation Project 501(c)3.