Paper Mill Playhouse has secured up to $24.8 million in state tax credits for a major overhaul of its lobby, entrance and building systems in Millburn.

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) approved the credits under its Cultural Arts Facilities Expansion (CAFE) Program, Patch reported Thursday, Aug. 27. The NJEDA described Paper Mill as a statewide cultural asset. The theater won the Regional Theatre Tony Award in 2016 and draws more than 200,000 audience members each year.

The project, known as the Front of House renovation, will reconfigure and expand the theater's entrance and lobby into a new two-story space. The 28,000-square-foot project will add a box office, concessions, monumental stairs and elevators, ADA-compliant restrooms and an enlarged donor lounge. A modern curtain-wall entrance will give theatergoers views of the plaza, river walk and the historic F.M. Kirby Carriage House Restaurant.

The scope is broad.

Executive Director Mike Stotts said accessibility and aging infrastructure are driving the work. "Greater accessibility and a more thoughtful layout of our public spaces are the driving forces of this project, not to mention the upgrades to mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems that are severely outdated and inefficient," Stotts said.

The renovation is the final phase of Paper Mill's Next Act Campaign, a fundraising effort launched in 2018 with a $48.8 million goal to modernize the theater's entire campus. Earlier phases already upgraded back-of-house facilities, administrative spaces and parking lots.

KSS Architects designed the project. Phelps Construction Group is the general contractor. Construction was slated to begin in summer 2026, with completion expected by September 2027.

During the 2026–2027 season, audiences will enter directly into the auditorium for orchestra seating while the mezzanine level is temporarily closed. Paper Mill plans to return to full capacity with five productions in the 2027–2028 season.

Millburn Mayor Frank Saccomandi IV praised the state's support. "We're incredibly lucky to have a theater of this caliber right here in Millburn, and we are thrilled to see the state stepping up to support its future," Saccomandi said.

According to the NJEDA, the CAFE Program provides tax credits covering up to 100 percent of eligible costs, capped at $75 million per project. The program is designed to boost arts engagement and help revitalize downtowns across New Jersey.

Paper Mill's next season runs from November 2026 through June 2027 at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn. No public groundbreaking ceremony date has been announced.