Robert Johanson, the longtime artistic director of the 1,200-seat Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ, will depart from his post on July 31, in a decision announced jointly by executive producer Angelo Del Rossi, the company's board of trustees, and Johanson himself via a statement on April 3. The decision—"to redefine Mr. Johanson's relationship with the Playhouse"—capped months of speculation as to whether the artistic director's 17-year tenure in the position, one that had grown increasingly and publicly contentious and controversial, was nearing an end.
According to a statement released by the playhouse, this arrangement "will allow Robert to exercise his artistic brilliance without the burdensome distractions of specific responsibilities." Johanson, who was reportedly paid a salary of over $200,000 annually, will direct Paper Mill's upcoming production of "My Fair Lady," which opens on June 5, as well as "New Voices 2002: The Magic of Lerner and Loewe," which opens on July 26 and ends the current season.
He will also return next season as a "contract director" to stage the new musical "Romeo and Bernadette" and a revival of "Camelot" and will, according to the statement, "continue to work with the theatre in developing new works, but in addition will be free to direct elsewhere and devote time to writing projects which have long been on the shelf." Among Johanson's projects is a new production of the Ed Dixon musical "Fanny Hill," which ran in August of 1999 at Goodspeed-at-Chester under the direction of Gabriel Barre; a flamenco spectacular starring Maria Pages; and a new, Broadway-bound burlesque musical starring Jackie Mason.
In a second statement, released on April 8, Johanson waxed introspective regarding his time at Paper Mill. "It was as though I was always—all my life—training for the huge responsibility of artistic director at Paper Mill, [but] the confluence of a number of accomplishments and milestones suggests that a new and exciting era is beginning at this beloved theatre," he said. "What better time for me to pursue the things that in many ways I feel I have been training for…there are so many avenues that I have wanted to explore over the years and now I'll have the chance."
Echoing Johanson's heartfelt sentiments, Del Rossi added, "Robert has been such an asset to the theatre…we will turn this adversity into opportunity by working with new talent from within the industry. We will certainly miss Robert, but we wish him great success."
Credited with directing the show "Robert and Elizabeth" that opened the new theatre after a devastating fire destroyed the original structure in 1980, Johanson has directed scores of productions, including "Funny Girl," "Follies," "Children of Eden," "The Student Prince," "Mame," "Man of La Mancha," "Gigi," "Nine," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Shenandoah," "Mack & Mabel," "Annie Get Your Gun," "Carousel," "Guys and Dolls," and "Side by Side by Sondheim."
World premieres under Johanson's aegis included "Sayonara," "Mikado, Inc.," "The Prisoner of Zenda," "Comfortable Shoes," "Up, Up and Away," and Johanson's dramatizations of "Wuthering Heights," "Jane Eyre," and "Great Expectations."
In addition, Johanson's revival of "Show Boat" was shown as part of PBS's "Great Performances," and his mounting of "The Wizard of Oz" transferred to The Theatre at Madison Square Garden.
Despite Johanson's long and impressive track record and the seemingly amenable tone of the quotes of those involved in his stepping down, it's not an industry secret that the Paper Mill is in ticklish financial straits.
For example, the Star-Ledger reported that a "behind-the-scenes power struggle" is what led to Johanson's "ouster," and that the move, in an overall sense, represents another step in the ongoing "fiscal belt-tightening" at the theatre, which is supported with over $1 million annually from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
The article also reported that the Paper Mill ran a $1.6 million deficit last year, a situation some say was caused, at least in part, by Johanson's elaborate 2000 production of "Pippin," which reportedly ran wildly over budget—to the tune of $400,000 or more. The Star-Ledger also reported that the theatre "has seen a drop of 25% in subscribers since 1993," from approximately 42,500 to just over 31,000 last season.
The final quote from Johanson, however, puts a gloss on the situation: "The most important accomplishment over the past 17 years has been the quality that Paper Mill has achieved and the great and continued support of the patrons and Board of Trustees. I cannot say enough about what a privilege it has been to work at one of the greatest regional theatres in the country and the high degree of talent possessed by the artistic and administrative staff. I will carry these treasured memories with me always."