One of New Jersey’s performing arts theaters will reopen its doors once again this October.

The Paper Mill Playhouse announced that live, in-person performances will resume after being closed for more than a year because of the pandemic.

“A phoenix rising from the ashes, rebirth,” says producing arts director Mark Hoebee.

Hoebee says that he cannot wait to welcome back the audience.

“We create art, but without an audience, it’s not really theater,” he says.

The nonprofit theater in Millburn is New Jersey's largest theater, with approximately 1,100 seats. It produces its own musicals and plays.

The theater has entertained New Jersey residents for more than 80 years. For its coming season, the theater has announced five musicals – from the familiar like “Sister Act," to the world premiere of “The Wanderer,” a play based on the life of Rock & Roll icon Dion Dimucci.

According to theater officials, putting on a live show amid the pandemic is complicated and there are unknowns. It is unclear how many audience members will be able to attend the performances. Hoebee says that the theater is still working out its COVID-related policies.

“Information is coming out and things are changing so rapidly,” he says of the pandemic. “The mask-off policy that most of the country is dealing with right now just happened last week.”

Paper Mill will sell tickets to subscribers first and then open tickets to the public around Labor Day.

The first performance is scheduled for Oct. 13.