 Bergen Performing Arts Center (BergenPAC) is a community theater that acts as a creative focal point, educational resource, and economic engine in northern New Jersey. BergenPAC's objective is to make live performing arts and arts education accessible to its various community by providing a creative home for outstanding and relevant artists and instructors who delight, educate, inspire, and inform their audiences and students. As Northern New Jersey's foremost cultural and arts educational organization, bergenPAC will guide and free our youth's imaginations while also expanding the lives of our adults. The Englewood Plaza movie theater opened its doors on November 22, 1926, and stayed in operation until 1967, when United Artists bought the property and kept it running until 1973. The building sat empty for a few years after the Plaza closed until a small group of residents led by John Harms labored to bring the John Harms Center to life on October 10, 1976, with a performance by a Russian pianist Lazar Berman. John Harms (1906-1981), an organist and instructor, started his career as an impresario in 1941, producing concerts for both renowned and lesser-known musicians in North Jersey. He was a one-person show, selecting and booking performances, renting the venue, writing press releases, and personally calling or corralling over 1,200 connections. When The Englewood Plaza was on the market, his ambition of owning and operating a performance venue became a reality. Two significant refurbishment projects in the 1990s transformed the Plaza into a contemporary performance hall and media center while keeping the original acoustics. Until its closure on April 14, 2003, the John Harms Facility was one of New Jersey's major performing arts facilities and the largest arts center in northern New Jersey. A small group of people reopened the doors of BergenPAC on April 30, 2003, thanks to public-private cooperation. Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Ringo Starr, John Legend, Jerry Lewis, and Willie Nelson performed on the main stage at BergenPAC when it first opened its doors. Approximately 200 performances are scheduled throughout the year. BergenPAC's Performing Arts School is currently housed in One Depot Square. The historic Englewood railway station formerly homes Bennett Studios. Students may perform on the main stage of the theater and around the county. Programs are available for school districts and special needs students of all ages, from infants to adults. For young individuals aged two months to twenty-one years, the program provides year-round programs in various disciplines, including theater, art, voice lessons, and dance. BergenPAC is currently a leader in providing world-class cultural and educational opportunities to its community, thanks to Frank Huttle's passion and many others who have worked with him. BergenPAC collaborates with its board of directors, employees, volunteers, and partners to create a world-class Home for Arts and Education accessible and affordable to everyone.
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 BounceU was founded on a passion for children, and they are all still kids at heart! That's why they built the world's most fun, happiest private party venue for kids. They enjoy seeing family and friends simply being themselves in a private party setting, having a good time, and creating lifelong memories. They realize you're too busy to organize ahead of time, and you want your children to be the focus of attention. They understand that you want your inflatable events to be different, exciting, and stress-free. They are one of the greatest sites for kids' parties! Parents founded BounceU just like you, and all of its facilities and activities are designed to be risk-free, energizing, and life-changing for the participants. Jon and Caroline, husband and wife, own and manage BounceU of Paramus. Parents of four gorgeous children and residents of Bergen County. BounceU is aware of the requirements necessary to make the big day for your children as unforgettable as possible, and the company approaches each event as if it were for their children. BounceU was named a Top Children's Birthday Party Destination by readers of various local magazines, including Bergen 201, The Jewish Standard, Bergen Health & Life 2014 Winner, and others. In addition, one of the "Top 10 Birthday Party Destinations" in the United States, according to "Parents" Magazine, is one of the "Top 10 Birthday Party Destinations" in the United States. BounceU of Paramus is a proud supporter and donor to several local organizations, including Gilda's Club, The Autism Cares Foundation, Tomorrow's Children's Fund, Make A Wish, etc. They go above and beyond to make your child's most memorable day one, making them feel extra special and unique. Their SUPER STAR service is what makes a BounceU birthday party as exciting and stress-free for parents as it is for the kids. Their Party Pros are birthday party specialists, and they specialize in treating the birthday kid like a VIP! They will make your kid feel incredibly special by surpassing expectations, generating lasting memories, and making your party fantastic! These Party Pros are hand-picked from the neighborhoods around our location. The majority are high school and college students who have shown a passion for working with children and are committed to delivering excellent customer service. All-Party Pros and Managers go through a rigorous training program to guarantee that all of their visitors, young and old, get Super Star service. Contact them at (201) 843-5880 for more details.  Robert Sean Leonard, Tony Award-winner and "House" star. Beth Fowler invented Mrs. Potts in "Beauty and the Beast" "Beauty and the Beast" directed by Robert Jess Roth. Allison Smith, "Annie" and "Kate & Allie" star. Robert McClure of "Something Rotten," "Noises Off," "Chaplin the Musical," and "Avenue Q." These prominent actors and actresses began their careers with the Bergen County Players (BCP). Aside from the usual suspects at the bank, you may see a doctor or a writer in the grocery, school, coffee shop, or mall. The Bergen County Players began as a tiny community theater with a massive reputation for great shows. The Players' 89th season features musicals, comedy, drama, and suspense. President Herbert Hoover was experiencing issues in 1932. Breadlines were widespread during the Great Depression. But the theater realized it had a function, too: to amuse. So, several amateur theater companies from Bergen County convened in a Hackensack YMCA back room. They formed a theatrical community group named The Bergen County Players Inc. Helen Burke Travolta, John Travolta's mother, was there that night. This portrait of her with the other founding members is still displayed in the lounge Little Firehouse Theatre lounge, where the Players now reside. It was there long before her kid became renowned. The theatrical troupe performed in high school auditoriums, barns, and The Barn Theater in River Edge. It had a pot-bellied stove and skunks living beneath the foundation. Unfortunately, the building burnt in 1944. Nobody knows what caused the fire, which left the Players homeless. The next play opened on time at Bergen Junior College, then Fairleigh Dickinson University's Teaneck campus. Oradell erected a new firehouse in 1949, leaving the old one on Kinderkamack Road unoccupied. Bergen County Players saw the firehouse's potential quickly (pictured right, during renovations in 1949). After negotiating with the municipality, they took over the area, erected a stage on the rear, and installed seats where the old fire engines were. The theater erected a rehearsal and storage extension in 1969, boosted seating capacity to 210 in 1980, installed central air conditioning in 1982, automated the ticket office in the 1990s, and recently provided handicapped accessibility. The theater's creative offerings have grown throughout time. "Conversations With An Artist" began in 1987 to allow members and the public to speak with professional artists. Tony Award-winning actor Philip Bosco ("Lend Me A Tenor," "Moon Over Buffalo") and Tony Award-winning author Rupert Holmes ("The Mystery of Edwin Drood," "Curtains") have all spoken at the event. In 2001, Holmes teamed with the Bergen County Players to premiere his new piece, "Thumbs." The Bergen County Players produce seven main-stage and two second-stage productions annually. In addition, the December children's entertainment delights all ages. The non-profit Bergen County Players has about 300 volunteer members. Many married couples met here, and numerous generations of families still visit. The theater uses this skilled pool on and off the stage, with three productions in rehearsal plus workshops and set building. It intends to flourish and provide years of outstanding entertainment. For almost 80 years, the Bergen County Players have welcomed hundreds of thousands of people to enjoy live theater, some for the first time. Many return and bring new folks. In addition, hundreds of performers, directors, and technicians have discovered a home away from home and a training ground for theatrical magic. Thanks to its numerous sponsors, Bergen County Players has become a top little theater organization. Learn more by visiting their website or by calling them at 201-261-4200. |
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