If we’re lucky, we have childhood memories of a cherished local institution that really made a difference in our lives and the lives of the people around us. A place where our neighbors and friends gathered, learned, taught, laughed, and built community together. That place in Bergen County is bergenPAC in Englewood, New Jersey. bergenPAC, recognized as one of the largest and most iconic performing venues and performing arts schools in the area “is a Theater of and for the community” whose mission is to make live performing arts and arts education accessible to the diverse community it serves. It is regarded as a creative home for artists and teachers of excellence who entertain, enlighten, inspire, and inform audiences and students.
Originally opened as a movie theater in 1926, bergenPAC has been an inviting place for
Englewood and the surrounding community to gather for almost 100 years. The current stewards of this icon are focused on ensuring that bergenPAC remains, not only a place where entertainers from all over the world perform, but where a new generation can also learn and develop their performing arts craft at bergenPAC’s Performing Arts School, nurtured by dedicated veteran performers.
The 2025-2026 bergenPAC season has begun and they have a performance or event that will appeal to everyone in the family. Upcoming events for adults (in case you want to plan a date night, girls’ or boys’ night, or an outing to celebrate a corporate or special event) include: Blues Traveler, tribute bands for Guns n Roses, ABBA, and the Eagles, Rob Schneider, Hanson, and Jay Leno, to name a few. Shows for the little ones in your life include: Gabby’s Dollhouse, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, magic shows, and Ninja Kidz Live. For the full line up of performances and events, and to purchase tickets, please visit their event webpage.
For those of you who have a soft spot for watching people you know perform, the bergenPAC Performing Arts School has classes for kids ages 3 months to adult. The school, northern New Jersey’s premier arts education institution, provides students of all backgrounds and abilities with onsite and educational outreach experiences that stimulate learning, boost confidence, and spark creativity and imagination.
Babies as young as 3 months can enjoy their very first exposure to music, dance, and movement classes, laying the foundation for a lifetime of arts enjoyment. Preschoolers and elementary school children are invited to participate in theater, dance, and vocal classes that will increase their knowledge and strengthen their abilities, all with regular opportunities to perform on stage, showcasing their learning and offering them critical skills in public speaking and performing. Older children and teens who have a serious commitment to dance can audition for the bergenPAC pre-professional program in which they will be a part of the Dance Ensemble and have opportunities to perform in NYC and throughout the community. Theater and vocal students will learn from working professionals and have access to exciting opportunities to showcase their talent in and around the tri-state area. Visit the website for more information about bergenPAC’s one-of-a-kind Performing Arts School, the 2025-2026 schedule, and their upcoming Open House.
Oh, and back to that part about being a Theater of and for the community: bergenPAC’s Educational Outreach initiative offers customized programs in music, dance, theater, visual arts and Hip Hop to schools, libraries, social service agencies, assisted living facilities and other sites across the region. They offer teaching artist residencies and assemblies, assistance with school musicals, and more.
Whether you want to be entertained, educated, or you just want to be in community with like- minded lovers of the performing arts, bergenPAC is there for you. Just as they have been for almost 100 years, just as they will be for many more years to come.
bergenPAC
30 North Van Brunt Street
Englewood, NJ 07631
