Bergen Performing Arts Center

The Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) is a prominent cultural institution located in the New Jersey/New York metropolitan region, known for its significant contributions to the performing arts and arts education. Established as a nonprofit IRC 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, bergenPAC is dedicated to making live performing arts and arts education accessible to its diverse community. The center's mission is to build a creative home for artists and teachers of excellence, with the aim to entertain, enlighten, inspire, and inform audiences and students. bergenPAC's history dates back to its inception on April 30, 2003, when a small group of dedicated individuals, led by its founder Frank Huttle III along with Edmondo Schwarz, Robert Cook, Sam Mann, Chris Yegen, and Donald Aronson, set out to preserve the theater that had been a cultural mainstay in North Jersey for many years. The theater first opened its doors as the Englewood Plaza movie theater on November 22, 1926. After a series of ownership changes and eventual closure, the theater was revitalized as the John Harms Center in 1976, under the leadership of John Harms, and became one of the largest performing arts centers in New Jersey. However, the closing of the John Harms Center on April 14, 2003, left a void in the local cultural scene. The founding trustees of bergenPAC stepped in to reopen the historic institution, with Tony Bennett performing at the inaugural gala. The reopening marked the beginning of a new public/private partnership, which aimed to coordinate and leverage community resources, including support from city, county, and state entities, as well as private patrons and donors. bergenPAC quickly established itself as a hub for artistic excellence, with Grammy Award-winning jazz artist George Benson highlighting the acoustical quality of the vintage 1926 Main Hall during the reopening. The center also became known for its media production capabilities, thanks to a partnership with the former Bennett Studios, which allowed for Grammy Award-winning recordings and live worldwide televised productions. In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced bergenPAC to close its doors temporarily, but the center adapted by offering virtual programming and pivoting to online instruction. The following year, bergenPAC hosted a renowned virtual gala featuring notable artists such as Paul Anka, Aly Stroker, Jack Antanoff, John Fogerty, Darlene Love, Itzhak Perlman, and Dionne Warwick, along with students from bergenPAC’s Performing Arts School. In 2022, bergenPAC completed a historic restoration of the Main Hall, preserving the theater's original 1926 architecture and design, while introducing modern enhancements such as comfortable seating and a state-of-the-art lighting and sound system. The bergenPAC campus includes the bergenPAC Performing Arts School, which serves as a premier arts education institution for students aged 2 to 18. The school is committed to inclusivity, ensuring that no student is ever turned away due to financial constraints. Additionally, bergenPAC's Community Arts Access Program partners with social agencies to provide performance tickets to community members who may not otherwise have the opportunity to attend shows. bergenPAC continues to recognize and embrace its impact on the community, fostering a culture of equity and nurturing the talent of tomorrow. With the ethos "Our Home Is Your Home," bergenPAC stands as a theater of and for the community, enhancing the quality of life through the arts.