Showtime Series! (Kids, Jr & HS)
Level up your triple-threat skills with professional training — and shine in a full-scale production on the iconic bergenPAC MainStage!
Whether you're just starting out or ready for your next big role, we’ve got something for every age:
🎠Kids Series (Ages 6–9)
🎠Junior Series (Ages 9–14)
🎠High School Series (Ages 14+)
Performers start by learning the basics of dance, acting, singing, and audition techniques to prepare to audition in mid-fall for their roles in that year's production. After being cast, students participate in weekly rehearsals while honing their acting, singing, and dance skills.
Students explore all aspects of theater production, including performance, props, costumes, make-up, and design. This experience helps build self-confidence, improve literacy, nurture empathy, encourage imagination, teamwork, critical thinking, self-discipline, and community awareness.
Additionally, students enjoy a unique opportunity to collaborate with bergenPAC’s professional technical crew, providing an invaluable experience to work alongside industry experts and deepening their understanding of the theatrical arts.
Showtime welcomes students of all skill levels and serves as an outstanding launching pad for those aspiring to pursue a professional performance career.
Not a singer? No problem!
Our bergenPAC Players Series is perfect for students who want to act without the music. Join us this fall and spring for powerful straight plays performed in our intimate black box studio at the Performing Arts School.
No child interested in participating will be turned away. Financial aid scholarships are available.
*Please note, to fully produce a full length show, 10 students or more are required to register for a showtime kids, jr or high school class.
Showtime Kids | Fall Semester (101 Dalmatians Kids)
101 Dalmatians
Meet Your Creative Team:
Directed by Samantha Colon
Music Direction by Mario Giordano
Choreography by Kirsten Lane
This beginner-friendly production provides the perfect opportunity for young artists to shine on the bergenPAC MainStage, all while building confidence, creativity, and community.
Performance Date
December 19th | 11:00 AM
30 Minute Length
Disney’s 101 Dalmatians KIDS
Get ready for a tail-wagging adventure! Based on the beloved Disney classic, 101 Dalmatians KIDS follows Pongo and Perdita as they set out to rescue their puppies from the fabulously wicked Cruella de Vil.
Designed for young performers, this high-energy musical gives students the opportunity to develop their skills in acting, singing, dancing, character development, and ensemble performance while working together to bring a full production to life.
Filled with colorful characters, catchy songs, plenty of comedy, and, naturally, an unreasonable number of puppies, 101 Dalmatians KIDS is a fun and exciting theatrical experience for both new and returning performers.
Showtime Jr. | Fall Semester (Newsies Jr.)
Newsies JR.
Meet Your Creative Team
Directed & Choreographed by Aurie Ceylon
Music Direction by Samantha Colon
Let it go and step into the spotlight!
The semester ends with a fully staged production on the bergenPAC MainStage—an unforgettable performance experience for cast and audience alike!
Performance Date
December 19th | 2:00 PM
60 Minute Length
Disney’s Newsies JR.
Seize the day! Inspired by the true story of the 1899 Newsboys Strike, Disney’s Newsies JR. follows Jack Kelly and a determined group of young newsies as they find the courage to stand together, fight for what’s right, and make their voices heard.
Packed with high-energy music, dynamic dance numbers, memorable characters, and powerful storytelling, this production challenges young performers to grow their skills in acting, singing, dancing, and ensemble work while discovering the importance of friendship, perseverance, and community.
With its inspiring message and show-stopping musical numbers, Newsies JR. gives students the opportunity to take on bold characters, build confidence, and experience the excitement of bringing a Broadway favorite to life onstage.
Showtime HS | Fall Semester (The Addams Family)
The Addams Family HS
Meet Your Creative Team:
Directed by Mia Preziosi
Music Direction by Mario Giordano
Choreography by Maria Rivera
Vocal Coach: Katherine Mena
Take center stage and bring your story to life!
The semester culminates in a fully staged production on the bergenPAC MainStage, giving high school performers the opportunity to experience the excitement, collaboration, and professionalism of bringing a full-scale musical to life!
Performance Date
December 19th | 6:00 PM
Full Length - 2 Hours & 15 Minutes
The Addams Family
They’re creepy, they’re kooky, and they’re taking over the stage! The Addams Family follows Wednesday Addams as she falls in love with a seemingly “normal” young man and brings their very different families together for one hilariously disastrous dinner.
Filled with dark comedy, unforgettable characters, high-energy musical numbers, and plenty of heart, this production gives performers the opportunity to develop their acting, vocal, dance, and character-building skills while tackling a bold contemporary musical.
At its heart, The Addams Family is a wonderfully weird celebration of family, individuality, and embracing exactly who you are.
bergenPAC Players | Fall Semester (Acting Showcase)
Directed by Anthony Caiola
Join us at bergenPAC’s Performing Arts School for an evening of scenes and monologues as our young performers showcase the skills, confidence, and creativity they’ve been building all semester.
Performance Date
December 12th | 6PM
Showtime Kids | Spring Semester (Jungle Book Kids)
Jungle Book KIDS
Meet Your Creative Team:
Directed by Samantha Colon
Music Direction by Mario Giordano
Choreography by Kirsten Lane
Perfect for budding stars, this beginner-level program builds confidence and stage skills, all leading up to a performance on the bergenPAC MainStage that’s sure to make you howl with joy!
Performance Date
May 15th | 11:00 AM
30 Minute Length
Disney’s The Jungle Book KIDS
Take a journey into the jungle! Disney’s The Jungle Book KIDS follows Mowgli, a young boy raised by wolves, as he sets off on an adventure filled with unforgettable friends, colorful characters, and a few wild surprises along the way.
Featuring beloved characters like Baloo, Bagheera, King Louie, and Shere Khan, this lively musical gives young performers the opportunity to build confidence while developing their skills in acting, singing, dancing, character work, and ensemble performance.
Filled with humor, heart, and adventure, The Jungle Book KIDS celebrates friendship, courage, and discovering where you truly belong.
Showtime Jr. | Spring Semester (Little Mermaid Jr)
Little Mermaid JR.
Meet Your Creative Team
Directed & Choreographed by Aurie Ceylon
Music Direction by Samantha Colon
"Even if you're little, you can do a lot!"
The semester culminates in a full-scale performance on the bergenPAC MainStage, where every performer gets to shine.
Performance Dates
May 15th | 2:00 PM
60 Minute Length
Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR.
Dive under the sea for a magical adventure! Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR. follows Ariel, a curious young mermaid who dreams of exploring the world beyond the ocean and finding where she truly belongs.
Filled with colorful characters, exciting musical numbers, comedy, and heart, this beloved story gives young performers the opportunity to strengthen their skills in acting, singing, dancing, character development, and ensemble performance.
A celebration of courage, friendship, and finding your own voice, The Little Mermaid JR. invites students to become part of Ariel’s world and bring this Disney favorite to life onstage!
Showtime HS | Spring Semester (Mean Girls HS)
Mean Girls HS
Meet Your Creative Team:
Directed by Mia Preziosi
Music Direction by Mario Giordano
Choreography by Maria Rivera
Vocal Coach by Katherine Mena
Step into the spotlight and make the stage your own!
The semester concludes with a fully staged production on the bergenPAC MainStage, where high school performers put their training into action and experience the energy, teamwork, and excitement of performing a full-scale musical for a live audience!
Performance Date
May 15th | 6:00 PM
2 Hour Length with a 15 minute Intermission
Mean Girls
Get in, loser, we’re doing a musical! Mean Girls follows Cady Heron as she navigates the hilarious and ruthless world of high school popularity after moving from the African savanna to suburban Illinois.
Filled with bold characters, sharp comedy, energetic music, and high-impact choreography, this production gives high school performers the opportunity to tackle contemporary material while strengthening their skills in acting, singing, dancing, character development, and ensemble performance.
Beyond the laughs and drama, Mean Girls explores friendship, identity, belonging, and the pressure to fit in, reminding us that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is simply be yourself.
bergenPAC Players | Spring Semester (Acting Showcase)
Directed by Anthony Caiola
Join us at bergenPAC’s Performing Arts School for an evening of scenes and monologues as our young performers showcase the skills, confidence, and creativity they’ve been building all semester.
Performance Date
May 9th, 2026 | 6PM
A Letter to Parents & Guardians: Mean Girls Beyond the Stage
Dear Parents & Guardians,
At bergenPAC’s Performing Arts School, we believe theatre provides students with more than an opportunity to sing, dance, act, and perform. It gives young people a unique way to explore important topics, build empathy, develop confidence, and better understand themselves and the world around them.
As part of our educational approach, we look for opportunities to connect the themes of our productions to meaningful conversations beyond the stage. This year, our MainStage High School production of Mean Girls gives us the opportunity to explore a subject that directly impacts young people: bullying and the importance of creating a culture of kindness, inclusion, and respect.
Throughout the rehearsal process, students will explore themes found within the show including peer pressure, exclusion, rumors and gossip, social media behavior, identity, friendship, and the desire to fit in. Most importantly, we will look at the role each person can play in creating a community where others feel safe, valued, and included.
Bullying Awareness Through Theatre
Bullying can take many forms, including verbal, social, physical, and online behavior. It can also be less obvious, appearing through exclusion, spreading rumors, embarrassing someone publicly, or intentionally making another person feel isolated.
As educators and artists, we want our students to recognize not only what bullying can look like, but also the power they have to respond differently. Throughout the semester, we will encourage conversations around:
- Recognizing bullying, exclusion, and unhealthy social behavior
- Understanding the impact our words and actions can have on others
- Developing empathy and respect for different perspectives
- Learning how to be an active, supportive bystander
- Building healthy friendships and communicating through conflict
- Using our individual voices to create positive change
Mean Girls may be funny, bold, and larger than life, but underneath the comedy is an important reminder: the way we treat one another matters.
Our goal is for students to leave this production not only as stronger performers, but as more thoughtful collaborators, confident individuals, and compassionate members of their communities.
We look forward to an exciting semester of learning, creating, and bringing Mean Girls to the bergenPAC MainStage!
Warmly,
-Becky, Ashley & Tony-
Your bergenPAC Performing Arts School Admin Team
Pre-Professional Track
Interested in Our Pre-Professional Track?
Students ready to take their training to the next level may apply for the bergenPAC Performing Arts School Pre-Professional Track, an interdisciplinary pathway designed for dedicated young artists preparing for performing arts high schools, college programs, conservatories, competitions, and professional opportunities.
Pre-Professional students are encouraged to train in three or more classes each week across multiple disciplines, participate in productions and performance opportunities, and receive individualized coaching and mentorship while developing the commitment, versatility, and professionalism expected of a working artist.
Make sure to chat with our Performing Arts School Operations Manager, Anthony Caiola to learn how you can sign up for your personalized track, today! ACaiola@bergenpac.org
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