Shakespeare in the Park Bergen County EXPANDS with Library Performances!

Black Box Performing Arts Center, in partnership with Bergen County, is pleased to announce free outdoor professional performances of Shakespeare’s Macbeth and The Taming of the Shrew this summer, as a special addition to Shakespeare in the Park Bergen County!

This is the fourth year of free summer Shakespeare in Bergen County, brought to you by Black Box PAC: the intimate 501c3 non profit theater/performing arts school combo located on Palisade Avenue in downtown Englewood. In previous years, the company toured their vibrant productions to libraries and parks throughout Bergen County. 

This year, the main productions of Hamlet and As You Like It are in residence at the Overpeck County Park Amphitheater. 

The series is instead expanding by offering two additional works by Shakespeare: Macbeth and The Taming of the Shrew, coming to select libraries!

Black Box PAC has performed summer Shakespeare at the Englewood Public Library all four years, in addition to virtual Shakespeare readings in 2020 and recent performances of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. 

MACBETH & THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

WHEN: Wednesdays at 8pm: Macbeth on July 28, August 4, and August 11, with The Taming of the Shrew closing out the summer on August 18, August 25, and September 1. 
WHERE: the Library Lawn—courtesy of Friends of the Englewood Public Library, 1 Engle Street, Englewood  
ADMISSION: free
Audience members should bring their own chair or blanket.

MACBETH

WHEN: Tuesday, August 24 , 7 PM, with the Borough’s Court Chambers upstairs as a back-up indoor location in case of inclement weather.
WHERE: back lawn of the Montvale Library, 12 Mercedes Dr., Montvale
ADMISSION: free

Audience members should bring their own chairs. Audiences can also register on Montvale Library’s website (after August 1) or by emailing montvalelibraryprograms@gmail.com (for immediate reservations).

Please visit www.blackboxpac.com for more information about our SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK BERGEN COUNTY series, including full productions of Hamlet and As You Like It at the Overpeck Park Amphitheater! 

Announcing Show Dates for Shakespeare in the Park Bergen County

Black Box Performing Arts Center, in partnership with Bergen County, is pleased to announce free outdoor professional performances of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and As You Like It this summer, exclusively at the Overpeck Park Amphitheater!

This will be the fourth year of free summer Shakespeare in Bergen County, brought to you by Black Box PAC, the intimate 501c3 non profit theater/performing arts school combo located on Palisade Avenue in downtown Englewood. Performances of Hamlet and As You Like It are free to attend, but audiences should bring their own chairs or blankets.

Black Box PAC adds a twist to their takes on Shakespeare, making the classic stories more accessible:

HAMLET

Surf's up in the classic revenge tragedy! The sun might be out, the waves might be strong, but there is a dark cloud surrounding the surfer prince as he grapples with the recent death of his father. Can he stay balanced on his board and avenge the Surf King’s murder?

AS YOU LIKE IT

How do YOU like it? Uptight suburbia got you down? Escape the court and find freedom in the Forest of Arden! Shakespeare’s famous heroine finds liberty in banishment and Hippies in the woods in this fun romantic comedy with a psychedelic twist.

All the world’s a stage… but the best stage of all is Bergen County’s Overpeck Park Amphitheater, located at 100 Challenger Road in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey! 

Friday July 23 @ 8pm Hamlet
Saturday July 24 @ 8pm As You Like It
Sunday July 25 @ 8pm Hamlet

Friday July 30 @ 8pm As You Like It

Saturday July 31 @ 8pm Hamlet

Sunday August 1 @ 8pm As You Like It

Thursday August 5 @ 8pm As You Like It

Friday August 6 @ 8pm Hamlet

Saturday August 7 @ 8pm As You Like It

Sunday August 8 @ 8pm Hamlet

Thursday August 12 @ 8pm Hamlet

Friday August 13 @ 8pm As You Like It

Saturday August 14 @ 8pm Hamlet

Sunday August 15 @ 8pm As You Like It

Thursday August 19 @ 8pm As You Like It

Friday August 20 @ 8pm Hamlet

Sunday August 22 @ 8pm As You Like It

Thursday August 26 @ 8pm Hamlet

Friday August 27 @ 8pm As You Like It

Saturday August 28 @ 8pm Hamlet

Sunday August 29 @ 8pm As You Like It

Shows are free to the public, thanks to the support of our generous corporate and organizational sponsors: The Bristal Assisted Living; Cross River Bank; Davis, Saperstein & Salomon; The Puffin Foundation; Bauer Printing Co.; and Michael J. Pessolano of Friedberg Realtors.

Want to see your company name among the list of arts and culture supporters in Northern, NJ? Please email BlackBoxPAC@gmail.com for more information about sponsorship benefits and showbill advertisements!

For further information, please call (201) 569-2070, email blackboxpac@gmail.com, check us out on FB @blackboxpac, or visit www.blackboxpac.com.

 

Local Pianist Carolyn Enger to Perform Live at the Black Box Performing Arts Center 

Carolyn Enger

WHEN: Sunday, July 11, at 3:00 pm

WHERE: Black Box Performing Arts Center, 49 E Palisade Ave in Englewood, NJ. 

ADMISSION: This event is free to attend, with donations accepted benefitting the Black Box PAC. Reservations can be made HERE 

Ms. Enger highlights European romanticism with “Vienna in Englewood: Music of the 1820’s,” featuring music by Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn, John Field, Schubert and Chopin.

Carolyn Enger, concert pianist and speaker, has gained critical acclaim for her deeply felt performances and her thoughtful programs informed by a keen sense of history, identity, and personal connection. Ms. Enger has enjoyed remarkable success as a recording artist: The New York Times selected her Naxos recording of intimate Ned Rorem miniatures, Piano Album I & Six Friends, as one of the newspaper’s “Best In Classical Recordings” for that year, writing “Among the 90th-birthday tributes this year to the essential American composer Ned Rorem, this recording especially stands out,” while Gramophone declared, “Enger raises the miniatures to a higher level.” 

Ms. Enger’s touring schedule has brought her to venues throughout the United States and beyond. Deepening her commitment to multimedia collaborations, Ms. Enger was part of renowned illustrator and writer Maira Kalman’s exhibit “Maira Kalman Selects” at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York, and her recording of Arvo Pärt’s music was featured in conceptual artist Mischa Kuball’s sound and light exhibit “res.o.nant” at the Jewish Museum Berlin. 
Focusing on the era of World War II, her multimedia project The Mischlinge Exposé combines music, literature, and images that evoke the haunting memories of the Mischlinge—half-Jews and German-Jewish converts in Germany before, during, and after the Holocaust—events reflected in Ms. Enger’s own experience as the child of a Holocaust survivor. Ms. Enger’s project seeks to expand knowledge about the Mischlinge, and deals with her own conversions, issues of “racial purity” and identity, and how crippling discrimination is, societally and personally. Over the past seven years, Ms. Enger has presented this concert-lecture throughout the United States and Europe. Ms. Enger has contributed a chapter for the forthcoming book to be released in September 2021, Women Defying Hitler: Rescue and Resistance in Nazi Dominated Europe, 1933-1945.

BBPAC is a non profit arts organization, located at For more information about upcoming theatrical performances, please visit www.BlackBoxPAC.com 

Sam Shepard Play Festival Live Onstage in Englewood

Elusive playwright Sam Shepard is known for plays such as True West and Buried Child, as well as award-winning acting roles in films such as The Right Stuff.  

The Black Box Performing Arts Center is excited to honor Shepard's work this summer in THE SAM SHEPARD FESTIVAL, which delivers vibrant script-in-hand performances of a diverse sampling of 5 raucous one-act plays by the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright. 

FOOL FOR LOVE, COWBOYS #2, THE HOLY GHOSTLY, THE UNSEEN HAND, and BACK BOG BEAST BAIT will appear in two exciting 'line-ups' on alternating evenings.  Embrace the style, rhythms, and landscape of Shepard's absurdist vision of the "American West" replete with cowboys, gunslingers, swamp-beasts, sultry lovers, seedy hotel rooms, space freaks, and a major dose of rock'n'roll!

The schedule is as follows:

Sat 6/19 at 8pm: FOOL FOR LOVE, COWBOYS #2, THE HOLY GHOSTLY
Sun 6/20 at 8pm: FOOL FOR LOVE, COWBOYS #2, THE HOLY GHOSTLY

Fri 6/25 at 8pm: THE UNSEEN HAND, BACK BOG BEAST BAIT, COWBOYS #2
Sat 6/26 at 8pm: THE UNSEEN HAND, BACK BOG BEAST BAIT, COWBOYS #2
Sun 6/27 at 8pm: THE UNSEEN HAND, BACK BOG BEAST BAIT, COWBOYS #2

Thurs 7/8 at 8pm: FOOL FOR LOVE, COWBOYS #2, THE HOLY GHOSTLY
Fri 7/9 at 8pm: THE UNSEEN HAND, BACK BOG BEAST BAIT, COWBOYS #2
Sat 7/10 at 8pm: FOOL FOR LOVE, COWBOYS #2, THE HOLY GHOSTLY
Sun 7/11 at 8pm: THE UNSEEN HAND, BACK BOG BEAST BAIT, COWBOYS #2

WHERE: The Black Box Performing Arts Center, 49 East Palisade Avenue, Teaneck
TICKETS: General admission tickets are $20 and can be purchased at www.BlackBoxPAC.com. It is recommended patrons reserve tickets in advance in order to guarantee seating! 

Please note that masks continue to be required of all audience members and there is no eating or drinking inside the theater. Patrons must continue to fill out a COVID Screening Form upon entering the building, regardless of vaccination status.

For further information, please contact blackboxpac@gmail.com, (201) 569-2070, or visit www.blackboxpac.com.

Ma'ayanot Drama Society/Black Box Studios Presents THE BALLAD OF THE SAD CAFE at Black Box PAC Englewood

The Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls' Drama Society, in ongoing partnership with Black Box Studios and The Black Box Performing Arts Center, presents 

The Ballad of the Sad Cafe
adapted by Edward Albee from the novella by Carson McCulllers,
in special arrangement with the Dramatics Play Service, Inc. 

WHEN: Sunday, June 13th; 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm; Monday, June 14th; 8:00 pm; and Tuesday June 15th; 8:00 pm 
WHERE: The Black Box Performing Arts Center in Englewood, NJ
TICKETS: $15.00 (general admission), and should be purchased in advance at www.blackboxpac.com
Masks remain required for all audience members. For further information, please contact blackboxpac@gmail.com or call (201) 569-2070.

Last summer, during the height of COVID-19 in 2020, these unshakable students gave the performance of a lifetime with their outdoor, completely socially distanced production of Blue Stockings by Jessica Swale. They performed in the parking lot of Ma'ayanot in Teaneck in early July. 

This year, they are back and better than ever, ready to present their rendition of the classic Albee/McCuller's Southern Gothic in a professional theater while continuing to follow the appropriate safety guidelines to protect the health of the audience and performers.

“Even though we were able to successfully put on a fully socially-distanced play last June, we had no idea what this year would bring and if we would be as lucky the second time around... Succeeding in presenting our show was a huge priority for us, and through incredibly flexible scheduling and changing rehearsal times, as well as through teamwork and motivation, we have been able to make it happen. We are so incredibly excited to see our hard work pay off, and we can’t wait for our audiences to see it as well!!!”- Meira Shapiro, Tech Director, ‘21

The play follows the tale of Miss Amelia Evans’ unique cafe and the 'drama' that revolves around its inception. When Amelia’s one-of-a-kind Cousin Lymon unexpectedly arrives, a group of colorful townspeople gather to relive the story of Amelia’s darkest secret-- her past love life. Set in small Georgian town in the early 20th century, The Ballad of the Sad Cafe leaves the audience on the edge of their seat as they embark on a journey of past and present to reveal the true story of Miss Amelia Evans. 

"Once again, the Ma'ayanot Drama Society outdoes itself, with an entire end-of-COVID production that was chosen, cast, rehearsed, produced, ultimately presented by these remarkable young artists," explains Director Matt Okin. "Everyone at Black Box considers this group as the prime example of our ongoing collaborative theater work with teens."

The Ballad of the Sad Cafe is directed by Matt Okin, Naomi Honikman (Junior) and Meira Shapiro (Senior). The cast and crew includes Mya Baitz, Tzipora Bargad, Noa Beov, Miriam Blech, Naava Bodek, Tamar Bruk, Naama Dovidovics, Elisheva Elbaz, Dina Halberstam, Chani Kaminetzky, Maytal Kessler, Ayala Kramer, Ilana Loskove, Shani Machlis, Chavi Major, Ariana Meyers, Racheli Miller, Kaylie Schwartz, Kayla-Rachel Singer, Ateret Tollinsky, Talia Wallach, Sonia Weiner, and Devory Weiss. They look forward to performing on:

Rehearsal photos credit: Elisheva Elbaz

Casting Announced for Shakespeare in the Park Bergen County 2021

Black Box Performing Arts Center, in partnership with Bergen County, is pleased to announce free outdoor professional performances of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and As You Like It this summer, exclusively at the Overpeck Park Amphitheater!

This will be the fourth year of free summer Shakespeare in Bergen County, brought to you by Black Box PAC, the intimate 501c3 non-profit theater/performing arts school combo located on Palisade Avenue in downtown Englewood. 

Performances of Hamlet and As You Like It are free to attend, but audiences should bring their own chairs or blankets.

As in previous years, both shows will be presented in repertory. The electrifying actors, a stellar group from New York City and New Jersey, will appear in both shows. The ensemble includes Bergen County’s Shakespeare in the Park veterans Michael Gardiner, Cassandra Guglielmo, Kentrell Loftin, Danielle MacMath, and Ilana Schimmel. They are joined by newcomers Neev Bar-David, Temima Hyman, Mike Marcou, Anne Elizabeth Miele, Jeremy Niles, Maggie Danielli Pecorino, Conrad Rippy, and Kevin Thiel. 

Black Box PAC adds a twist to their takes on Shakespeare, making the classic stories more accessible:

HAMLET

Surf's up in the classic revenge tragedy! The sun might be out, the waves might be strong, but there is a dark cloud surrounding the surfer prince as he grapples with the recent death of his father. Can he stay balanced on his board and avenge the Surf King’s murder?

AS YOU LIKE IT

How do YOU like it? Uptight suburbia got you down? Escape the court and find freedom in the Forest of Arden! Shakespeare’s famous heroine finds liberty in banishment and Hippies in the woods in this fun romantic comedy with a psychedelic twist.

All the world’s a stage… but the best stage of all is Bergen County’s Overpeck Park Amphitheater, located at 100 Challenger Road in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey! Join us this summer, starting late July through August (full performance schedule including dates and times to be announced soon)!

Shows are free to the public, thanks to the support of our generous corporate and organizational sponsors: The Bristal Assisted Living; Cross River Bank; Davis, Saperstein & Salomon; The Puffin Foundation; Bauer Printing Co.; and Michael J. Pessolano of Friedberg Realtors.

Want to see your company name among the list of arts and culture supporters in Northern, NJ? Please email BlackBoxPAC@gmail.com for more information about sponsorship options benefits!

For further information, please call (201) 569-2070, email blackboxpac@gmail.com, check us out on FB @blackboxpac, or visit www.blackboxpac.com.

Live On Stage: Nicky Silver’s insane comedy FAT MEN IN SKIRTS 

Fat Men in Skirts
by Nicky Silver

WHEN: April 29 through May 16, Thursday through Sunday at 8pm
WHERE: Black Box Performing Arts Center, 49 E Palisade Ave, Englewood
TICKETS: $40 for adults and $35 for students/seniors
Tickets can be purchased at www.BlackBoxPAC.com  

Family life comes unhinged in this ever-hilarious, certifiably insane, and at times poignant, comedy. After 11 year-old Bishop and his mother, Phyllis, are stranded on a desert island after a plane crash, sanity unravels and passions fly. 

Meanwhile, at home, dad/husband Howard is having an affair with a giddy young actress, Pam. The twists, the turns, the horror, and the ludicrous converge as the four characters attempt to gain the audience’s sympathy—even at each other’s expense. 

"At the fore of theater's slow recovery in the state is Englewood's plucky repertory company... Once the lights go down and director Matt Okin's excellent production begins to unfold, theater seems for a brief few hours fairly normal." —Patrick J. Maley, The Star Ledger

"I thoroughly enjoyed...and hope fans of this sort of thing will make it to Englewood...don’t miss the opportunity." —Jay Lustig, NJ Arts

Masks are required by all audience members, and there is no eating or drinking inside the theater. Attendees will also be asked to fill out a COVID screening form for contact tracing purposes. Operating at limited capacity with only a select number of seats available, patrons are strongly encouraged to order tickets ahead of time to guarantee admission.

Content Warning: Graphic Violence, Strong Language, Sensitive Subject Matters

Free Outdoor Performances at the Englewood Public Library

       

Black Box Performing Arts Center and the Englewood Public Library are teaming up again to bring FREE theater to the Englewood area! For three nights in April, May, and June, come to the Library for “WILDE Nights on the Lawn: Dynamic Script-in-hand Performances of Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.”

Black Box PAC has performed outdoor Shakespeare on the Library Lawn for the past three summers. In 2020, the performances looked a little different, with masks and distancing among audience groups. Protocols will be the same for these upcoming performances: patrons must wear a mask, bring their own chairs, and be socially distanced on the library lawn.

This wildly entertaining comedy follows two bachelors, John ‘Jack’ Worthing and Algernon ‘Algy’ Moncrieff, create alter egos to escape burdensome social obligations. They both take on the name ‘Ernest’ to woo the lovely Gwendolyn Fairfax and Cecily Cardew, causing cases of mistaken identity and uproarious consequences. This witty farcical comedy examines Victorian social hypocrisy, and considered Oscar Wilde’s most popular play.

Look out for more outdoor performances with BBPAC's 4th summer of Free Shakespeare in the Park, this year in residence at Overpeck County Park Amphitheater. 

Visit www.BlackBoxPAC.com for more info on Shakespeare, Open Mic Nights, and the upcoming performances of Fat Men in Skirts by Nicky Silver.

WHEN: Three Tuesday Nights at 8pm: April 20, May 25, and June 22.
WHERE: Englewood Library lawn, Englewood, NJ
ADMISSION: free
Call 201-568-2215, ext. 8222 or email arthur@englewood.bccls.org to register for a spot!

Live on Stage: THE PILLOWMAN

THE PILLOWMAN

by Martin McDonagh

WHEN: March 11 through April 3, Thursday through Sunday at 8pm (with select holiday blackout dates). 
WHERE: Black Box Performing Arts Center is located at 49 E Palisade Ave, Englewood
TICKETS: $40 for adults and $35 for students/seniors.
Tickets can be purchased at www.BlackBoxPAC.com

One of the Tri-State area's only open theaters, The Black Box PAC is located in Englewood, NJ - right over the George Washington Bridge. Following this past November's successful re-opening run of Edward Albee’s critically acclaimed Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf - performed in accordance with health guidelines to keep both audiences and performers safe. Like ...Virginia Woolf, The Pillowman was chosen for a group of close-knit actors. 

The intimate show is perfect for BBPAC’s professional Repertory Company, as the small set allows the actors to be distanced from the audience. 

The theater’s set up also allows for safety, as the front and back doors will be open during performances to allow for airflow, and the flexible seating allows for spacing between the audience and the actors. Masks are required by all audience members. Attendees will also be asked to fill out a COVID screening form for contact tracing purposes. Operating at limited capacity with only a select number of seats available, patrons are strongly encouraged to order tickets ahead of time to guarantee admission.

With echoes of Stoppard, Kafka, and the Brothers Grimm, THE PILLOWMAN centers on a writer in an unnamed totalitarian state who is being interrogated about the gruesome content of his short stories and their similarities to a series of child murders. The result is an urgent work of theatrical bravura and an unflinching examination of the very nature and purpose of art. (Courtesy of Dramatists Play Service, Inc.) 

“McDonagh’s least forgiving, bravest play.” —Variety

“A complex tale about life and art, about fact and illusion, about politics, society, cruelty and creativity.” —Financial Times

“Energizing…a blindingly bright black comedy…[what makes] the unsettling and exhilarating new play from Mr. McDonagh…so gripping as theater is how narrative art becomes the play’s and the character’s very life blood.” — NY Times.

LIVE THEATER IS BACK IN ENGLEWOOD, NJ—JUST ACROSS THE GWB FROM MANHATTAN

WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?

WHEN: October 29 through November 22, Thursdays through Sundays at 8pm
WHERE: Black Box Performing Arts Center is located at 49 E Palisade Ave, Englewood, NJ 07631
TICKETS: $40 for adults and $35 for students/seniors
Tickets can be purchased at www.BlackBoxPAC.com

The Black Box Performing Arts Center had a successful opening weekend of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, presented in special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

Edward Albee’s critically acclaimed Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf was chosen as the season opener for many reasons, one being the small four person cast. The intimate show is perfect for the black box theater, located on Palisade Ave. 

• The small set allows the actors to be distanced from the audience. 
• The theater’s set up also allows for safety, as the front and back doors will be open during performances to allow for airflow, and the non-fixed seating allows for spacing between audience groups. 
• With the limited capacity, patrons are strongly encouraged to order tickets ahead of time to guarantee admission. 
• Patrons are also encouraged to wear layers, as the outdoor airflow often brings in a chill!

“On our first date night out since before the pandemic, my husband and I really enjoyed seeing Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf at Black Box Performing Arts Center, in Englewood, NJ.” says Englewood resident Amy Lebovics. “The performance was interesting, unusual and professional.”

The Cast is a group of close-knit actors who have worked together on previous shows: Michael Gardiner, Danielle MacMath, Sean Mannix, and Ellen Revesz. The show is directed by BBPAC Artistic Director Matt Okin.

George, a professor at a small college, and his wife, Martha, have just returned home, drunk from a Saturday night party. Martha announces, amidst general profanity, that she has invited a young couple—an opportunistic new professor at the college and his shatteringly naïve new bride—to stop by for a nightcap. When they arrive the charade begins. The drinks flow and suddenly inhibitions melt. It becomes clear that Martha is determined to seduce the young professor, and George couldn’t care less. But underneath the edgy banter, which is crossfired between both couples, lurks an undercurrent of tragedy and despair. George and Martha’s inhuman bitterness toward one another is provoked by the enormous personal sadness that they have pledged to keep to themselves: a secret that has seemingly been the foundation for their relationship. In the end, the mystery in which the distressed George and Martha have taken refuge is exposed, once and for all revealing the degrading mess they have made of their lives. (Courtesy of Dramatists Play Service, Inc.)

Photo credit: Amy Lebovics Photography

Live Theater Returns to BBPAC with Two-Person Play Series in Englewood, NJ

After a successful summer of free outdoor Shakespeare, Black Box Performing Arts Center is opening its doors (and keeping them open for more airflow) with a new play reading series: Two-Hander! Throughout October, Black Box PAC will present two-person play readings, featuring pairs of actors that are already in each other’s “bubble.”

WHEN: Sunday, October 11, at 8pm 
WHERE: Black Box Performing Arts Center, 49 E. Palisade Ave., Englewood
TICKETS are limited due to capacity restrictions, and can be purchased at www.BlackBoxPAC.com for just $20 per person!

DIRECTIONS

• Edward Albee’s The Zoo Story is a shocking one-act play that was written in just three weeks—Albee’s first play! A man sits peacefully reading in the sunlight in Central Park. There enters a second man. “He is a young, unkempt and undisciplined vagrant where the first is neat, ordered, well-to-do and conventional. The vagrant is a soul in torture and rebellion. He longs to communicate so fiercely that he frightens and repels his listener. He is a man drained of all hope who, in his passion for company, seeks to drain his companion. With provocative humor and unrelenting suspense, the young savage slowly, but relentlessly, brings his victim down to his own atavistic level as he relates a story about his visit to the zoo” (description courtesy of, and presented in special arrangement with, Dramatists Play Service, Inc.).

After a brief “intermission,” the show will continue with a second showing: 

• Death of a Cat, written by Niko Tam. Also a one act, this play will feature the same actors as The Zoo Story: Michael Gardiner and Sean Mannix. 

Masks are required by all audience members. Attendees will also be asked to fill out a COVID screening form for contact tracing purposes. All current health and safety protocols are followed. 

New Dates Added for Shakespeare in the Park Bergen County!

In February, The Black Box PAC Shakespeare in the Park Bergen County team was preparing the lineup for 2020, their third season of free outdoor performances, before the pandemic hit. In the wake of COVID-19, the uniquely collaborative group of theater makers have revamped their annual summer festival. All involved have been closely monitoring the situation and given current guidelines BBPAC has been given the go-ahead to move forward with their third season—although it may look a bit different!

Following a successful online reading series, the actors have now moved outside, performing through the end of September as the ever-evolving situation allows. In these public venues (ranging from libraries and parks throughout Bergen County), The Tempest and Measure For Measure will be performed outdoors without fixed seating. Audiences can bring their own chairs or blankets and are asked to set up at a distance from other parties. Furthermore, audience is asked to comply with current state guidelines and wear masks. Local officials will be in attendance at each venue to ensure distancing is taking place. BBPAC strictly follows all up-to-date health protocols as dictated by local, state, and national authorities. The safety of our patrons and performers is of the utmost importance. 

Due to capacity restrictions, most venues will require pre-registration. The Tempest opened on Thursday August 20 to a masked, yet cheerful, crowd at the Teaneck Public Library.

Now, BBPAC has added performances to the line up to accommodate more audience members! Shows will be performed at the 

WHERE: Overpeck County Park Bandshell
WHEN: August 28, 29, September 2, 5, 6, 25, and 26!
These shows are free to the public, and reservations can be made on BlackBoxPAC.com

The full remaining performance schedule is as follows:

Fri 8/28 The Tempest - Overpeck County Park 7PM

Sat 8/29 Measure for Measure - Overpeck County Park 7PM

Sun 8/30 Measure for Measure - OLD YORK CELLARS

 

Wednesday 9/2 The Tempest - Overpeck County Park 7PM

Thurs 9/3 The Tempest - TENAFLY 7PM 

Sat 9/5 Measure for Measure - Overpeck County Park 7PM

Sun 9/6 Measure for Measure - Overpeck County Park 7PM

 

Wed 9/9 The Tempest - ENGLEWOOD LIBRARY  8PM

Thurs 9/10 Measure for Measure - TEANECK LIBRARY 7PM

Sun 9/13 The Tempest - RIDGEWOOD 3pm

Sun 9/13 Measure for Measure - RIDGEWOOD 7pm

 

Wed 9/16  Measure for Measure - ENGLEWOOD LIBRARY 8PM

Thurs 9/17 The Tempest - MONTVALE 7PM

 

Wed 9/23 The Tempest - ENGLEWOOD LIBRARY 8PM

Thurs 9/24 Measure for Measure - MONTVALE 7PM

 

Friday 9/25 Measure for Measure - Overpeck County Park 7PM

Saturday 9/26 The Tempest - Overpeck County Park 7PM

 

Wed 9/30 Measure for Measure - ENGLEWOOD LIBRARY 8PM 

Audience is asked to check in with each venue for reservation information and their COVID-19 policy. Dates and locations will also be posted to www.BlackBoxPAC.com

This year, the Shakespeare in the Park Bergen County company is excited to mount productions of Measure for Measure and The Tempest in rep. The shows feature the talents of professional actors from NJ and NY including: Christina Cruz, Allen Garcia, Michael Gardiner, Cassandra Guglielmo, Kentrell Loftin, Danielle MacMath, Sean Mannix, Rachel Matusewicz, Bess Miller, Arthur Gregory Pugh, Ilana Schimmel, and Jacey Schult, and are directed by BBPAC's Artistic Director Matt Okin and Mr. Gardiner.

Black Box Performing Arts Center is a 501(c)3 non profit theater company. They are able to present free summer Shakespeare with the support of the Puffin Foundation, NNJCF Covid-19 Rapid Relief Fund, Cross River Bank, Arbor Terrace of Teaneck, Bristal Assisted Living, Bauer Printing, and Michael Pessolano of Freidburg Properties. For more information, please email blackboxpac@gmail.com and visit www.BlackBoxPAC.com.

Photo Credit: Amy Lebovics Photography

BBPAC Mounts Revamped Summer Shakespeare Festival

Shakespeare in the Park Bergen County

In February, The Black Box PAC Shakespeare in the Park Bergen County team was preparing the lineup for 2020, their third season of free outdoor performances, before the pandemic hit. All involved have been closely monitoring the situation, and given current guidelines, BBPAC has been given the go-ahead to move forward with their third season—although it may look a bit different!

In the wake of COVID-19, the uniquely collaborative group of theater makers have revamped their annual summer festival. First, BBPAC has been presenting free online readings of “The Henry Trilogy,” Shakespeare’s renown history plays in chronological order throughout the month of July! The readings on Wednesdays at 8PM EST have included Richard II on July 15, Henry IV (parts 1 and 2) on July 22, and will finish up with Henry V on July 29. (Tune in to the recurring Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89271722276 )

For ten weeks throughout Covid-19, Black Box PAC teamed up with the Englewood Public Library,as well as The Bristal of Englewood, to present free weekly readings of condensed Shakespeare works. They were successful public events which prompted BBPAC to add this online component as a start to this year’s summer festival. The July readings were curated and rehearsed under the guidance of Dramaturg Bess Miller and BBPAC’s Director of Shakespeare Programming Michael Gardiner. Over the three weeks, the performers reprised their characters throughout Shakespeare’s epic meditation on leadership, loyalty, and what it means to speak truth to power.

But that was just the beginning! Following the reading series, the actors will be moving outside starting in mid-August and performing through the end of September as the ever-evolving situation allows. In these public venues (ranging from libraries and parks in Tenafly, Englewood, and Teaneck), The Tempest and Measure For Measure will be performed outdoors without fixed seating. Audiences will bring their own chairs and will set up at a distance from other parties. Furthermore, audience will be asked to comply with current state guidelines and wear masks. Local officials will be in attendance to ensure distancing is taking place. BBPAC strictly follows all up-to-date health protocols as dictated by local, state, and national authorities. The safety of our patrons and performers is of the utmost importance. (Top: rehearsing for The Tempest)

The Borough of Tenafly began an outdoor concert series mid-July, led by Council President Jeff Grossman. The Tenafly Presents committee has been carefully planning the 2020 performance series in order to adjust to COVID-19 and social distancing concerns. They are excited to add Shakespeare to the lineup! Performances have been at Huyler Park (intersection of Hillside & Piermont) with audience members instructed to bring a chair and a mask. Other public locations will include The Englewood Library, The Teaneck Library, and Ridgewood’s Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. More dates are being added each day, so be sure to follow @BlackBoxPAC and to visit www.blackboxpac.com for a full, updated list.

Additionally, this summer a selection of special private venues will be added to the lineup. Old York Cellars in Ringoes has been hosting a “Summer Wine & Music” series and “Wine & Comedy” nights in their outdoor tent. In August, they will add Shakespeare to the mix! These performances will require reservations through Old York Cellars, at www.oldyorkcellars.com.

This year, the Shakespeare in the Park Bergen County company is excited to mount productions of Measure for Measure and The Tempest in rep. The shows feature the talents of professional actors from NJ and NY including: Christina Cruz, Allen Garcia, Michael Gardiner, Cassandra Guglielmo, Kentrell Loftin, Danielle MacMath, Sean Mannix, Rachel Matusewicz, Bess Miller, Arthur Gregory Pugh, Ilana Schimmel, and Jacey Schult, and are directed by BBPAC's Artistic Director Matt Okin and Mr. Gardiner. Mr. Gardiner's punk rock production of Romeo & Juliet won the 2019 BroadwayWorld NJ Award for Best Touring Production

Black Box Performing Arts Center is a 501(c)3 non profit theater company. They are able to present free summer Shakespeare with the support of the Puffin Foundation, Arbor Terrace of Teaneck, Bauer Printing, Michael Pessolano of Freidburg Properties, and the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund.

For more information, please email blackboxpac@gmail.com and visit www.BlackBoxPAC.com.

BBPAC Presents Free Online Shakespeare Readings In July!

THE HENRY TRILOGY

WHEN: Wednesdays, July 15, 22, 29, 8 PM
WHERE: Zoom
ADMISSION: free

Black Box Performing Arts Center has delivered high-octane, professional free Shakespeare to various Bergen County parks for the past two summers. In the wake of COVID-19, the uniquely collaborative group of theater makers have revamped their annual summer festival for this year’s Shakespeare in the Park Bergen County 2020.

Before performing outside in—still hopefully—August and September, BBPAC will present free online readings of The Henry Trilogy, Shakespeare’s renowned history plays in chronological order throughout the rest of July!

All readings are Wednesdays at 8:00PM ET, as follows:

• Richard II: July 15
• Henry IV (parts 1 and 2): July 22
• Henry V: July 29

Tune in each week to the recurring Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89271722276

Meeting ID: 892 7172 2276

For ten weeks throughout Covid-19, Black Box PAC teamed up with the Englewood Public Library to present free weekly readings of condensed Shakespeare works. They were successful public events, which prompted BBPAC to add this online component as a start to this year’s summer festival. The July readings are curated and rehearsed under the guidance of Dramaturg Bess Miller and BBPAC’s Director of Shakespeare Programming Michael Gardiner, and all feature an eclectic group of professional actors from New Jersey and New York. Over the three weeks, the performers will reprise their characters throughout Shakespeare’s epic meditation on leadership, loyalty, and what it means to speak truth to power.

Black Box Performing Arts Center is a 501(c)3 non profit theater company. They are able to present free summer Shakespeare with the support of the Puffin Foundation and the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund. For more information, please visit www.BlackBoxPAC.com or email BlackBoxPAC@gmail.com.

Online Summer Performing Arts Workshops for Kids, Teens, and Adults Scheduled to Begin on Monday, July 6th!

ONLINE SUMMER PERFORMING ARTS WORKSHOPS

WHEN: 2-week Monday-Friday sessions, starting Monday, July 6. Session I: Monday, July 6 - Friday, July 17; Sesssion II: Monday, July 20 - Friday, July 31; Session III: Monday, August 3 - Friday, August 14
WHERE: Zoom
TUITION: (at Black Box, no one has ever been turned away for financial reasons):  one daily morning workshop per two week period: $225; two daily morning workshops per two week period: $400.
For further information, contact Black Box Studios/PAC directly at blackboxpac@gmail.com, call (201) 567-6664, visit www.blackboxpac.com/classes, or check us out on FaceBook @bbsnynj and @blackboxpac.

Black Box Studios—Northern New Jersey's premiere collaborative performing arts school since 2007—is the "in house" educational theater company for the new Black Box Performing Arts Center of Englewood, NJ.  While our new space remains closed due to the unprecedented health emergency, Black Box has pivoted online this summer and will continue programming virtually until it's safe to meet in person once again: www.blackboxpac.com/classes!

See more by clicking here.

"Based on the incredible success of our Spring semester, which was mainly held on Zoom and culminated in a remarkable End-of-Semester showcase with over 40 students performing for an audience of 100+ on June 17th, we are confident about starting these workshops online and we'll see where it all takes us!", explains Black Box Managing Director Danielle MacMath, who'll serve as the floater for all workshops while co-producing and starring in BB's professional 'Shakespeare In The Park Bergen County 2020' programming this summer.

Other Teaching Artists include professional performers Mike Gardiner, Ilana Schimmel, Cassandra Guglielmo, Broadway veteran Jeff Keller, and BB's Artistic Director Matt Okin. 

The following Zoom-based daily morning workshops are now open for registration in the form of 2-week Monday-Friday sessions, each culminating in a Friday, late-morning 'showcase' open to family, friends, and the general public:

Exploring Musical Theater, 9:30-10:30AM

Experiment with songs, monologues, short scenes, and choreography from favorite shows! 

Ages 13-19

Introducing Musical Theater, 9:30-10:30AM

Work on songs, short scenes, and dance moves from famous, Disney-type musicals!

Ages 9-14

Drama Workshop, 9:15-10:45AM

Experiment with acting with scenes from cutting-edge works for the stage.

Ages 16 -Adult

Acting Shakespeare, 11:00AM-12:30PM

Work on remarkable monologues, scenes, and more from great works of The Bard.

Ages 14-19

Dramatic Writing Workshop, 11:00AM-12:30PM

Explore outlets and technique for expressing yourself through the writing of plays, screenplays, or teleplays.

Ages 19+ (with some exceptions upon request)

Vocal Workshop, 11:15AM-12:30PM

Improve singing style, technique, and discipline with Broadway Veteran Voice Instructor Jeff Keller 

Ages 10-Adult

All classes require a min. of 6 participants to run, and some may be combined with others if enrollment dictates. Private sessions at various times of the day are also available by special arrangement with each Teaching Artist.

Photo Credit: Amy Lebovics Photography Promo Video Credit: Ilana Schimmel

www.blackboxpac.com

Free Online Shakespeare Readings, Live From Englewood, NJ!

LIVE READINGS OF SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS ONLINE

WHEN: Wednesdays; Performances begin at 8pm and run 60 to 90 minutes.
WHERE: via Zoom or Library’s Facebook page
For more information, please email arthur@englewood.bccls.org or visit @EnglewoodPublicLibrary on Facebook.

Black Box Performing Arts Center and the Englewood Public Library have teamed up to present weekly live readings of Shakespeare’s plays via Zoom. The performances are also live streamed to the Library’s Facebook page and are at 8:00PM on Wednesday nights.

Black Box Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)3 non profit theater company and performing arts school, first collaborated with the Englewood Public Library in the summer of 2018 for the now annual free Shakespeare in the Park Bergen County. When the library and theater closed this March due to the pandemic, Library Director John Arthur reached out to the Black Box team to see if there was something special they could do to keep patrons entertained as they stay home.

The readings, now weekly, began as a one-time event—a shortened version of the famous Hamlet. As a result of the positive response, the readings continue. More than 20 BBPAC actors have put on six readings as of this writing, with more planned. They have ranged from the classic comedy As You Like It to putting a spin on the Bard’s plays, such as an all-female Macbeth (with the exception of the three witches). Next up is a gender-bent reading of the inciting The Taming of the Shrew, sponsored by The Bristal Assisted Living of Englewod.

 “We love working with the Englewood Library, and I’m so grateful to participate in these readings,” says actor Danielle MacMath, actor and founding members of the Black Box Repertory Company. “It’s a wonderful way to stay connected to my creative side, and I have a lot of fun playing different characters and studying a new play each week.”

Fellow founding Rep Co. Member and actor Michael Gardiner agrees: “It’s a perfect creative and collaborative outlet. And allows audiences and actors alike to experience Shakespeare’s plays—well-known or less-known—in fresh and interesting ways by hearing them aloud spoken by energetic and skilled professionals. Keeps me sane!” Gardiner also serves of BB's Director of Shakespeare Programming in summer and throughout each season.

Tentative schedule of the next few shows:

May 20 - The Taming of the Shrew

May 27 - Richard III

June 3 - All’s Well That Ends Well

For further information about Black Box Performing Arts Center and their current slate of online programming, visit www.blackboxpac.com or email blackboxpac@gmail.com.