(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Move over Tonys, a new award show is taking centerstage this Spring. The inaugural bergenPAC High School Musical Awards will celebrate outstanding performances from schools across the region.

“At bergenPAC we want to celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of all students in the northern New Jersey region,” bergenPAC Executive Director Alexander Diaz said. “The stars of tomorrow will shine brightly on our stage today.”

The ceremony will be held at bergenPAC on May 22 and feature select live student performances.

Schools or individual students can register to participate in the awards program. bergenPAC’s professional faculty will attend their performance and provide feedback to help the students develop as artists. Participants will then be considered for nominations at the awards ceremony.

Diaz directs The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC’s annual summer musical, which draws teens from across the region to fill the acting and production roles. Its 2017 West Side Story production starred Clifton native Rachel Zegler as “Maria.” Steven Spielberg later picked her to reprise the role in his 2021 film remake.

bergenPAC summer musical alumni have also gone on to appear in TV shows like Orange is the New Black and attend top musical theater programs, including NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and Montclair State University.

For detailed information on the registration process, click here or email outreach@bergenpac.org.

Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) is located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, New Jersey. Founded in 2003, the 1,367-seat bergenPAC is the area’s cultural mecca. Housed in a historic Art Deco-style theater boasting one of the finest acoustic halls in the United States, bergenPAC attracts a stellar roster of world-class entertainment. The jewel in our crown is The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC – the innovative, educational performing arts initiative that, through programs, classes, outreach, school shows, and main theater presented shows, reach more than 30,000 students and community youth annually. The Performing Arts School provides community youth, age 2 months to 21 years, with unique, “hands-on” training in music, dance and theater by industry professionals. It is through the ongoing generosity of sponsors, donors, members, and patrons that the not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation bergenPAC and The Performing Arts School are able to thrive and enrich our community.

Photos Courtesy of bergenPAC