Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 07/15/2025
(BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ) -- The Wharton Performing Arts School (PAS) will hold auditions for the upcoming Wharton Players production of Beetlejuice JR., a hilarious and heartwarming Broadway hit based on Tim Burton's beloved film. Auditions will be held on September 5-6, 2025 for students ages 8-15, with performances scheduled for December 5-7 in the Wharton Black Box Theater.
“This high-energy show offers our students an exciting opportunity to grow as performers, work with experienced instructors, and build friendships in a supportive, creative environment,” said PAS Theater Arts director Timothy Maureen Cole. Whether a seasoned actor or brand new to the stage, Beetlejuice JR. promises a thrilling, confidence-boosting experience filled with music, laughter, and a little mischief from the Netherworld.
Auditions take place September 5 from 4:00pm-7:00 p.m. and September 6 from 1:00pm-4:00pm at The Wharton Performing Arts School (60 Locust Avenue) in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. Auditions are for students between the ages of 8-15.
* How to Prepare: Materials will be provided to auditionees in August via email.
* How to Sign Up: Visit WhartonArts.org to register for an audition.
Being part of a Wharton Players production means more than just putting on a show: it’s about learning the discipline of rehearsal, the thrill of performance, and the joy of ensemble collaboration. Past participants have gone on to study theater in college and develop a lifelong love for the arts.
Don’t miss your chance to say it loud and proud—It’s showtime! Join Wharton Players for a hauntingly fun adventure in Beetlejuice JR. For more information, visit WhartonArts.org or call (908) 790-0700.
Additional Fall courses at PAS include a robust offering of musical theater and drama educational opportunities for children and teens, including Broadway Explorers; Dance, Sing, and Act; Drama Kids; Drama Teens; and Stage Combat. These programs help young artists build confidence, discipline, and creativity in a nurturing and engaging environment, guided by faculty dedicated to student growth and artistic exploration.
Wharton Arts’ mission is to offer accessible, high quality performing arts education that sparks personal growth and builds inclusive communities. Wharton Arts’ vision is for a transformative performing arts education in an inclusive community to be accessible for everyone.
Wharton Arts is New Jersey’s largest independent non-profit community performing arts education center serving nearly 2,000 students through a range of classes and ensembles. The 5 ensembles of the New Jersey Youth Chorus, an auditioned choral ensemble program for students in grades 3–12, encourage a love and appreciation of choral music while nurturing personal growth and creative development. The 15 ensembles of the New Jersey Youth Symphony, which serve over 500 students in grades 3–12 by audition, inspire young people to achieve musical excellence through high-level ensemble training and performance opportunities. Based in Paterson, the Paterson Music Project is an El Sistema-inspired program of Wharton Arts that uses music education as a vehicle for social action by empowering and inspiring young people to achieve their full potential through the community experience of ensemble learning and playing.
From Pathways classes for young children to Lifelong Learning programs for adults, the Wharton Performing Arts School has a robust musical theater and drama program and offers both private and group classes for instruments and voice for all ages and all abilities. With the belief in the positive and unifying influence of music and that performing arts education should be accessible to all people regardless of their ability to pay, Wharton Arts offers need-based scholarships.
Wharton Arts is located in Berkeley Heights, New Providence, and Paterson, NJ and reaches students from 12 counties. All of Wharton Arts’ extraordinary teaching artists, faculty members, and conductors hold degrees in their teaching specialty and have been vetted and trained to enable our students to achieve their personal best.
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