Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 08/02/2026
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical(ORADELL, NJ) -- Fresh off being named the #1 Live Theater Venue in (201) Magazine's Best of Bergen Poll, Bergen County Players (BCP) is celebrating another major milestone. The historic community theater company has earned an impressive 15 New Jersey Association of Community Theaters (NJACT) Perry Award nominations honoring excellence in its 93rd season.
The nominations span across multiple mainstage productions, recognizing outstanding achievement in production, direction, performance, and technical design.
Leading the charge for BCP is its critically acclaimed production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, which secured 8 nominations, including a nod for Outstanding Production of a Musical. BCP's stagings of The Cake (3 nominations), The 39 Steps (2 nominations), Seascape (1 nomination), and Play On (1 nomination) also earned top honors.
"We are incredibly proud and humbled by this recognition from our peers across New Jersey," said BCP President Margie Druss Fodor. "Coming right on the heels of being named Bergen County's favorite spot for live theater by the readers of (201) Magazine, these 15 Perry Award nominations are a true testament to the incredible talent, passion, and tireless dedication of our actors, directors, designers, and crew members."
The NJACT Perry Awards are presented annually to celebrate exceptional achievements in volunteer community theater throughout the state of New Jersey. Candidates are evaluated by a panel of qualified reviewers who attend productions across the state during the season.
Full List of Bergen County Players Nominations:
Production & Direction
- Outstanding Production of a Musical: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Bergen County Players, Producers; Kathleen Ruland and Michele Roth; Alyson Cohn, Director)
- Outstanding Production of a Play: Seascape (Sharla Herbert, Producer; Dottie Fischer, Director)
- Outstanding Direction of a Musical: Alyson Cohn (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical)
- Outstanding Direction of a Play: Steve Bell (The 39 Steps)
Performance
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical: Hadar Baron (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical)
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play: Paul Aiello (The 39 Steps)
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play: John Klemek (The Cake)
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play: Angela Aragona (The Cake)
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical: Candice Belina (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical)
- Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical: T'Bone Rube (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical)
Design & Technical
- Outstanding Stage Management of a Musical: Michele Roth (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical)
- Outstanding Properties in a Musical: Jennifer Bancks & Tina Ferrara (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical)
- Outstanding Properties in a Play: Rich Ciero (The Cake)
- Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play: Szczesny Lipinski (Play On)
- Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play: Alan Seward (Seascape)
Founded in 1932, Bergen County Players, Inc. is a non-profit, all-volunteer community theater company dedicated to presenting quality, affordable theatrical productions to the public. BCP performs at the Little Firehouse Theatre located at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, New Jersey.
EVENT PREVIEWS
Playwright Tom Cavanaugh Launches The Book Writers Group with Staged Reading Showcase on August 2nd
(BOUND BROOK, NJ) -- The Brook Writers Group, a newly formed theater collective dedicated to developing original theatrical works in Central New Jersey, will present its inaugural Staged Reading Showcase on Sunday, August 2, 2026 at the historic Brook Arts Center (10 Hamilton Street) in Bound Brook. The event begins at 5:00pm.
Gas Lamp Teens present "Fame: The Musical"
(GLEN RIDGE, NJ) -- Gas Lamp Teens present Fame: The Musical on August 7-8, 2026 at the Ridgewood Avenue School. Fame has inspired generations to fight for fame and light up the sky like a flame!
Two River Theater presents ¡Festejo! Celebrating Latine Stories Onstage
(RED BANK, NJ) -- Two River Theater presents the 15th anniversary of ¡Festejo! Celebrating Latine Stories Onstage, from August 6–9, 2026. Curated by José Zayas, the annual festival, formerly known as Crossing Borders (Cruzando Fronteras), will feature five new play readings by acclaimed and emerging Latine playwrights.
Gateway Playhouse to Hold Open Auditions for "9 to 5: The Musical"
(SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- Gateway Playhouse of Somers Point is holding open auditions for their third MainStage production of the year, the incredibly fun 9 to 5: The Musical. Auditions will take place from 6:00pm-8:00pm Monday and Tuesday, August 10 and 11, 2026. All roles are open and any performance experience is welcomed (must be 16 or older).
Middlesex County Plays-in-the-Park to Host Auditions for "Curious George: The Golden Meatball" on August 12th
(EDISON, NJ) -- Middlesex County's Plays-in-the-Park is holding auditions for its fall 2026 children's production of Curious George: The Golden Meatball on Wednesday, August 12, at 6:00pm at the Stephen J. Capestro Theatre located inside Roosevelt Park in Edison. Everyone's favorite mischievous monkey and his friend in the yellow hat sing and dance up a storm in this adventure-filled musical.
Chimera Productions presents "Job" at Paul Robeson Center for the Arts
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- New Jersey-based theater company Chimera Productions will present its 17th production, Job by Max Wolf Friedlich, from August 13-15, 2026 at 8:00pm each night. The play, presented in the intimate 60-seat theater inside Princeton's Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, is a psychological thriller that offers a sharp, darkly funny, and unsettling examination of our addiction to work, the internet, the cost of modern life, and what we're willing to sacrifice to belong.
Villagers Theatre's TeensVill program presents "The Wedding Singer"
(SOMERSET, NJ) -- Villagers Theatre's TeensVill program presents The Wedding Singer across two weekends from August 7-16, 2026. Based on the popular movie, the play takes place in New Jersey in 1985. A wannabe rock star (aka a professional wedding singer) is left at the altar and finally changes his tune.
The Levoy Theatre presents "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical"
(MILLVILLE, NJ) -- The Levoy Theatre presents Beautiful: The Carole King Musical across two weekends from August 7-16, 2026. This is the inspiring true story of Carole King's journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The Theater Project presents "Alabama Story" by Kenneth Jones
(UNION, NJ) -- The Theater Project will wrap up its 2026 summer season with the first New Jersey production of Kenneth Jones's Alabama Story, about the clash between censorship and civil rights in the Jim Crow South, August 6-16 at the DMK Black Box Theatre. Alabama Story blends fact and fiction.
The Premier Theatre Company presents "Jesus Christ Superstar"
(RUMSON, NJ) -- The Premier Theatre Company presents Jesus Christ Superstar in the Rumson School District Auditorium across two weekends from August 7-16, 2026. This is a timeless work set against the backdrop of an extraordinary and universally-known series of events, but seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.
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