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 7 nominations, including a nod for Outstanding Production of a Musical. BCP's stagings of The Cake (3 nominations), The 39 Steps (2 nominations), Seascape (2 nominations), 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: Angelina 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: Allan 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
Cape May Stage presents a Staged Reading of "Appendage" by Derek Murphy
(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- Cape May Stage presents a staged reading of Appendage by Derek Murphy on Monday, August 10, 2026 at 7:00pm. A darkly comic and psychologically sharp two-hander, Appendage by Derek Murphy explores grief, masculinity, and the messy ways we cope with loss. Admission is free.
South Camden Theatre Company's New Play Reading Series presents a reading of "The Ocean Deep" by Katherine Vondy
(CAMDEN, NJ) -- South Camden Theatre Company's New Play Reading Series presents a reading of The Ocean Deep by Katherine Vondy on Monday, August 10, 2026. Admission is free with live music at 6:00pm and the reading & discussion at 7:00pm.
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.
Music Mountain Theatre presents "Alice By Heart"
(LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre presents Alice By Heart with three performances from August 12-13, 2026. From the Tony and Grammy Award-winning creators of Spring Awakening (Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik) and co-written by Jessie Nelson (Waitress) this is a touching musical inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
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.
Masquerade Theatre presents "Myths, Legends & Folklore Showcase"
(RIVERSIDE, NJ) -- Masquerade Theatre presents Myths, Legends & Folklore Showcase with performances on Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 8:00pm each night.
Asbury Park Theater Company to Hold Open Auditions for "The Wolves" by Sarah DeLappe
(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Asbury Park Theater Company (APTCo) has announced that its first mainstage production under newly appointed Producing Artistic Director Nate Patten will be The Wolves, Sarah DeLappe's Pulitzer Prize finalist play that has captivated audiences across the country with its sharp wit, emotional honesty, and unforgettable portrait of young women finding their voices.
Ferrell Studios Community Theatre presents "Merrily We Roll Along"
(METUCHEN, NJ) -- Ferrell Studios Community Theatre, a nonprofit theatre organization serving Central New Jersey, announces its upcoming production of Merrily We Roll Along, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth. The production will close the company's 2025-26 season, themed "Our Time," with five performances at St. Luke's Episcopal Church Auditorium in Metuchen, NJ from August 20-23, 2026.
Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents Rogue Shakespeare with "The Merry Wives of Windsor"
(MADISON, NJ) -- This August, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) invites audiences to experience Shakespeare the way it was meant to be — immediate and gloriously bold — with Rogue Shakespeare: The Merry Wives of Windsor, running August 14-23, 2026 at the F. M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre on the campus of Drew University.
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