As submitted to Northern Valley Press
On April 8, the long-awaited official Grand Opening of the renovated Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) at 30 North Van Brunt in Englewood took place with a gala ribbon cutting ceremony by celebrity Jay Leno.
The bergenPAC’s ongoing renovations began in March 2022, thanks to a multi-year $15 million capital campaign, 60 percent of which is coming from a Bergen County bond which will be repaid and the rest from private and corporate donations.
The new theater boasts $10 million dollars-worth of improvements, including a rebuilt lobby, 1,367 new seats, an expanded concession stand and bar, more bathrooms, a “Spotlight Lounge” and “Legends Lounge,” a restored proscenium new carpeting and lighting and hand painted gold designs on the columns and arches.
As beautiful as the original theater was when it was the Englewood Plaza Movie Theater in 1926, a jewel of art Deco design, these new modern infusions will boost it to a whole new level of grandeur.
“Even more improvements are on the way,” said Former Mayor of Englewood and Founder of the bergen PAC, Frank Huttle III. This will include new Marquee and New facade for the outside.
The PAC’s Executive Director, Alex Diaz, said, “The upgraded theater and lobbies are perfect for everyone looking to have a great night of entertainment. The modern feel of the lobby married with the historic feel of the theater make bergenPAC unique and a destination!”
An Event Filled History
The venue originally opened as the Englewood Plaza movie theater in November, 1926, during the heyday of Hollywood’s silent films. It closed in 1973, but was reopened on Oct. 10, 1976, as the John Harms Center.
It then suffered financial hardship and closed in 2003.
It soon reopened as the Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC), thanks to a small group of dedicated individuals led by Huttle III, and, as they say, the rest is history.
The bergenPAC is now the premier cultural mecca in Bergen County and beyond. It presents 160 shows a year, many of which feature world-renowned entertainers such as Tony Bennett, Gladys Knight and Aretha Franklin.
The bergenPac is also acclaimed for its Performing Arts School which offers lessons to students aged 2 to 18 in music, theater, dance and instruments. Over 300 classes and 45 instructors work with 1,500 students annually and also partners with 149 public schools in New Jersey. The Performing Ats School also offers summer camps and scholarships for students from low-income families.
One of the jewels in the PAS’s crown is its theater productions on the main stage of the bergenPAC theater, including the annual “Raise the Curtain” spectacular.
A number of former students, who enjoyed their first touch of celebrity in these productions, have gone on to professional careers. For example, Rachel Zegler of Clifton, who starred as Maria in the PAS 2016 production of “West Side Story,” reprised that role in the Steven Spielberg’s 2021 film adaptation, a part for which she won an Oscar.
The Ribbon Cutting
Adding excitement to the Grand Opening of the bergenPAC on April 8, Jay Leno was selected to cut the ribbon. Leno, a well-known entertainer, car afficionado and supporter of the bergenPAC, greeted over 100 media and special guests at the Benzel-Busch showroom on Grand Avenue in Englewood at 5:00 Pm.
The group included the current bergenPAC bergenPAC Founder and Former Englewood Mayor Frank Huttle III, Chairwoman and former Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Founding Trustee and Board Chairman Bob Cook and the PAC’s Executive Director Alexander Diaz.
Other dignitaries included Englewood City Manager Bob Hoffmann, Englewood Councilman Kevin Wilson, Teaneck Mayor Michael Santiago Pagan and North Jersey Chamber of Commerce Director Carol Rauscher.
Over 100 guests were welcomed by Benzel-Busch Motor Corp. President Joseph (“Jay”) Agresta to the Mercedes Benz Showroom, which was filled with “Ah!” inspiring new and vintage cars.
A lavish buffet and entertainment by the Michael Preen trio kept the mood spirited.
After everyone had arrived, Diaz and Benzel-Busch Manager Thomas Shanley introduced Frank Huttle, followed by Jay Leno, all of whom gave congratulatory remarks about the renovated bergenPAC.
After his greeting at Benzel-Busch, Leno proceeded to drive a Mercedes EQS 530 electric car to the front of the bergenPAC theater. There, he was greeted by a horde of fans amidst performances by singers and dancers from the bergenPAC’s Performing Arts School.
Diaz welcomed the crowd and thanked Robert Cook and Frank Huttle and Valerie Vainieri Huttle for their vision and leadership. Leno was praised for his steadfast support of the bergenPAC, even throughout the challenge of the Covid pandemic.
Leno spoke briefly, praising the bergenPAC as a cornerstone that brings together the entire community and will continue to do so for generations to come.
At 6:45 PM, Leno, surrounded by a crowd that included Diaz, Frank and Valerie Huttle, Cook, Agresta, and Councilman Wilson, cut the ribbon to rousing applause.
Everyone agreed that the bergenPAC’s Grand Opening is just the beginning of a remarkable era of culture and education. Looking ahead to the future, Diaz said, The Vision is to make bergenPAC the premier theater destination for Northern New Jersey by putting shows on for everyone and bolster our performing arts school so that students can continue to shine in our studios and on our stage!