Bergen Community College

Bergen Community College in Paramus, NJ, offers a vibrant Theatre Arts program geared toward both aspiring professionals and transfer-oriented students. Coursework spans from entry-level performance and theater appreciation to advanced acting, technical theatre, voice and movement, directing, and dramaturgy. Students can choose between two focused associate degrees: the Associate of Fine Arts in Theatre (A.F.A.), available in Acting or General tracks, and the Associate of Applied Science in Technical Theatre (A.A.S.). Both degrees are structured to support seamless transfer to four-year institutions or direct community theatre and arts career paths .

This program emphasizes practical, hands-on training through its signature production arm: Bergenstages, a student-run theatre company. From the first semester, students participate in mainstage productions, one-act festivals, dessert theatre readings, improv showcases, and variety-style performance nights. Bergenstages performances take place in venues like the Anna Maria Ciccone Theatre (a 300‑seat proscenium house) and the Ender Hall Laboratory Theatre, providing diverse performance environments for training and experimentation.

Bergen’s theatre facilities are impressive and well-resourced. The Ciccone Theatre, with its high-end production infrastructure, often hosts visiting professional artists and community theater events, offering students opportunities to observe, assist, or collaborate on off-campus-caliber shows. The campus supports seamless interdisciplinary collaboration, offering theatre coursework and labs alongside programs in music, dance, film, and visual arts.

Beyond theatre classes, the Visual & Performing Arts Department supports a thriving extracurricular landscape. Active groups like the Theatre Club, Music Interactive Club, and Dance Club organize improv nights, open mics, and Broadway outings. These clubs foster community, student leadership, and creative exploration outside of curriculum while reinforcing peer mentorship and engagement.

The program’s faculty and guest artists include working directors, choreographers, designers, and performers who bring industry insight into the classroom. Graduates build not only technical and performance skills but also transferable competencies in collaboration, communication, and artistic leadership. Alumni like Broadway actor Kyle Scatliffe attest to the program’s capacity to launch theatrical careers. Overall, Bergen Community College Theatre Arts offers a professionally minded yet accessible foundation for students aiming to advance in theatre, transfers, or personal creative growth.

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