BERGEN COUNTY PLAYERS: BEHIND THE CURTAIN
Immersive Open House & 2026-2027 Season Reveal
May 16 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
The Little Firehouse Theatre * 298 Kinderkamack Road * Oradell, NJ

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Morning Tours and Workshops: The Craft of Theater

•  10:00 am (Front Door) | Welcome Table and Registration Opens
  Make this your first stop! Check in to receive your official Open House welcome package, including the full schedule of the day’s workshops and performances, your free raffle tickets, and your official game card to take with you throughout the day. Here guests can access a “Today Only” Box Office discount for the current season’s final hits, The 39 Steps and Kodachrome. Register to stay connected with BCP and get the latest theater news.
• 10:15 am – 10:45am (Upstairs Rehearsal Room) | Threads of Imagination: The Art of Costuming
  Step into our wardrobe room to see how sketches become iconic characters. From authentic Broadway-style pieces to DIY fixes, learn how fabric and thread tell a story before an actor even speaks. Models encouraged!
• 10:15am – 11:00am (Departs from Lounge) | Tour #1
  Your tour guide will lead you behind the scenes of BCP to discover the creative chaos, hidden corners, and magical moments that bring every show to life!
• 10:30 am – 11:00am (Main Stage) | Quick Thinking: Improvisation & Theater Games
  No script? No problem! Jump into fast-paced theater games designed to sharpen your instincts and keep you on your toes. This high-energy session is perfect for all ages and experience levels.
• 10:45am – 11:30am (Departs from Lounge) | Tour #2
  Your tour guide will lead you behind the scenes of BCP to discover the creative chaos, hidden corners, and magical moments that bring every show to life!
• 11:00 am – 11:30am (Prop Alley) | Give Props: The Magic in the Details
  Discover how everyday objects are transformed into theatrical treasures. Learn the secrets behind making props look “stage-ready.” Explore the specific props used for our current production, The 39 Steps.
• 11:15 am – 11:45am (Main Stage) | Let There Be Light
  Join us for a front-row look at our high-tech lighting board. Discover how our designers use light as a paintbrush—blending color, shadow, and focus to transform a wooden stage into a living world.
• 11:15am – 12:00pm (Departs from Lounge) | Tour #3
  Your tour guide will lead you behind the scenes of BCP to discover the creative chaos, hidden corners, and magical moments that bring every show to life!
• 11:30 am – 11:50am (“The Dungeon”) | Story Time with Mother Goose
  A special session for our youngest theater-lovers! Mother Goose herself hosts a delightful reading of imaginative tales. With her lively presence and a sprinkle of humor, each story becomes a charming, shared adventure.

 Afternoon Tours and Workshops: Masterclasses & Performance

• 12:00 pm – 12:30pm (Main Stage) | A Musical Homecoming: Part I
  The magic returns to the Oradell stage as we kick off our first Mainstage Concert. Featuring original BCP performers from the last three decades, this revue revisits the powerhouse ballads and show-stopping numbers that defined our theater’s history. It’s more than a performance; it’s a celebration of the voices that have made us the #1 live theater venue in the region.
• 12:45pm – 12:50pm (Lounge) | Raising a Glass: The “Behind the Curtain” Toast
  Gather for a celebratory sparkling cider toast! Join our President and Board members as we honor you, our community and the nearly 100-year history of the Little Firehouse Theatre.
• 1:00 pm – 1:30pm (Main Stage) | Curtain Call: Auditioning for Plays
  Join our directors as they share tips on how to audition for a play at BCP. All the way from the prep you do at home, to making that first impression on stage to finding the truth in every line.
• 1:00pm – 1:45pm (Departs from Lounge) | Tour #4
  Your tour guide will lead you behind the scenes of BCP to discover the creative chaos, hidden corners, and magical moments that bring every show to life!
• 1:30 pm – 2:00pm (“The Dungeon”) | Don’t Just Stand There: Moving with Purpose
  Explore the fundamentals of stage movement to bring a scene to life. Gain insight into the director’s role in blocking a show and discover how thoughtful staging shapes what the audience sees, feels, and understands.
• 1:30pm – 2:15pm (Departs from Lounge) | Tour #5
  Your tour guide will lead you behind the scenes of BCP to discover the creative chaos, hidden corners, and magical moments that bring every show to life!
• 1:45 pm – 2:15pm (Main Stage) | “Note” Worthy: Auditioning for Musicals
  Join our directors for a fun, practical session on how to audition for a musical at BCP. You’ll learn how to work with an accompanist, choose the right material, and connect to your song so you can truly bring it to life.
• 2:00pm – 2:45pm (Departs from Lounge) | Tour #6
  Your tour guide will lead you behind the scenes of BCP to discover the creative chaos, hidden corners, and magical moments that bring every show to life!
• 2:15 pm – 2:45pm (“The Dungeon”) | Stepping Out: Broadway Movement & Dance
  Get your heart racing with a fun, choreography session. Learn a short routine and find out what it takes to be part of a BCP Ensemble. No matter how much you try, “you can’t stop the beat.”
• 3:00 pm – 3:30pm (Main Stage) | A Musical Homecoming: Part II
  Our celebration of “35 Years of Hits” continues with a fresh set of legendary performances. Witness the stars who graced our footlights years ago returning to reprise their most iconic roles. Whether you’re hearing these songs for the first time or the fiftieth, this afternoon concert is a soulful tribute to the talent and memories that live within the walls of the Little Firehouse Theatre.
• 3:30 pm – 4:00pm (Main Stage) | The Big Reveal: 2026-2027 Season Launch
  The moment you’ve been waiting for! Be the first to hear the lineup of comedies, dramas, and blockbusters coming to our stage next year. Raffle winners will be announced!

 

ALL-DAY EXPERIENCES

Visit these stations anytime between 10 AM and 4 PM

• The Welcome Table & Registration
  Make this your first stop! Check in to receive your official Open House welcome package, including the full schedule of the day’s workshops and performances, and your official game card to take with you throughout the day. Your card will serve as your official “Backstage Pass.” Here guests can access a “Today Only” Box Office discount for the current season’s final hits, The 39 Steps and Kodachrome. Register to stay connected with BCP and get the latest theater news.
• The BCP Lounge: Your Backstage Hub
  Our historic lounge serves as the heart of the Open House. It is the official meeting point for our guided tours and the place to enjoy ongoing refreshments and conversation with fellow theater lovers throughout the day.
• Guided Tours
  Guided Tours depart from the Lounge every 45 minutes starting at 10:15 am (Final tour at 2:00 pm). Your tour guide will lead you behind the scenes of BCP to discover the creative chaos, hidden corners, and magical moments that bring every show to life! Feel free to jump off the tour for a workshop or one of our musical concerts!
• Kodachrome Keepsakes – The Broadway Dress-Up Photo Booth
  Step into the spotlight at our themed photo station in the Lounge! Raid our wardrobe collection for authentic Broadway-style pieces and capture a “step and repeat” memory that puts you center stage. Upload photos to your social media using #BCPOpenHouse2026.
• Artistic Play: 39 Second Headshots & Outdoor Paint by Number
  Unleash your inner artist! Join a fun community activity in the Lounge where visitors sketch each other’s headshots (with an enjoyable twist!) Then find your way to our driveway to contribute to our “Outdoor Paint-by-Number” project. Our Decor Artists will show you the magic of how drywall is transformed into a fully realized theatrical world.
• Inside the Set Construction Shop
  Visit the Set Construction Workshop where the physical magic happens. Our Master Designers and Construction pros will be on hand all day to lead demonstrations, share set models, and discuss the secrets of set design and construction, revealing how we build high-quality productions from the ground up.