Teaneck—Throughout the month of December, a number of exciting special events, all open to the public, will occur in Black Box Studios’ new Performing Arts Center at 200 Walraven Dr., just off Palisade Avenue, in Teaneck 07666:

#1: On Saturday, December 12, at 8 p.m., local professional actors and BBS teaching artists will convene for a reading of the comedic play “Cloud 9” by Caryl Churchill, a time-shifting comedy that created a sensation Off-Broadway in the early 1980s. “I really don’t know when I’ve had more fun. It blends farce, pathos into a work of total theater.”—New York Daily News… “Intelligent, inventive and funny.”—NY Times. Seating is limited for this dramatic reading of “Cloud 9,” and viewer discretion is very much advised. Tickets, all $10, are available at www.blackboxnynj.com. Space permitting, seats will be available at the door about 1/2 hour before show time. (“Cloud 9” is presented in special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., NY.)

#2: On Saturday, December 19, at 8 p.m., Black Box Studios presents The Annual Winter Talent Showcase 2015! Suitable for all audiences, this recurring event—for our seventh year in a row!—brings together performing arts students from all over the area as they perform short scenes and/or songs from the productions they are currently rehearsing at BBS. Before their full shows in January, get a sneak preview of segments from Scenes from Peter Pan (Taking the Stage children), Zombie Prom: Atomic Edition (Musical Theater Kids), How I Learned To Drive (Adult Acting), Other Desert Cities (Teen Drama Ensemble) and Bat Boy: The Musical (Teen Musical Theater Ensemble). Additionally, the casts of this past summer’s shows—Legally Blonde: The Musical and Beltsville/Rockville: Rise Of The Goatman, Part I—will reunite on stage. Admission is just $7 at the door, and limited seating is on a first-come, first-served basis only. Tickets go on sale at 7:15 p.m. sharp. (Side note: the title of the summer 2015 Rock Musical Theater Intensive show is likely to be announced before the end of the evening.)

#3: Calling all rock stars!! Why sing along with a CD when you can in front of a real, live rock band?! Join us for live band karaoke (Hard Rock Edition) on Monday, December 21, starting at 9 p.m. Featuring staff members from Black Box Rox: The Rock Music Academy Of Teaneck. There is a $10 cover charge at the doors, which open at 8:30 p.m., and refreshments provided by The Teaneck Doghouse will be on sale throughout the evening.

#4: Thelonious Monk. Charlie Parker. Miles Davis John Coltrane. [Insert your name here.] Be a local jazz legend and join us for an intimate Jazz Jam and Open Mic on Wednesday, December 23, at 9 p.m. Featuring staff members from Black Box Rox: The Rock Music Academy Of Teaneck. There is a $10 cover charge at the doors, which open at 8:30 p.m., and refreshments provided by The Teaneck Doghouse will be on sale throughout the evening.

#5: On Saturday, January 2, 2016, at 8 p.m., the BBPAC opens for “Improv Bowl II: Team Format Improvisational Comedy.” Two teams of improv artists go “head-to-head” in a series of hysterical and vibrant short form games—all led by host/referee Huey Esquire. For general admission “spectator” tickets, just $7, visit www.blackboxnynj.com or come to the door about 20 minutes before the 8 p.m. start time (space permitting). The Teaneck Doghouse, as always, sells refreshments throughout the festivities.

Black Box Studios—which has been providing innovative, collaborative theater workshops and performance for ages five to adult since 2007—has opened the new Black Box Performing Arts Center in the West Englewood section of Teaneck to house theater workshops, improv classes and musical instruction for students of all ages, backgrounds and levels of experience. The resulting performances as well as professional productions will lure audiences from throughout Bergen County and beyond.

Early-bird registration continues throughout December for all spring semester Collaborative Theater Workshops, as well as for summer 2016’s Rock Musical Theater Intensive and Dramatic Theater Intensive, both happening back in Teaneck. Look out for information of the end-of-semester student shows, running in “rep” from 1/7-1/18! Details at www.blackboxnynj.com.

A formal grand opening for the new BBS space is being planned for January ‘16. For further information, visit www.blackboxnynj.com, or email [email protected] and/or [email protected].