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By Mabel Pais
The Wharton Performing Arts School (PAS) invites the community to its annual Holiday Cabaret, which, for the first time, will be held as a benefit to support PAS’ programs. The festive evening of performances takes place on Friday, December 12, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Wharton Black Box Theater, 60 Locust Avenue, Berkeley Heights, with a pre-concert reception beginning at 6:00 p.m.
This year’s benefit celebrates 40 years of creativity, connection, and impact, featuring dazzling performances by Wharton Arts students and faculty. Guests will enjoy light fare, beer, wine, and soft drinks included with their tickets.
The evening will also include a silent auction and 50/50 raffle, with all proceeds supporting PAS programs. Kids of all ages can enjoy the festive lobby and photo booth, making this a fun and memorable night for the whole family. A silent auction will soon debut, offering a curated collection of local dining, bakery delights, premium wines, and rejuvenating spa packages.
Debra Joyal, Performing Arts School Director said, “We are thrilled to invite you to our annual Holiday Cabaret, a dazzling evening of song and festive cheer. Come celebrate the season, our history, and the bright future of PAS as we toast to our 40th anniversary.”
“We are excited to mark this milestone year by turning the beloved Holiday Cabaret into a benefit,” said Nancy Tagle, Wharton Arts Director of Development. “We invite the community to join us as we raise our voices, and the curtain, for 40 more years of inspiration, artistic excellence, and growth.”
TICKETS
Single tickets and Family Four-Pack tickets are available. Sponsorships are also available, including premium seating. Proceeds will directly support Wharton Arts’ programs, scholarships, and mission-driven initiatives that provide transformative arts education to students of all ages.
For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit holidaycabaret.givesmart.com.
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WHARTON PLAYERS BRING BEETLEJUICE JR TO LIFE IN SPOOKTACULAR HOLIDAY PERFORMANCE
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By Mabel Pais
The Wharton Performing Arts School (PAS) will present ‘Beetlejuice JR.,’ a frightfully funny musical based on the beloved film-turned-Broadway hit, December 5–7, 2025, at the Wharton Black Box Theater in Berkeley Heights.
Filled with outrageous humor, quirky characters, and high-energy musical numbers, ‘Beetlejuice JR.’ invites audiences into a supernatural comedy where the “ghost-with-the-most” takes center stage. The production is directed by Timothy Maureen Cole, with the show written by Scott Brown and Anthony King.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Performances will take place on
- Friday, December 5 at 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday, December 6 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- Sunday, December 7 at 3:00 p.m.
Location: All performances will be held at the Wharton Black Box Theater, 60 Locust Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ.
“Creating Beetlejuice JR. with this cast has been a joyful burst of weirdness and creativity, said Cole. The Wharton Players have embraced the spooky, the silly, and the heartfelt, and we hope you enjoy this wonderfully strange and unusual show.”
TICKETS
Adult tickets are available. Students and seniors get a discount with a valid ID.
Tickets and additional information are available at WhartonArts.org or by calling (908) 790-0700.
The Wharton Arts School (PAS)
PAS is proud to be part of Wharton Arts, New Jersey’s largest independent non-profit community performing arts education center, serving nearly 2,000 students each year through a wide range of programs. PAS has been nurturing artistic excellence and creativity in the community for 40 years. By offering programs in music and performing arts, the school empowers students to develop their talents, confidence, and lifelong appreciation for the arts.
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NJYS PERFORMS AT GALAXIES OF JOY: THE PLANETS IN CONCERT
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By Mabel Pais
Wharton Arts’ New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) invites the audience to journey across the cosmos at ‘Galaxies of Joy: The Planets in Concert’ on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. on the UCPAC’s Main Stage in Rahway, New Jersey.Led by Artistic Director & Principal Conductor Helen H. Cha-Pyo, this spectacular concert features Gustav Holst’s iconic orchestral suite, ‘The Planets,’ accompanied by stunning, high-definition NASA imagery from the NASA Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS). As the symphony journeys through Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and beyond, vivid visuals drawn from space telescope data and interplanetary missions will illuminate the music’s grandeur — transforming the concert hall into a breathtaking voyage through the solar system. (Video credit: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio, svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12880.)
Adding to the excitement, the program includes the world premiere of ‘PLUTO: The Gatekeeper to the Underworld’ by Oliver Kahng, a senior at Regis High School and a member of the NJYS Youth Symphony. Kahng’s original composition offers a contemporary continuation to Holst’s planetary suite, inspired by Pluto’s mythological and astronomical legacy.
“At this magical time of year, there’s no better gift to share with family and friends than ‘The Planets,’ one of the most beloved works in the symphonic repertoire, brought to life with breathtaking NASA visuals and the remarkable artistry of our NJYS Youth Symphony. This concert celebrates the wonder that connects music and imagination, featuring ‘Pluto,’ a new work by one of our own student composers. I invite you to join us on a truly inspiring journey through sound and creativity,” said Cha-Pyo.“Experiencing Holst’s ‘The Planets’ with NASA’s stunning visuals creates an unforgettable celestial journey,” said Executive Director Gina Caruso. “Premiering a new work by one of our own young composers makes the evening even more special, highlighting the imagination and creativity of our students at the New Jersey Youth Symphony.”
PROGRAM
What: ‘Galaxies of Joy: The Planets in Concert’
Who: NJYS Youth Symphony, conducted by Helen H. Cha-Pyo
When: Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: UCPAC’s Main Stage, Rahway, NJ
TICKETS
Adult tickets are available. Students and seniors get a discount. Purchase tickets at UCPAC.org.
New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS)
Founded in 1979, the New Jersey Youth Symphony is the premier instrumental ensemble program of Wharton Arts and a national leader in youth orchestral training. With 15 ensembles and nearly 600 student musicians, NJYS provides unparalleled access to musical excellence and community engagement through concerts, recordings, and international tours.
Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Spirituality, Social Issues, Education, Business, Health and Wellness, and Cuisine.
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