PAC celebrates 10 years in Westhampton Beach

It’s been 10 years since the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center opened its doors on July 4, 1998. And in that relatively short amount of time, the reinvention of the former United Artists movie theater has not only retired its construction debt: it has established a reputation and identity as a world-class performance and cinema venue and has been credited by many as a revitalizing force for the local economy and community.

Now a year-round venue boasting the sale of 350,000 tickets in the last 10 years, the PAC offers diverse programming in the areas of music, theater, dance and film. And due to the continuing expansion of the children’s program, which is the current focus of development, more than 150,000 school-age children have either seen or participated in live theater at the PAC.

The arts center recently acquired land and renovated two buildings adjacent to the theater, at 18 Sunset Avenue, and will continue to expand its children’s programming, according to Executive Director Clare Bisceglia.

Always looking to the future, she saluted those who have supported the theater over the last 10 years for making this year’s anniversary celebration possible. As she offered thanks, Ms. Bisceglia said that the continued commitment and support of both residents and local businesses is the base on which the success of the PAC was built.

“Our tag line for this year, our 10th anniversary, has been ‘celebrating arts and building the community,’” she said last week. “We’ve gone through a complete metamorphosis and it’s a testament to the community that we are here and thriving.”

Ms. Bisceglia, who joined the PAC in July 2002, reported that in the last several years, the theater has hit a number of milestones, including payment in full on acquisition and capital improvement debt of approximately $1.8 million; the introduction of state-of-the-art sound, lighting and electronic systems; establishing online ticketing; the acquisition of additional property; and the ongoing expansion of educational and children’s programming.

The purchase of the buildings and land for the expansion of the children’s programs was made possible by donations from the Nancy and Frederick DeMatteis Family Foundation, the PAC board of directors and a number of individual donors. This summer, nearly 35 local businesses offered in-kind donations of time, resources, materials and labor to turn the combined 8,000-square-foot properties into the PAC’s new administrative headquarters.

Westhampton Beach contractor and PAC Board member James Zizzi spearheaded the project, freeing up significant space for the highly in-demand children’s programs, which typically hit enrollment limits soon after being announced. Children’s programs will now have the use of a large rehearsal hall, three rehearsal rooms, three dressing rooms, a separate entrance to the main theater and a large courtyard for work outdoors.

Mr. Zizzi, who has five daughters—2½-year-old twins Olivia and Chloe, 8-year-old Sophia, 11-year-old Gabrielle and 32-year-old Emily—said that providing creative outlets for local children is an important mission for the PAC that will benefit the community for years to come. “All of our children need things to keep themselves occupied year-round, and this multi-discipline facility is just one way we have to allow our children the opportunity to express their lives and vitality through the arts,” he said.

Len Conway, the president of the PAC board who dates his involvement back to the initial acquisition of the theater in 1996, said last week that growing the children’s programming just makes good sense. “A key element of the theater is to build the audiences of the future and to give families and young children the opportunity to participate,” he said last week.

Through increased performance and educational programming at the PAC, he said, “We are instilling an appreciation for the arts in our future community leaders and board members.”

Board member Emily Corey is another energetic supporter of the expansion of programs for young people.

“With the children’s programming, we have been able to accomplish the establishment of real curriculum-based arts education, provide children with a much needed outlet ... and help build their self esteem,” Ms. Corey said last week. “It’s been a phenomenal treasure for this community.”

Ms. Corey added that because of Ms. Bisceglia, the theater has become even more successful than she had dared hope. “Before Clare came we were losing money and the shows were kind of limping along,” she said, “but because of her vision and belief, she turned the whole thing around.”

Mr. Conway also sang Ms. Bisceglia’s praises, saying that she is the driving force for the revitalization of the theater, which has in turn stimulated the surrounding economy. “Clare’s been a fabulous, dynamic leader,” he said. “She’s a tireless advocate and worker for both the theater and the community.”

For her part, Ms. Bisceglia said that she is thrilled with the direction the PAC has taken and that the entire East End will continue to benefit from the theater’s expansion. She understandably takes pride in noting that the theater has become a year-round presenter that can compete with Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center in terms of the talent that comes to perform in the acoustically blessed space.

“We are a little 425-seat jewel box of a theater and we are literally bringing in the finest in blues, jazz, classical, comedy, folk music and world sounds ... We get performers who come from the finest halls in the world,” she said. “Westhampton Beach, which was once a little secret, is now on their list of places to make a stop.”

Brushing aside the compliments about what she has done for the PAC, Ms. Bisceglia said she’d rather focus on what others have done to keep the theater operating year to year.

“We are here because of the continued support of the community,” she said. “The ticket sales only cover half the operating costs each year; the rest is through fund-raising and donations that enable us to continue offering this level of entertainment.“

Mr. Conway said that he is still moved by the commitment shown by local residents and businesses to keep the PAC running.

“There have been pivotal points in time over the last 10 years that the community and individuals really stepped up and shouldered some of the responsibility that’s brought us where we are today,” he said, adding that continued support is crucial for the arts to survive in Westhampton Beach and on the East End.

“Going forward,” he said, “we need to remind ourselves that success requires a continued investment and participation.”