Student Performers Shine at the Intersection of Broadway at Westhampton Beach

It may be winter on the East End, but it’s a very busy time for the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Arts Academy. The program, which is divided into separate age groups, will present three performances of the upbeat musical “42nd Street” by high school level students on Friday and Saturday, January 20 and 21, followed by the Arts Academy’s middle school students who will then tackle “Fiddler on the Roof Jr.” with two performances on Saturday, February 4.

Launched in 2014, WHBPAC Arts Academy’s first production was the musical “Oklahoma.” The academy now has 150 students, with a program for elementary age students and a separate troupe for those even younger, in addition to the upper levels.

“With each group that we have, we give them greater skills in order to then, once they graduate from our program, set out into the world,” explained WHBPAC Arts Academy director Kristen Poulakis, who is directing “42nd Street.” “It’s quite a lot, but we love what we do, so it doesn’t really feel like that.”

She added that each level of the programming is meant to provide a stepping stone to the next.

The Arts Academy offers two separate semesters during the school year, with the teens performing a musical at the end of the fall semester and a play at the end of spring semester. Poulakis said she chose “42nd Street” for this year’s musical due to its upbeat nature and the desire to work on a classical Broadway show. She also wanted to ensure the students have a chance to show off their dance skills, and the musical certainly doesn’t lack routines. Among the musical numbers are “You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me,” “Dames,” “We’re in the Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off to Buffalo” and “Forty-Second Street.” Dancer Anita Boyer, who frequently works with the Academy, is choreographing.

The auditions for “42nd Street” started in October, and the students have been working diligently on the show ever since.

“It’s awesome to see how far they’ve come in their process from auditioning, to then having it staged and ready for an audience,” said Poulakis. “And to see how much growth they’ve gone through, just within their characters and their self-esteem and, in particular, since this is a dance show, seeing their dance skills just get better and better each week… I’m just really super proud of them. It’s a hard musical to produce and they’ve risen to the challenge.”

Among those challenges is the fast-paced speed of the show, and the constant singing and dancing, according to Poulakis. She said the breath control needed at that level of performance is quite high, an impressive feat for a young cast.

The middle school troupe is taking on a junior version of the Broadway classic “Fiddler on the Roof,” a much heavier show, exploring themes such as race, class and religion. It follows Tevye, a Russian, Jewish milkman, who attempts to hold on to his faith as his three daughters come of age and seek to make the kind of lives they want for themselves, despite their father’s objections. For director Justin Harris, who is also the Arts Academy manager, directing the show is much different than the program’s previous light-hearted productions like, “Shrek,” “High School Musical” and “Willy Wonka,” which featured several of the same student actors who are in this show.

“Throughout all those shows I’ve directed with them, what’s really been telling is that they’re ready for another step in deepening their artistry and who they are,” said Harris, noting that several of his young students have been in the Arts Academy since they were just six or seven years old. A large number of the students are either Jewish or have Jewish heritage, which gives the production even more personal meaning for them.

In order to prepare middle school performers for a more mature production, the Arts Academy hosted education days to discuss the historical context of the show and brought in a guest to come educate the students about certain aspects of Judaism. For instance, one scene involves lighting a candle for Sabbath, so the meaning behind the tradition and instructions on how to make the ritual suitable for theater was discussed.

“It’s been really awesome to share and educate the other students, as well as uplifting Judaism in the story and the hardship of people who may not share the same faith,” said Harris.

Choreographer Kasia Klimiuk said another challenge in this show is the large cast of 30, but that the students have risen to the occasion, especially during the wedding dance scene in which some dance with glass bottles on their heads.

“I was really proud of them because, I only get to see them once a week,” she said. “And we finished the whole wedding dance in an hour, which was really great.”

Dr. Peter Pece, a veteran composer and teacher, is in charge of the music for both Arts Academy shows. He has previously worked on the “42nd Street” score for a one-man show and has also worked on productions of “Fiddler on the Roof” on many occasions.

“It’s one of the best scores, I think, ever written, in my opinion,” he said.

Ultimately, added Harris, the show is about the ties that bind.

“It’s really about humanity. It’s about the life that we create for ourselves and with other people,” he said. “It’s about family, and discovery and healing. It’s a journey of life … with some beautiful music.”

“42nd Street” performances by the high school students of the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Academy are Friday, January 20, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, January 21, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. “Fiddler on the Roof Jr.” performances are Saturday, February 4, at noon and 5 p.m. Both performances are the perfect family outing while reinforcing the power of live theater for all ages. Tickets are $17 at whbpac.org or 631-288-1500. Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center is at 76 Main Street, Westhampton Beach.