Two Arts Groups Team Up For Holiday Fun

This December, east meets west when the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center (WHBPAC) and Our Fabulous Variety Show (OFVS) team up to present their first-ever collaboration — a Holiday Spectacular on Friday, December 6, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, December 7, at 2 and 7 p.m.

More than 50 student and professional performers from Montauk to Manorville, ranging in age from 5 to 85, will take part in this seasonal variety show of epic proportions that will feature song, theatre, and dance. The performers are part of WHBPAC’s Nancy & Frederick DeMatteis Arts Academy — including its Teen Theatre Company, Young Ensemble, and Sip & Sing Adult Students — and OFVS’s Dance Corps, Singers and Players. Joining them will be professional and teaching artists Valerie diLorenzo, Kristen Poulakis, Julienne Penza-Boone, Anita Boyer, Kasia Klimiuk, Joe Pallister, drag queen Danny Ximo, Anthony D’Alessio and many others.

The show will highlight holiday classics and carols alongside new twists on favorite holiday stories. Intermission will feature a visit from Santa and full-service concessions with cookies, cocoa, goodie bags, merchandise and holiday raffles — all of which will benefit both the Arts Academy and Our Fabulous Variety Show.

“We have been so privileged to have (OFVS Founders) Anita Boyer and Kasia Klimiuk as part of our faculty over the years, and I have so admired their work since they began producing their variety shows back in 2010,” said Arts Academy Director Julienne Penza-Boone. We share the same essential mission to give children and adults high quality arts education experiences while encouraging creative expression — so this collaboration is a natural choice.”

“We are so grateful to collaborate with organizations that respect and value our work. Julienne has been a champion of our productions and educational programming so to work with her and WHBPAC is going to be a beautiful experience,” added Klimiuk and Boyer. “We are also excited to introduce our eclectic variety show style to a new community and bring our productions further west. The WHBPAC program has been one that we admire and we are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside them for this show.”

Tickets are available at whbpac.org or 631-288-1500. The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center is at 76 Main Street, Westhampton Beach.