Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center

Important Policies

We are thrilled your student will be joining us. Help us maintain the high quality camps, classes, and programs by reading through the following Arts Academy policies with your student.

Casting Policy

Auditions are hard! Here at WHBPAC, we admire our students so much for being willing to put themselves out there and demonstrating courage way beyond their years. We also know that our casting decisions have the potential to disappoint some of our students. While there is much to be gained from dancing in the ensemble or singing in the chorus – the PAC Arts Academy distinguishes itself from other performing arts institutions by making sure that every child shines on stage.

Please remember that all casting decisions are made by professional teaching artists who are educated at the Master’s level and have been working in their respective fields for many years. While they are committed to putting on the best production possible, their priority is to cast each child in a role best suited for them.  Please respect our directors’ decisions.

There are no refunds for reasons including but not limited to: casting decisions, changes in Covid-19/Global health protocol, dismissal due to behavior or other happenstance, or subsequent personal preference. 

Here’s what we take into consideration when we cast:

  • Preparation for the audition
  • The child’s age AND experience
  • Growth potential
  • Capacity for specific roles
  • Behavior and attitude in previous programs (if we have worked with the child before)

This is an Arts Academy – NOT a professional producing company. What’s most important to us is that as many children have opportunity as possible. If a child has a large part in one production, it is not guaranteed they will have a large part in the next.

With all of this in mind – below are some casting guidelines.

What We Will Do:

  1. Provide feedback to student inquiries about the audition. The response will include kind and constructive critique and specific advice about where to most effectively direct efforts for improvement.
  2. Help describe what goes into casting a show. Casting is a challenging and complicated process, involving multiple variables.
  3. Give parents advice for managing disappointment.
  4. Encourage ongoing training with us, which comes through continued participation in our programs.
  5. Encourage participants to watch and learn from older, more experienced students.
  6. Cap our enrollment numbers appropriately so that all students will shine.

What We Won’t Do

  1. Reconsider a casting decision. Once a casting decision has been made, it is final. The casting team will not offer explanations for, entertain complaints about, or discuss in any way the decisions that have been made, with anyone.
  2. Discuss other students’ roles with parents or guardians.
  3. Stand for negative discussion about casting with students and other parents. Chances are, if you model positivity in regard to casting, your child will be positive about their role as well.

Thank you so much for being part of our “theatre family,” and we look forward to a wildly successful season of performing arts with your children!

Student Conduct Policy

I understand that my conduct must show respect for the directors, the accompanist, technical staff, Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center (WHBPAC) staff and my fellow actors.

I promise to rehearse diligently, learn all required lines, songs and dances and perform to the best of my ability regardless of the size of the part that I am assigned.

I understand that I may not leave the area in which I am working without the permission of the person in charge.

I understand that there are staff members working in offices at The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center during the course of this program and I promise not to disturb them with loud noise in the halls or while moving from one activity to another in the building.

I promise to be responsible for my belongings and respect the belongings of others. I promise to leave class and rehearsal areas clean, neat and to dispose of all trash properly. In addition, I promise not to harm or destroy the building or property of The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center. I understand if I break this promise, my parents will be liable for the payment of damages and I may be dismissed from the program with no refund of tuition.

I understand that The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center is a professional theatre and during the course of the program and production, I promise to learn and abide by the rules of theatre for conduct on stage and backstage.