A much-lauded theater program at Manhattan’s prestigious performing arts school has come to an end, leaving the city and its vendors to point fingers at each other.
The news sparked outrage at the Hell’s Kitchen School of Professional Performing Arts, whose alumni include actors Claire Danes, Jesse Eisenberg and Jeremy Allen White, and musicians Alicia Keys and Britney Spears. This raised deep-seated questions.
“We go to a high-achieving high school and it’s not a school for academics. The whole reason you’re here is for the arts. If that gets cut, what’s the point?” asked a cheerful 6-year-old girl, who wakes up early to commute to school from Coney Island for “a great arts education.”
“I can really feel it,” my friend exclaimed.
“Our creative freedom, that’s why we come to this school to become young artists,” said a fellow 16-year-old. “Now it’s been canceled and it’s heartbreaking.”
The program was run in partnership with performing arts organization Waterwell, which ended the program in an email to parents and students condemning “devastating” and “unprecedented 20% budget cuts.” announced.
“It is with a very heavy heart that I write this important update regarding the remainder of the school year and our middle and high school performing arts classes,” Waterwell Education Director and Artistic Director Heather Lanza wrote.
Lanza’s letter announced that the program will be canceled on April 12, and the school’s Drama One Showcase, high school jury and middle school spring concerts will also be cancelled.
“As you all know, city budgets have been incredibly tight since the pandemic, and the impact on school budgets continues to ripple,” the letter states. “As a result, Waterwell has been informed by Principal Dyer that Waterwell will undergo an unprecedented 20% budget reduction from its original business plan for the 2023-2024 school year.
“This is a devastating amount for our small organization, and because of this reduction, we have no choice but to end this year’s program early.”
Following the news, one teacher told the Post, “The budget cuts are outrageous,” while school officials condemned the group’s proposed contract changes.
“A contract was in place with this partner for the school,” Superintendent Gary Beidleman said at a news conference Thursday morning. “They’ve been partners for a long time. And the prices for their services changed during the school year.
“There were no budget cuts that occurred, but rather contract changes or proposed changes to the contract,” he continued.
“So the school had funding to partner with the organization and services were provided throughout the school year, but midway through the year the partners needed additional funding to continue services.”
Outside school on Thursday morning, a 14-year-old drama student lamented the news and the uncertainty of his acting career.
“It’s really disappointing for me, because this is my first year here and I won’t be able to do the jury work, which is part of the last performances of the year. So we’ll be presenting all the pieces to our families and many… I get to perform to the audience. I’m so sad that I don’t have the opportunity to perform like everyone else,” the student said.
“Unfortunately, we’re not going to have a PA,” he added. “I have no idea what they are going to do after April 12th.”
A 15-year-old freshman who wanted to study acting said that without the program, the school would no longer be a top performing arts school.
“It’s very frustrating,” she said. If the program was discontinued, she said, “It would just become a performing arts school. Even without the arts, I could have gone to a good college nearby.” I’m here.
“After the 12th, there is no point in coming to this school if there is not a good acting program. It is acting, without theater there can be no musical theater.”
“It was confusing to say the least,” said the middle school student, who was on a Zoom call with his parents and Lanza Wednesday night.
“There was a lot of controversy and a lot of parents asking questions. They were like, ‘Why didn’t we know about this sooner?’ And she literally said, ‘We didn’t know until we told you.’ “The girl insisted.
The students set up a fundraising page and had raised about $36,000, one-third of their goal, by Thursday morning.
White, known for his TV appearances on “The Bear” and “Shameless,” sent a message to his former teacher confirming that the link was legitimate, then shared it on Instagram. This initiative has become even more well-known. According to Chalkbeat.
“We are seventh graders at the Professional Performing Arts School in New York City. Due to unfortunate budget cuts, our performing arts program has been shortened and will end in early April for both middle school and high school. ” The page was read.
“This is impacting hundreds of students and we are heartbroken that such a terrible thing happened. Please help us by donating to.”
Department of Education officials sought to assure the community that things would continue with or without Waterwell.
“We have great teachers in our schools who are able to provide such services and who have worked with our partners for many years,” Superintendent Beidleman said.
“The previous principal of the school has been working with the new principal of the school. They have identified those teachers, identified the curriculum and have no doubt that they are ready to move forward with our students.
“The plans are in place, students will continue to receive these services and we will have Oscar winners within the next 10 years.”
