Support the Arts

Dear WCPA Families,

As we enter the holiday season, I want to take a moment to share my gratitude for each of you and for the energy your children bring to our studios every day. Their curiosity, dedication, and joy are at the heart of what makes WCPA such a special place.

Since today is Giving Tuesday, I would like to share a bit about how our programs work behind the scenes, why this day matters for arts organizations like ours, and how your involvement — in any form — helps sustain the high-quality experiences we are committed to providing.

WCPA is a small, locally owned school that I run as a single-member LLC. Our team includes full-time staff and nearly twenty contracted artists and educators who are both highly educated and professionally experienced.

At the heart of WCPA is a clear mission: to provide the highest-quality performing arts education in our region, to create professional-level productions that challenge and inspire our students, and to build a community that recognizes the value of the arts. To honor that mission, we hire faculty who are highly educated and professionally experienced, and we pay them at a level that allows them to stay, thrive, and continue making an impact on your children. Strong teaching, strong productions, and strong community work all rely on the stability and expertise of the people who show up for our students every day.

Although we operate at a professional level — with exceptional faculty, a state-of-the-art facility, and large-scale productions — we keep tuition comparable to other local studios. To make this possible, I volunteer my time through producing, directing, teaching, and administrative work, and my husband and I make personal financial contributions each year. We share this for transparency: we keep education accessible, we compensate artists fairly, and leadership steps in to support the areas tuition doesn’t fully cover.

Parent volunteers also play an essential role in our programs — helping backstage, supporting costumes and props, running the box office or concessions, assisting with load-ins and load-outs, and offering countless acts of support. Your involvement is a vital part of what makes WCPA a true community, and we are deeply grateful.

Our performance companies — the Warwick Dance Collective and Warwick Broadway Collective — reflect this shared mission. These programs offer students a comprehensive educational track that includes high-level training, major productions, and community events. Our productions run through the Sugar Loaf Arts Collective, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit we helped found. We are especially excited that the Sugar Loaf Arts Collective is now in residence at the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center under Orange County’s new ownership, providing expanded opportunities for our students to rehearse and perform in a professional venue.

Creating Magical Productions

At WCPA, we believe in creating truly magical productions — experiences that go far beyond a traditional recital. Our students perform with professional-grade sound and videography, beautifully designed costumes, thoughtful set pieces, and in a real professional theater. These elements are a core part of what makes our performances so meaningful for students and unforgettable for families. Maintaining this level of quality requires resources beyond what tuition and ticket sales can cover. Community support helps us preserve these magical elements and continue offering productions that truly inspire our students.

As we continue to grow, we remain committed to balancing accessibility, sustainability, and the high standard of training and performance our students deserve.

Giving Tuesday

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is Giving Tuesday — a global day dedicated to charitable giving. For arts organizations like ours, where ticket sales do not cover the full cost of productions or community programming, Giving Tuesday plays an important role in sustaining the quality of what we offer.

WHERE YOUR SUPPORT GOES

Your tax-deductible donation directly helps to:

• Support professional artist and educator compensation

• Fund costumes, sets, musicians, technical staff, and production costs

• Expand community arts programming and outreach

• Strengthen our residency and student opportunities at the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center

There is no expectation for families to give. Some may not be in a position to contribute, and that is fully understood. Others may be able to participate with a one-time gift, through an employer matching program, or by connecting us with a local business that may wish to sponsor the season. Any support — in any form — makes a meaningful difference.

If a financial contribution isn’t possible, you can still support us by inviting friends and family to The Nutcracker, sharing our social media posts, or helping spread the word about our programs. Every bit of engagement strengthens our community.

Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and the many ways you support this community. I am grateful for each of you, and I look forward to an inspiring season ahead.

With appreciation,
Melissa Padham-Maass
Warwick Center for the Performing Arts
Warwick Dance Collective | Warwick Broadway Collective

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