Freehold Regional Performing Arts Center

The Freehold Regional Performing Arts Center, or FPAC for short (sometimes referred to as the Fine and Performing Arts Academy) is a high energy, intense four-year program offered to the students of the Freehold Regional High School District. It focuses on the fields of Acting, Dance, and Entertainment Technology (audio and video). Each class in FPAC is referred to as a 'level' (i.e. freshman are called 'level ones,' sophomores are 'level twos,' etc). A common misconception is that FPAC is an after-school activity, when in reality it takes the place of a child's elective class, and in the cases of a Dance or Acting major, their gym class as well.

Selection Process

Students are admitted into FPAC through a highly selective process during their eighth grade. Admission criteria includes: an online application and audition, a teacher's recommendation, academic records (including seventh and eighth grade report cards), and an essay written to express the student's interest in FPAC. Only sixty-two students are admitted into the Level One class. Approximately eighteen dancers, twenty actors, and twenty-four E.T. kids will be accepted.

Education

All students in FPAC must meet the graduation requirements of the Freehold Regional High School District to graduate. They are also strongly enforced to keep their grades above a B- Final Grade for each subject, and failure to do so will result in being asked to leave the program. Actual classes offered to FPAC students vary by major (Acting, Dance, or Entertainment Technology) and by grade, however actors take dance and voice classes as well as dance majors take acting and voice classes, to promote balanced and well-rounded performers.

FPAC Staff

Supervisor - Daniel Green Acting - Stephen Kazakoff Acting - Amy Ackione Dance -Lisa Twamley Dance - Melanie Kramer ET Video - Rachel Burkhardt ET Video/Audio - Laura Harak ET Audio - Joey Cantaffa Voice - Regina McAllen

Alumni

Not all students who have graduated from FPAC have gone on to be actors, dancers, or directors. Many students have gone onto careers in medicine, law, and government.

Colleges Attended by FPAC Graduates

  • Boston Conservatory
  • Montclair State University
  • Marymount Manhattan College
  • Temple University
  • Penn State
  • Rutgers University
  • UCLA
  • University of the Arts, Phila.

As well as many other esteemed colleges and universities.

Famous Alumni

  • Kal Penn, class of 1998, starred in a number of major motion pictures including Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, and The Namesake (film). He is also noted for his performance as "Thirteen" on House (TV series).


*Tom Pelphrey, class of 1999, is the starring role On the Television series Guiding Light.

  • Amy Polumbo, class of 2003, was crowned Miss New Jersey in 2007.