Accessibility

Audits & Trials
Audits
Trial Classes
Payment
Registration Fee
Class Fees
Late Registration
Returned Checks
Absentee Policy
Faculty
Full-time Study
Class Schedule Changes
Refunds, Credits, Transfers & Withdrawals
Withdrawal for Illness or Military Service
Transfers
Credits
Scholastic Drop
Termination of Registration

 

Accessibility

HB's buildings offer limited access to individuals with disabilities due to the era in which they were constructed. Our first floor acting studio and the Playwrights Foundation Theatre are accessible spaces. Our other facilities present obstacles for individuals who use a wheelchair for mobility. If you are a person living with a disability that requires special accommodation, please contact the Studio's Executive Director or Managing Director to inquire about accessibility arrangements.

Audits and Trials
HB Studio offers students the unique opportunity to observe or participate in classes before registering for a particular course. We recommend that students make every attempt to audit continuing classes in the prior term. Please call on the day you plan to come, or the night before for a morning class, to verify that the class you would like to observe will meet as scheduled. Plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to the class start time. Latecomers will not be admitted. Payment for audits or trials is by cash only.

Audits
Beginning in Winter 2009, for the first audit in a term, the fee is $15. You may audit the same class twice with the instructor's permission. The second audit is charged at the rate of a single class. A third audit within the term is not permitted. Trial classes, rather than audits, are strongly recommended in movement and speech classes.

Trial Classes
A trial class is similar to an audit, except that you participate in the class. Many Voice, Speech, Musical Theatre, Movement, Improvisation, and Theatre Games classes permit one trial class per term. The individual descriptions on the Classes page indicate which courses permit trial classes and list the fee. Flexible, loose-fitting clothing (no blue jeans) is required for Movement, Dance and Physical Improvisation.

Payment
HB Studio accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, debit cards, cash, personal checks, travelers’ cheques, money orders, and wire transfers. A fee of $25 is payable for all wire transfers. Credit card payments are accepted by telephone for registration and audition fees only.

Registration Fee
All students pay an annual, non-refundable registration fee of $50. F-1 Visa students pay an annual, non-refundable administration fee of $150. Each student receives an HB Studio Identification card at the time of registration, which may be used for student discounts at participating vendors, partners, and shows, and at HB Studio events. Student offers are announced on our bulletin board and through our email weekly notice.

Class Fees
Students must register for an entire term. The full fee is due and payable at registration. Students paying by wire transfer must provide proof of the transfer within 48 hours of registration.

Late Registration
A student may register for a class after the term begins as long as there is still space in the class and late registration is permitted by the instructor. Exceptions are noted in the class descriptions. Please note: HB will no longer pro-rate late registrations. The full class fee will apply through midterm for Fall, Winter and Spring terms. Students registering after midterm in Fall, Winter or Spring with an instructor's permission will pay a reduced enrollment fee for the class. The full class fee will apply for all 9 weeks of the shorter Summer term.

Returned Checks
The Studio charges a handling fee of $25 (cash only) for processing returned checks. This applies to any check that is not accepted by the bank or institution on which it is drawn, regardless of the reason. If your check is returned more than once or if more than one of your checks is returned, you must pay all fees in full by cash, credit card (Mastercard, Visa or Discover) or money order before you will be allowed to attend class or register again. If more than one of your checks is returned you will be required to make all future payments by cash, money order, or credit card.

Absentee Policy
Instructors have the right to drop a student with three consecutive unexcused absences. The Studio will not issue a refund or credit for the balance of the course fee paid for that term. Annual registration fees are never refundable. It is your responsibility to contact the Key Student and/or notify your instructor when you are going to be absent. After two consecutive absences, a Studio representative may contact you to determine your interest in continuing the class.

Faculty
HB Studio engages an exclusive faculty of independent artists whose livelihood is gained primarily from performing and who give back to the theatre community through their teaching. Their generosity makes it possible for the Studio to offer classes at nominal rates – just enough to cover basic costs and compensate these professionals for their time. In exchange, we accord our teachers flexibility to pursue performance opportunities as they arise. While every effort is made to keep substitutions to a minimum, on occasion you may be taught, for as long as necessary, by a qualified substitute drawn from the HB Studio faculty.

Full-Time Study
For students interested in a full-time core program alternative, HB is currently offering a Weekend Intensive in the fall and, from June 29 to August 1, the Hagen Summer Intensive. Those who prefer to design their own program may select from over 150 classes offered each term. Full-time students should register for a minimum of seven classes per week. For comprehensive training and the proper development of the emotional, physical, vocal, and verbal instrument, your program should include ACTING TECHNIQUE, SCENE STUDY, SPEECH, SPEAKING VOICE, and MOVEMENT. For electives, develop your range and skills with classes in Improvisation, Theatre Games, Singing, Dialects, On-Camera Technique, Stage Combat, Physical Theatre, or experiment with Playwriting, Songwriting, or Directing. You can also design a program that focuses on Musical Theatre. The Studio also offers several Performance Lab classes for students ready to segue from scene study to performance. The average fee for a typical seven-class term ranges from approximately $1750 to $2100. Registered full-time students receive a guest pass, which allows them to audit any class for free one time during the term in which it is issued.

Class Schedule Changes
Class changes, additions and cancellations are updated weekly and posted in an addendum to our print brochure, outside the 3rd floor office area, and on this website.

Refunds, Transfers, Credits, and Withdrawals
There are no refunds, credits, or withdrawals as of the first day of the class for which you are registered. The Studio will approve and process refunds, credits and withdrawals only through the DAY BEFORE the first day of class. Students must make all schedule changes in person, not by phone.

Withdrawal for Illness or Military Service
After the first day of class, refunds or credits will be granted only in the case of (1) serious iillness or (2) military service. To request a refund or credit, you must submit a letter WITH DOCUMENTATION (medical certificate in the case of illness or induction papers in the case of military service) BY MAIL to the STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. State the nature of the problem or your reason for withdrawal, and the date of the last class attended. Documentation must be received within three weeks of your withdrawal, otherwise consideration for withdrawal will be retroactive only to the date that the Studio receives your request letter. All decisions of the Student Affairs Committee are final.

Transfers
You may transfer to another class that is taught by the same teacher with that teacher's approval and provided there is available space in the class. All such transfers must be processed in person in the office.

Credits
Student Account Credits expire at the end of the term, one year from the term in which they are issued.

Scholastic Drop
The Studio and its faculty reserve the right to drop a student if they feel that a class (or classes) does not fit that particular student's training needs.

Termination
The Studio reserves the right to refuse to register anyone who engages in disruptive or otherwise unacceptable behavior, including the use of illegal drugs or alcohol on or around the premises. Any student displaying threatening, intimidating, violent behavior, or who brings a weapon onto or around the premises is subject to immediate expulsion.

The Studio Office is located on the 3rd Floor at 120 Bank Street. The HB Studio staff is always happy to assist you during office hours. No appointment is needed. The Studio Office can be reached at 212-675-2370.

2009 Calendar:
Spring term runs March 27 through June 25.
Summer term runs June 26 through August 27. Registration begins June 1st.
Fall term runs September 3 through December 20.