Choosing Your Course of Study
The HB Studio 3rd Floor Office staff is always happy to assist you during office hours. No appointment is needed, but please come early if you are planning to audit or attend a class. For information on the Hagen Institute’s full-time Intensive programs, contact Jim Boerlin (jboerlin@hbstudio.org or 212.675.2370 ext. 7). If you are interested in putting together your own full-time studio program, please make an appointment before the start of the term to speak with the Studio’s Executive Director, Edith Meeks. Back to top

Auditions and Prerequisites
HB Studio offers classes for students of every level, many of them without prerequisite. Courses that require an interview or audition for admission state so in the individual course description. Auditions for regular classes are generally scheduled during the registration period preceding the start of the new term. See the Studio web site (www.hbstudio.org) or call the office for the current interview and audition schedule. The Studio charges a fee of $10 for each audition. Audition fees are non-refundable and must be paid in advance.

Before You Register: We strongly encourage all students to acquaint themselves with the policies regarding refunds, credits, and transfers before registering for classes. Students may audit or trial classes prior to enrollment. There are no refunds or credits once you register and the class is under way, except in the case of serious illness or withdrawal for military service. Requests for these exceptions must be made timely within three weeks of the first day the student is absent from class. Back to top

Audits
Auditors observe, but may not participate in a class. The fee for the first audit is $15. The instructor must give permission for a second audit of the same course and the fee is the same as the applicable class fee. A third audit is not permitted. Back to top

Trial Classes
Trial classes allow students to ‘sample’ a course by participating in a single session. The fee is the same as the applicable class fee. Trial classes are permitted where stated in the class description, and are strongly recommended for movement, voice, and speech classes. Most acting classes require rehearsal preparation and do not allow trials. Only one trial class is permitted per course, per term. Back to top

Single Classes
Students who are already registered for a course in the Movement or Speech Departments may, with the instructor’s permission, take single classes in another section of the same course. The applicable per class fee must be paid in cash. Back to top

Term Audits
In special cases, and with the instructor’s permission, a student may be allowed to register for a term audit. Regular course fees apply. Back to top

Payment
HB Studio accepts cash, personal checks, travelers’ checks, money orders, Visa, Discover, Mastercard, and wire transfers. A fee of $25 is payable for all wire transfers. We accept credit card payments by telephone for registration fees, class tuition, and audition fees only. Audits and trial classes must be paid in cash on the day of the class. Back to top

Registration Fee
All students pay an annual, non-refundable registration fee of $50. International visa students pay an annual, non-refundable administration fee of $150 and international visa students on Optional Practical Training pay a non-refundable fee of $100. 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 2nd Floor bulletin board and through our email weekly notice. Back to top

Course Fees
Students must register for the entire term. The full course fee must be paid upon registration. Students paying by wire transfer must provide proof of the transfer within 48 hours of registration. A single trial class fee may be credited toward the enrollment fee for the same class, provided the trial class occurs in the same term as the enrollment. Audits may not be applied to enrollment fees. Back to top

Late Registration
A student may register for a course after the term begins as long as there is still space available in the class and late registration is permitted by the teacher. The full class fee will apply. Back to top

Returned Checks
HB Studio charges a handling fee of $25 (cash only) for processing returned checks. The fee 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, you must pay all fees in full by cash or money order before you will be allowed to attend class or register again. If more than one check is returned, you must make all future payments by cash, money order, or credit card (Visa, Discover or Mastercard). Back to top

REFUNDS, CREDITS, TRANSFERS & WITHDRAWALS

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

Credits
School Account Credits expire at the end of the term, one year from the term in which they are issued, and may be applied only for enrollment (including trial classes) in another class or workshop, not for audits or auditions, registration fees, space rentals or merchandise. Back to top

Withdrawal for Illness or Military Service
A student may withdraw after the first class for (1) serious illness or (2) military service. To request a refund or a credit you must submit a letter to the Student Affairs Committee. You must include a medical certificate in the case of illness, or induction papers in the case of military service. Specify in your letter the date of the last class attended, and ensure written documentation is 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 Committee are final. Back to top

Transfers
You may transfer to another class that is taught by the same teacher with that teacher’s approval and as long as there is available space in the class. All such transfers must be processed in the 3rd floor office. Unless a class is canceled, enrollments may not be transferred to a different teacher’s class after the term begins. Back to top

Scholastic Drops
On occasion an instructor may determine that the level or format of a class is not appropriate for a particular student. The instructor may then request, at his or her discretion, that the student withdraw from the class as a “scholastic drop.” In such a case, the student will receive a refund for the remaining classes. Instructors may also determine whether or not a student should continue in a class from term to term. Back to top

International Students
HB Studio has welcomed international F-1 visa students since 1967. Applicants must possess verbal and written fluency in English and must commit to a full-time program of study, which the Studio defines as a minimum of seven classes per week. Within parameters you may organize your own full-time program drawing from a broad range of Studio classes. Selections from Acting, Speech, Speaking Voice, and Movement classes are required. Upon assessment, F-1 students who are not native English speakers may also be advised to take Conversational English (English for Actors) and a second Speech Phonetics class in order to ensure regular and consistent drilling of unfamiliar sounds; or they may be required to take English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. Those international students who prefer a prescribed curriculum are also encouraged to apply to the Intensive programs of the Hagen Institute: the Hagen Summer Intensive or the three-term Hagen Core Training Program. Additional requirements, deadlines, and applications are available from the Studio office and posted on our web site, www.hbstudio.org (click on the link for International). For questions, or to contact one of our International Student Advisors, please email to international@hbstudio.org. For Hagen Institute questions, please email Jim Boerlin. Back to top

Full-Time Study
For students interested in an integrated full-time course of study, HB is proud to offer the programs of the Hagen Institute: the 6-week Hagen Summer Intensive and the year-long Hagen Core Training Program. Contact Hagen Institute Administrator Jim Boerlin. Those who prefer to design their own studio program may select from over 150 classes offered each term. For comprehensive training, full-time studio students should register for a minimum of seven classes per week. Two Acting, one Speech, one Speaking Voice class, and one Movement class are required of all students pursuing a full-time program. This includes international students studying under an F-1 visa. A typical full-time Studio program might include: one Acting Technique class, one Scene Study, one Speech, one Voice, one Movement class, and two electives (a second core class, or classes in Theatre Games, Musical Theatre, Directing, Improvisation, etc.). F-1 Visa students please contact the international student advisors: international@hbstudio.org. All others interested in a full-time Studio program contact the Studio’s Executive Director by email: emeeks@hbstudio.org. Back to top

Absentee Policy
Instructors have the right to drop a student with three consecutive, unexcused absences and 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 your Key may contact you to determine your interest in continuing with the class. Back to top

Faculty
HB Studio offers you a distinguished faculty of accomplished 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 charge nominal rates for classes. Their professional activities and experience enhance the value of their offering. The Studio does not dictate curriculum or teaching method. Instructors set their own prerequisites and standards.

Every effort is made to keep faculty substitutions to a minimum. However, on occasion, when professional engagements come up, you will be taught, for as long as needed, by a qualified substitute drawn from the HB Studio Faculty or our extended professional community. Our substitutes, like our faculty, teach according to their own methods and experience as working theatre artists. Back to top