In honor of Uta Hagen’s birthday, June 12, HB presents a showcase of 12 works: written, developed, directed and performed by the HB Community.
You can catch our readings on Youtube and Vimeo.
12 FEATURED WORKS
- A Foray in Innocence by Ronan Colfer. Directed by Moshe Henderson
- E.G.G. by Emile Lacheny. Directed by Emile Lacheny
- Fidelio by Steven J. Harris. Directed by Beverly Thiele
- Grief Containers by Robin Berl. Directed by Linda Osborn
- I Could Never by Chad Kaydo. Directed by Burak Tatar
- Luckiest Little Girl in the World by Kim Waldron. Directed by Stephan Schmidt
- Moving Day by Susan Surman. Directed by Richard Lear
- Orchid or Kid by Jordan Galland. Directed by Frank Poon
- Show & Tell by Maisa Chiang. Directed by Maisa Chiang
- Shut The Front Door by Max Sharam. Directed by Randy Arbujo
- The Fernandez Siblings by Una Bharat. Directed by Lluvia Almanza
- Untitled Dead Friend Comedy by Chad Kaydo. Directed by Dani Alés
FEATURING ACTORS
Benjy Balatbat, Kaya Brown, Sonali Burns, Laurence Cantor, Nicholas Capriotti, KiYonna Carr, Michael Darby, Paul Emiliani, Jason Georges, Chris Hahn, Ellis Charles Hoffmeister, Deborah Howes, Irenka Jakubiak, Elida Jbeili, Annie Kefalas, Sue Kim, Zaq Latino, Avery Laurent, Emma Goldberg Liu, Malinda Logan, Anthony LoGrande, Charles Manning, Sara Mattsson, Paul Megna, Denisse Estefany Mendoza, Dyamee Moore, Mary Murphy, Julia Navarro, Barrett Penrod, Hannah Rose, Steve Saracino, Joanne Sellers, Joe Staton, Connor Chase Stewart, Donna Svennevik, Benjamin J. Swanson, Neil J Elda, Alexandrea Thornton, Nicolas Torres, Michael Tyrell, Jessica Van Niel, Rigoberto Vindiola, Charly Wenzel, Ryan Bess Winnick, Jim Zukowski
Monday
2:00pm – CLICK HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK
E.G.G.
Directed and Written by Emile Lacheny
Featuring Jason Georges, Annie Kefalas, Avery Laurent, Julia Navarro, Joe Staton
Full Length
In a post apocalyptic world, four survivors take shelter in a cave to rest from the horrors of the outside world. Inside they discover something impossible: a little girl that claims that she has in her possession the next step of humanity: a gigantic egg. Begins a fight between them as to whether or not to believe her, what to do with said egg and more importantly, if she is telling the truth: what could that mean for them and the rest of humanity.
Tuesday
1:00pm – CLICK HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK
Grief Containers
By Robin Berl
Directed by Linda Osborn
Featuring Deborah Howes, Sara Mattsson, Michael Tyrell
One Act
Ashley is at a loss and her husband Barrett is struggling to help her find the way home. In a situation where neither of them can be “right,” they struggle to bridge the emotional gap. Caught between grief and celebration, Ashley seeks comfort and answers from a bird nesting in the backyard.
4:00pm – CLICK HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK
Untitled Dead Friend Comedy
By Chad Kaydo
Directed by Dani Ales
Featuring Ellis Charles Hoffmeister, Emma Goldberg Liu, Anthony LoGrande, Charles Manning, Nicolas Torres
Full Length
Michael and his best friend Daniel want to tell you about how Daniel went to see a medium to talk to their friend Kat, who died ten years ago (or was it nine?). She didn’t say anything that important, but…should they tell Kat’s husband? And shouldn’t they be doing more to help raise her kid? And what about all that stuff Michael never said to Kat near the end? UNTITLED DEAD FRIEND COMEDY is a metaphysical, metatheatrical (vague) memory play about friendship, loss, and what we owe the people we say we love…even after they’re gone. (And are they ever really gone?)
7:00pm – CLICK HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK
The Fernandez Siblings
By Una Bharat
Directed by Lluvia Almanza
Featuring Denisse Estefany Mendoza, Rigoberto Vindiola
Short Play in Development
After their abusive father dies, Justin and Lia never speak again. Until one night Justin comes to Lia’s door asking for help in either the right or wrong direction.
Orchid or Kid
By Jordan Galland
Directed by Frank Poon
Featuring Kaya Brown & Chris Hahn
Short Play
“Orchid or Kid” is a dark domestic dramedy running in one 12 page scene with two compelling, dynamic characters: a confused, emotional pregnant wife, DAPHNE, who has an unsettling confession to make to GAVIN, an over-achieving, morally superior husband with a savior complex. He attempts to get to the bottom of his wife’s mysterious obsession with keeping a dying orchid alive, when the doorbell rings, turning their marriage upside down, resulting in a physical confrontation involving fertilizer, soil and a bag of rocks.
Shut the Front Door
By Max Sharam
Directed By Randy Arbujo
Featuring Irenka Jakubiak, Dyamee Moore
Short Play
Love is color blind but lovers cannot see the petty follies that they commit” (almost Shakespeare.) Cliff’s career success in music has meant that he and longtime girlfriend, Yada are now living comfortably, in the lap of luxury in a fancy home in suburban Santa Monica, Los Angeles. Though the population of this little corner of Los Angeles is only 4.18 % black, the community could care less that Cliff & Yada, an interracial couple live on their quiet cul-de-sac, they also care less that Yada & Cliff rich — it’s celebrity that really matters in this affluent area. Fame. So, the young couple have landed yet Yada & Cliff’s relationship is on the brink…So if it’s not money, or race or fame that is making their lucky lives so difficult what is it? Gender?
Wednesday
1:00pm – CLICK HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK
Moving Day
By Susan Surman
Directed by Richard Lear
Featuring Laurence Cantor, Jo Anne Sellers
Short Play
Dan and Grace have hit a glitch in the relationship. They married young and after almost ten years are splitting up. Dan is moving out while Grace is staying in the apartment. In this scene, they are dividing up the music. Dan: I get three Sinatras. Grace: I want Madison Square Garden. Dan: Jesus, Grace, you’re getting the apartment. As Dan is about to go, Grace hyperventilates.
Thursday
1:00pm – CLICK HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK
Show & Tell
Directed and Written by Maisa Chiang
Featuring Paul Emiliani, Sue Kim, Malinda Logan, Barrett Penrod
Full Length
Four college friends who haven’t spoken in 10 years reunite for a Zoom baby shower. A dramedy.
4:00pm – CLICK HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK
Luckiest Little Girl in the World
By Kim Waldron
Director Stephan Schmidt
Featuring Ellis Charles Hoffmeister, Elida Jbeili, Mary Murphy, Jim Zukowski
Short Play
Absurdist. A new mother and father are sure they’re providing their newborn all that she needs. A co-worker and grandparents visit to welcome the new baby, each bringing a climate disaster in with them. Every time the living room door opens, water and wind bring more destruction in the room, always ignored by the characters. Oblivion is the constant. For example, Mommy and Daddy are proud of themselves for signing a petition over the lack of gender diversity in the panel on “How to Build a Nuclear Power Plant Safely in an Earthquake and Tsunami Zone.” The baby cries as disasters build, but Mommy can’t figure out what her little girl wants.
4:00pm – CLICK HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK
Fidelio
By Steven J, Harris
Directed by Beverly Thiele
Featuring Steve Saracino, Connor Chase Stewart, Benjamin J. Swanson, Charly Wenzel
One Act
Set in the early 1930s in Austria, Fidelio follows the titular Fidelio Hermann, his grandfather Papa Otto and his Mother Mathilda, as well as his best friend Karl Mayer. It is a short and sweet one-act play dealing with unrequited love in all shapes and sizes, and with the infinite length and imperceptible shortness of a given moment. It also includes brief moments of Schubert’s “Winterreise” in transitions to be sung by one of the actors (can be replaced by playback if necessary).
7:00pm – CLICK HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK
I COULD NEVER
By Chad Kaydo
Directed by Burak Tatar
Featuring KiYonna Carr, Jessica Van Niel, Ryan Bess Winnick
Full Length
Three women sit on the beach, watch their kids play in the water, and discuss a recent act of violence committed by a mother against her children. The women can’t conceive of doing such a thing…or can they? As they talk into the night, the women reveal more and more of their own frustrations with the husbands they supposedly feel lucky to have. Inspired by Euripides’ MEDEA, I COULD NEVER is an elliptical meditation on the limits we place on our imaginations, our empathy, and our own lives.
7:30pm – CLICK HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK
A Foray In Innocence
By Ronan Colfer
Directed By Moshe Henderson
Featuring Benjy Balatbat, Sonali Burns, Nicholas Capriotti, Michael Darby, Neil J Elda, Amy Finkbeiner, Paul Megna, Zaq Latino, Hannah Rose, Donna Svennevik, Alexandrea Thornton
Full Length
(1682 – London, England) When a young Prince is confronted with the death of his father he must now become the leader and man he always dreamt of being and bring forth his family’s legacy into new and enlightened areas, but he soon finds out that being a King isn’t quite the wonderful fantasy he had envisioned all those years.