News & Events

HB Studio Performance Lab – Not Far From Where We Were Before: Scenes and Songs From Lerner & Loewe

Book & Lyrics: Alan Jay Lerner
Composer: Frederick Loewe

7PM | Fri, Sat & Sun | Nov 10, 11 & 12, 2017
HB Playwrights Theatre, 124 Bank St. | FREE

Directed by Robert McQueen

This autumn HB Studio presents a celebration of the work of musical theater writers Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. Not Far From Where We Were Before features a company of actors from the HB Musical Theater Studio Practice program. The evening includes scenes and songs from Lerner and Loewe’s most iconic musicals, such as My Fair Lady and Camelot, as well as earlier, lesser known work. Join us for an evening that honors two of the most important, beloved and celebrated voices in the American musical theater canon.
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The HB Studio Library is Now Open to Students!

Are you looking for some new reading material? Are you searching for a new play to work on?  The HB Studio Library has recently opened to students! We have over 3,000 titles on our shelves here on the third floor. For easier access, we just made it possible to request a book through the Librarika system. Browsing our library on the site is incredibly easy and efficient. Fall Term Library hours are Thursdays, 10am – 2pm.

Here is how you can create your own account:

  1. Log into https://librarika.com  (if you do not have an account, signup for one first).
  2. Go to My Libraries
  3. Click on Request Member Access
  4. Enter Full Library URL(https://hbstudio.librarika.com/) you want to join and click Submit.
  5. You will see join confirmation message instantly.
  6. If everything is ok, you can go to the library URL and be able to log in right away.

To check out a book: 

  1. Browse at hbstudio.librarika.com. When you find the text you want, select the option to request, which will be under the accession number on the book title’s detailed page.
  2. That Thursday, the Library Student Assistant will place the book in the ‘Check-Out Bin’ in the office, and will send you a confirmation email.
  3. Pick up your book from the ‘Check Out Bin.’ Books are due 14 days after they are placed in the ‘Checkout Bin’.
  4. Within 14 days, return your book to the ‘Check In Bin.’ You will receive a confirmation email that your book is successfully returned.

Please email library@hbstudio.org with any questions or concerns.

Enjoy browsing!
HB Studio Library Staff

Teachers and students are not permitted to retrieve books from the Library on their own. We ask that if a book is lost, stolen, or damaged you replace the book. You will be charged 25 cents a day for any late returns.

Student & Alumni News

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Chris Jaymes is a recurring character on Season 5 of Law & Order: Organized Crime, out now on NBC and Peacock.

Wynn McClenahan performs in Doughboys at The Vino Theatre from April 24-30.

A table reading of Velvet Rage: A Queer-Ass Play, written by Moshe Henderson and performed by Henderson, Seann Gallagher, Royce Johnson, and Zaq Latino, will take place at HB Playwrights Theatre on April 12.

Shyla Idris performs in Adam Driver at Chain Theatre as part of New York City Fringe from April 5-19.

Lynda Crawford has three plays in performance – The Audit at Urban Stages (performances through March 16) and both The Wonderer and Artificial Light at the Chain Theatre’s Spark Theatre Festival (single performance March 16).

Praying for Shakespeare, written and performed by Eric Weiner, plays at The Barrow Group Solo Show Festival on April 6 at 3:30pm. 

Kathleen Files performs in An Ideal Husband at Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown, NY, through March 30.

Ginger Grace appears in her interactive performance piece The First Ladies Coalition for Women’s History Month at the Moving Forward Together: Women Inspiring Generations Festival in Queens, NY from March 8-22, as well as Dave Brubeck Hall in Wilton, CT, on March 23.

Michelle Park stars in Truth Be Told at The Gene Frankel Theatre through March 9.

Mio Nakanishi performs in Avenue Q at Cultural Arts Playhouse on March 9 at 7pm and March 15 at 8pm.

John L. Payne performs in an upcoming production of The Taming of the Shrew with Frog and Peach Theater Company at American Theatre of Actors through March 23.

Chad Kaydo‘s play I’m Repeating Myself finishes its run at The Brick from March 4-6 at 8pm.

Techno Diva (UK link), directed by and starring Mare Costello, begins streaming on Amazon Prime.

Andrew R. Heinze has been awarded a New Jersey State Council for the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship, a $17,000 award to be used for further artistic exploration.

Nancy Redman stars in You Can’t Teach a Fish to Whistle at New York Theater Festival’s Hudson Guild Theater from February 27 – March 2.

Patrice Burkes performs in Akeelah & The Bee at Little Theatre in Raleigh NC through Feb 23.

Hari Bhaskar and Youlim Nam star in Just a Yellow Cab in New York City as part of Chain Theatre’s Winter One-Act Festival. The one-act play was written by Nim and directed by three-time Emmy winner Cady McClain. The final performance takes place Feb 18 at 8:30pm – show is part of Program #4.

Kevin Cheng will perform alongside Elizabeth McBryde in his play Dear Diary, part of Chain Theatre’s Winter One-Act Festival on Feb 22 at 5pm. Use code: DIARY25 for $19 tickets – show is part of Program #9.

Chris Jaymes recently starred in the two-hander The Saviour at Mānoa Valley Theater.

Fred Gordon‘s play I AM THE WOLF, a thriller set in modern-day Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, will be performed at New York Theater Festival’s Hudson Guild Theater on Feb 3 at 6:15pm, Feb 7 at 9pm, and Feb 9 at 3:30pm.

Student and Alumni News Archive

Katherine O’Sullivan is featured in An Chathair Mhór (Big City), screening at the Big Apple Film Festival on Nov 20 at 3:00pm at the LOOK Dine-In Cinema.

Raymond Turturro‘s film The Swan Way was accepted to the Big Apple Film Festival. It’s NYC Premiere on Nov 18 at 8:30pm at the LOOK Dine-In Cinema.

Moshe Henderson directs E.G.G. by Emile Aslan Lacheny, featuring HB Artist: KiYonna Carr, Annie Kefalas, Ash (Sound Designer) performing at the Tank, Nov 12–23. In an apocalyptic future, four survivors find an enigmatic young girl guarding a massive egg she claims holds humanity’s future, forcing them to confront faith, doubt, and despair as they wrestle with the impossible.

Beverly O’Regan Thiele performs in Imagine: America, a concert of uplifting Americana and Country songs to help us get through these stressful pre-election times. With jazz, studio guitarist Monroe Quinn. Part of their Tuesday Night Performance Series, “In the Sanctuary”. Performance is on Oct 29 at 7:00pm at Rutgers Presbyterian Church.

Eric Roffman speaks in a dive about eXtended Reality and an introduction into what AI can do (and should not be allowed to do), XR (& AI) Today & for The Next Four Years. The emphasis is on aspects of story-making and story-telling, for actors, directors, writers, producers, and other creative artists.

Raymond Turturro‘s film The Swan Way was accepted to the Orlando Film Festival, playing Nov 2 at 2pm and Nov 5 at 8pm at the CMX Cinemas Plaza Café in Downtown Orlando.

Renée Stork, who studies with Michael Beckett, recently appeared in a recurring role as Judge Whitney on the season finale of NBC’s Law & Order. She guest starred as Rachel Picaggli in the 4th season finale of FBI: Most Wanted on CBS. Renée will also appear as Ruth Hill in the highly anticipated mini series, The Penguin which begins streaming on Max in September 2024.

Jennifer Stepanyk plays Daisy in Eugene Ionesco’s Rhinoceros at The Slipper Room. Runs Oct 26–Nov 3.

Ted Brunetti co-stars in Law & Order: Organized Crime.

Pat Dwyer co-stars in Allan Piper’s absurdist black comedy/horror feature, eVil Sublet (as in East Village Sublet). Available now on Prime, Fandango and On-Demand/Spectrum. A dark hilarious romp through the horrors of Manhattan Real Estate featuring TV legend, Sally Struthers in her genre debut.

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PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEATER: The Musical Magic of Lerner & Loewe

A conversation with musicologist Dominic McHugh, a primary authority on the work of Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner, and Emily Altman, president of the Frederick Loewe Foundation. With songs performed by Tony-nominee Melissa Errico in a special guest appearance.

Mon, Nov 13, 2017 | 7pm | FREE
HB Playwrights Theatre, 124 Bank St

Join us for an in-depth conversation about the musical artistry and creative partnership of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, the genius pairing behind such classic works as MY FAIR LADY, BRIGADOON, CAMELOT, GIGI, and PAINT YOUR WAGON. Continue reading →

Financial Aid for Winter Term

Applications for the winter term have closed.

Two forms of financial aid are available: Scholarships and Work Study. Scholarships cover partial costs of a single class. Work Study positions cover the full price of a single class in exchange for weekly shifts helping at the Studio. Students taking multiple classes are given priority for Work Study positions. Financial aid is awarded on consideration of both merit and need. read more.

Winter Term will run 10 weeks, January 8 – March 18, 2018. Registration opens Nov 1.

Info Session: Performance and Project Development Opportunities at HB Studio – Oct 25.

Want to know more about opportunities to perform or develop your own work at HB? Whether you are an actor, playwright, director, an individual or a member of a collective, we’ll give you a rundown of current opportunities available to HB Students to:

  • Perform
  • Audition
  • Get your info into our casting files
  • Develop a project in a rehearsal space residency
  • Submit a new play for consideration for reading or production
  • Rent space to produce your own work
…and more!
Wednesday, October 25 at 2:00PM
HB Playwrights Theatre, 124 Bank Street

 

First Floor Studio Residency – BEE

BEE Distressed image of woman with scarf over her head. By Iranian photographer Shadi Ghadirian
A First Floor Studio Residency Project

Created by Melody Erfani
Written by Sean Michael Welch

Saturdays & Sundays – November 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19 | 7:30 pm

BEE is the story of Izat, a young Iranian girl trapped in an abusive marriage in the 1940’s. After years of suffering both physically and mentally at the hands of her spouse, she knows the only way she will survive is if she is able to leave him. In an unprecedented move, her father is able to use his influence to secure a divorce for her. The story intertwines with interviews from immigrants who have had to make the difficult choice of leaving their homeland because their very survival was at stake.

Lower East Side Shakespeare Co. has taken on a new challenge in that they are producing new work in the vein of creating like Shakespeare. BEE created by Melody Erfani and written by Sean Michael Welch is a piece that is intended to start dialogue and discussion.

SHIRLEY VALENTINE by Willy Russell

SHIRLEY VALENTINE Poster image of a bikini on a clothes line with pots and pans against a rustic stone wall.
by Willy Russell
Directed by Carol Rosenfeld

Featuring: Antonietta Corvinelli

Assistant Director 
Kenneth Thompson
Set Designer 
Nikolay Svridchik
Light Designer
 Liz Nielsen
Sound Designer Aaron Minerbrook
Costume Designer 
Michael Massee
Stage Manager Richard Lear*
Assistant Stage Manager
 Camilo Ramirez


Saturday, October 14 at 7pm & Sunday, October 15 at 3pm

HB Playwrights Theatre, 124 Bank Street
FREE

A holiday in Greece refreshes a Liverpool housewife in more ways than one.

“Shirley Valentine” is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.
*Appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, Equity approved Showcase.

This program is supported in part through public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and many generous supporters.

Upcoming Half-Term Classes for Fall 2017

Join us for the second half of Fall Term with one of these 5-week classes or workshops:

Singing for the Musical Theater – Studio Practice – with Helen Gallagher
3:15 PM – 5:45 PM | Tuesdays | 10/17/2017 – 11/14/2017 | $230
By submission.

Art of Transformation – Part 2 – with Janice Orlandi
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM | Wednesdays | 10/18/2017 – 11/15/2017  | $180

Actuar en Español / Acting in Spanish – with Pablo Andrade & Maria Fontanals
1:00 PM – 3:30 PM | Mondays | 10/23/2017 – 11/20/2017 | $230

Acting in Accent: Cockney – with Amanda Quaid
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Fridays | 10/20/2017 – 11/17/2017 | $205.00
Application required. Apply online by October 6, 2017

Amy Herzog Scene Study – with Austin Pendleton
11:30 AM – 2:30 PM | Mondays | 10/16/2017 – 11/13/2017 | $275.00
Open to Studio Practice Level students or by application. Apply online by October 2.

María Irene Fornés Scene Study – with George Bartenieff & Paul Pryce
3:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Fridays | 10/20/2017 – 11/17/2017 | $270.00

Acting Through the Method of Etudes 1 – Monologues – with Snezhana Chernova
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Sundays | 10/22/2017 – 11/19/2017 | $270.00

The Actor and the Business – with Vincent Pastore
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Tuesdays | 11/7/2017 – 12/5/2017 (4 weeks) | $250.00

Intro to Stage Combat – with Christian Kelly-Sordelet
1:15 PM – 3:15 PM | Tuesdays | 11/7/2017 – 12/12/2017 | $180.00

Advanced Acting with the Camera – with Mark Blum
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Saturdays | 11/11/2017 – 12/16/2017 | $325.00
Open to Level 2 & Up or by a submission or audition