News & Events

Jack Hofsiss’ Directing Class Seeks Actors!

A staged reading of selected new 10 minute plays from the students of Jack Hofsiss.
Show date is August 18.

AUDITIONS: THURSDAY, AUGUST 7^TH| 6:30 – 9:30pm | FIRST FLOOR STUDIO.
For consideration, please send headshot/resume to play’s director:

UNTITLED
By Kenneth Thompson
Directed by Pamela Renner & Mercy Oni
Submit to mercyoni@gmail.com
– Man A: (20’s or 30’s) Bill Collector. Has decided his job is morally wrong and wants to take a stand.
– Man B: (20’s or 30’s) Bill Collector. New father. Must choose: keep his job, or sell out his best friend. Continue reading →

HB Studio Invites Students to Audition for the Fall 2014 Term

Registration Begins August 1 for Ten-Week Term Starting September 15; Curriculum Features New Studio Classes and Workshops for All Levels

New York, NY (August 1, 2014) – HB Studio, one of New York’s original acting schools, announced that the start of registration for the Fall 2014 term will be on August 1. The ten-week term, which runs September 15 through November 23, offers an updated curriculum of studio classes and workshops for theatre professionals and also marks the start of the yearlong Hagen Core Training. In addition, for students seeking an affordable alternative to conservatory study, the Hagen Core provides a year of intensive focus on the practical aspects of professional acting techniques. Applications for all courses are accepted on a rolling basis, and candidates must audition. To learn more, visit hbstudio.org.

“HB has revitalized its program with emphasis firmly placed on the professional actor’s need for ongoing practice, opportunities to experiment, and the development of new skills. We are excited by the response this year to our new curriculum of core classes and workshops. Serious beginners are welcome, and intermediate and advanced classes require audition,” said HB Studio Executive and Artistic Director Edith Meeks. “As one of New York City’s original acting schools, we see HB Studio serving a different role than that of a college or conservatory. We are a resource, a central hub, and a workplace for actors at all stages of learning throughout their studies and careers.”

Continue reading →

Fall Registration – Early Bird Discount

Registration for the Fall Term is now open! Browse classes and register online today. The Fall Term runs 10 weeks, September 15 – November 23.

Early Bird Discount: HB Studio is offering a 10% discount on Fall Term enrollment for students who register by August 31.* Use code: 10FA14

Sign up for your audition today. New students wishing to study above our Level 1 class offerings are asked to audition before a faculty panel. For audition schedule, details and sign up info, visit the Auditions & Prerequisites page. Level 1 offerings are open to all without prerequisite or audition.

Interested in a trial class before registering? Audit classes this Summer to plan your Fall schedule. The fee for an audit is $20. Call 212-675-2370 for details and to schedule an audit.

(*Discount cannot be applied retroactively and is not valid for workshop offerings.)

Apply Now! The Hagen Core Training Program

The Hagen Institute still has places available in its Core Training program.

The Hagen Core Training is a full-time one-year training program for actors who seek full immersion in the practice of their craft. It runs Mon – Fri, 9:30am – 3:30pm, September 15, 2014 – June 5, 2015.
Applications accepted on a rolling basis. READ MORE

Make a Gift to Fill the Mezzanine!

We’re happy to report that we have already raised $10,131 to help support HB programs!

Our sincerest thanks and gratitude to everyone who has already made a contribution to our campaign. Every gift will greatly impact our work together and the creative journey that thousands of theatre artists take with us every term.

With the help of many loyal supporters and good friends, we’re well on our way to reaching our $30,000 goal.

Please, help us get there by August 31st.

If you have yet to make a contribution, please join us now. Your support will help our studio program of classes and workshops for theatre artists at all levels, and provide performance opportunities through our first floor residencies and ongoing performance labs.

Donations can also be earmarked for our scholarship fund to help those students with the greatest need, The Hagen Institute, performances and productions, and for improvements in our classrooms and buildings.

Please, help support the important work of HB and our thriving community of artists.Click here and make a gift today.

GHOSTS AFTER IBSEN

First Floor Studio Residency Project

written by Thomas Kilroy

Saturdays & Sundays | 7pm
August 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 & 24
HB First Floor Studio | 120 Bank Street
Free! | RSVP: ghostsreservations@gmail.com

Directed by Austin Pendleton
Featuring: Jim Broaddus*, Lauren Hobbs, Debra Lass*, Keegan McDonald & Joe Stillman
Assistant Director: Catherine Goodman
Dialect Coach: Amanda Quaid
Produced by: Debra Lass & Joe Stillman

Post-Show Audience Q&As:
– Aug 10 with Thomas Kilroy, moderated by Austin Pendleton
– Aug 23 with the cast and director

*member Actors Equity Association.
These performances are presented by kind permission of Thomas Kilroy © Thomas Kilroy 1989 Copyright agent: Alan Brodie Representation Ltd; www.alanbrodie.com

This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

People Who Make Theatre: REED BIRNEY

A conversation with Obie and Drama Desk Award-winning actor

Moderated by Louise Mittelman & Zach Wegner

Monday, July 14 | 7:30pm (doors at 7pm)
HB Playwrights Theatre, 124 Bank Street, NYC
All are welcome! Meet & Greet Reception to follow
$10 suggested donation | 5$ HB students & staff

RSVP online

Reed Birney was just seen in CASA VALENTINA at Manhattan Theatre Club, for which he won the 2014 Drama Desk Award: Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play. He recently appeared in Dennis Kelly’s TAKING CARE OF BABY at Manhattan Theater Club and at A.R.T. as Hubert Humphrey to Bryan Cranston’s LBJ in ALL THE WAY. Last winter he returned to Broadway in the Roundabout revival of PICNIC; his Broadway debut was in 1977 in Albert Innaurato’s smash hit GEMINI. In 2011, he received a Special Drama Desk Award honoring his thirty-six years of work as an actor. Recent productions: CORE VALUES at Ars Nova, HAPGOOD at Williamstown Theater Festival, UNCLE VANYA (Soho Rep-Drama Desk Nomination), Kim Rosenstock’s TIGERS BE STILL and David West Read’s THE DREAM OF THE BURNING BOY (Drama League, Outer Critics Circle nominations), both at The Roundabout Underground, and Adam Bock’s A SMALL FIRE at Playwrights Horizons, where he has appeared a record-breaking eight times. He was Ian in the New York premiere of Sarah Kane’s BLASTED in 2008 at Soho Rep, for which he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. He received an OBIE and Drama Desk Award for his performance in Annie Baker’s CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION also at Playwrights Horizons. He was Tony Blair in the acclaimed Public Theater production of STUFF HAPPENS. Other notable performances include the world premiere of Tony Kushner’s revised HOMEBODY/KABUL at Steppenwolf and The Taper; BUG (OBIE award); THE COMMON PURSUIT at the Promenade Theater; Gaev in THE CHERRY ORCHARD at Williamstown Theater Festival. He made his film debut in Arthur Penn and Steve Tesich’s FOUR FRIENDS, and has appeared in Clint Eastwood’s CHANGELING, MORNING GLORY and Jeff Lipsky’s TWELVE THIRTY and MOLLY’S THEORY OF RELATIVITY, and with Kristen Wiig in THE GIRL MOST LIKELY. He is Rep. Donald Blythe on the hit Netflix series, “House of Cards” and was seen as Patti LuPone’s husband in an episode of “Girls.” He won a 2006 Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Performance and this year Actor’s Equity awarded him the Richard Seff Award.

This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

BRIDAL SHOWER

First Floor Studio Performance Project

A reading of a new one act play
by Andrew Marvel

Sunday July 13 | 7:30pm
HB First Floor Studio | 120 Bank Street
Free! | RSVP online

Each evening will be followed by a talk back.

Directed by Joshua Lombard
With John Carhart, Omar Cruz, Dennis Joel Henriquez & Marshall Simon.

Gay weddings for republicans. REALLY? Mark, a 47-something New Yorker thinks the whole idea is absurd. So when an invitation arrives to celebrate the union of Mark’s ex-lover to an up-and-coming rightwing politician, Mark decides there is only one way he can attend: in drag. Admittedly, he’s no RuPaul, but that’s just fine by Mark, who relishes the idea of making people uncomfortable at this pretentious affair. BRIDAL SHOWER is a one-act play that explores the very different effects mainstream acceptance is having on the gay community.

This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Noël Coward Series of Workshops & Events

From September 2014 to June 2015, HB will be exploring the work of Noël Coward with a series of special workshops and events, made possible with support from the Noël Coward Foundation:

Fall People Who Make Theatre – Acting Coward: a symposium featuring guests who are connected to recent Noël Coward productions and scholarship.
Two Winter Workshops focused on Coward: an acting scene study intensive and a musical theatre workshop. HB master teacher and accomplished Broadway and film actor Austin Pendleton will lead the acting workshop. Tony Award winner Helen Gallagher will lead the musical theatre workshop. Both workshops will give performers the opportunity to rehearse, prepare and present scenes and songs from a range of Coward works, receiving feedback and adjustments from seasoned artists.
Spring Performance Lab: Noël Coward’s DESIGN FOR LIVING, led by Tony Award-winning director Jack Hofsiss. A five week exploration of the play, culminating in shared work-in-progress presentations. DESIGN FOR LIVING offers a keen perspective on the life of an artist, the search for success, love and identity as well as the artist’s need to be “other.” HB Performance Labs are open by audition to current and recent HB students, and participants take part free of charge.

Stay tuned for details as these programs get underway!

Audition now for the Fall Term!

The Fall Term begins September 15. Sign up for your audition today.

New students wishing to study above our Level 1 class offerings are asked to audition before a faculty panel.
For audition schedule, details and sign up info, visit the Auditions & Prerequisites page.

Level 1 offerings are open to all without prerequisite or audition.

The Fall Term runs 10 weeks, September 15 – November 23. Fall Term registration begins August 1.

Interested in a trial class before registering? Audit classes this Summer to plan your Fall schedule. The fee for an audit is $20. Call 212-675-2370 for details and to schedule an audit.