News & Events

A FEW MOONS OF ARABIAN NIGHTS

HB PERFORMANCE LAB

Directed and Designed By Aleksey Burago

Sunday, June 8 | 8pm
HB Studio, First Floor Studio | 120 Bank Street
Free! RSVP

This HB Performance Lab is designed to explore classical fairy tales through a contemporary point of view. Based on one of the most beloved texts in ancient literature, A FEW MOONS OF ARABIAN NIGHTS is a sensual collection of Persian, Arabian and Indian folk tales handed down through several centuries.

With: Marcus Castillo, Pat Clune, Hazen Cuyler, Tania Fisher, Toni Goldman,
Maria Fontanals, James Fordyce, Fiona Georgiadi, Hugh Heckman, Michael Johnson,
Manho Kim, Joan La Barbara, Jacqueline Margolis, Patricia Perales,
Sneha Ramachander, Jamie Sheedy, Ingrid Wheatley, Di Zhu

Original music by: Di Zhu
Choreographer: Irina Emelianova

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.

Casting Notice: First Floor Studio Performance Project

Seeking 3 male actors to participate in a HB First Floor Studio Project of “Bridal Shower” by Andrew Marvel, directed by Joshua Lombard.

Breakdown:

Tristan – Mid to late 20’s. Latino. Speaks English fluently. Sincere, grounded young man striving to carve out a place for himself in New York. Ambitious yet practical. Stubborn and petulant. A survivor. In a relationship with Mark, a man in his 40s.
Matthew – 40’s. LLBean on the outside, progressive-leaning on the inside. A successful investment banker who lives very much in the mainstream and has broken through his own fears and prejudices to marry the love of his life, Raul, in a very public setting.
Raul – 40’s. Cuban American. A recently elected openly gay New Jersey Assemblyman. Operates in a very conservative setting, but with a strong sense of self, and a sense of entitlement that has meant never denying his sexuality. Hot tempered and self-assured. A politician at heart.

Please email headshots and resumes ASAP to BOTH
Joshua Lombard – joshuamlombard@gmail.com
Andrew Marvel – drew2L@yahoo.com

People Who Make Theatre: INCUBATOR ARTS PROJECT

A CONVERSATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF
NEW WORK WITH SAMARA NAEYMI: INCUBATOR
ARTS PROJECT PRODUCING DIRECTOR AND CURATOR

Moderated by Theresa Buchheister

Monday, June 30, 2014 | 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

The 2010 Obie Award winning Incubator Arts Project was originally known as INCUBATOR and began in 2005 as a program of Richard Foreman’s legendary Ontological-Hysteric Theater. Prior to 2005, there was over a decade of ad-hoc programs serving emerging artists working experimentally including the Obie-winning Blueprint Series for emerging directors. As of July 1 2014, the Incubator Arts Project will close its doors at St Mark’s Church. From 2005 – 2014 Incubator Arts Project cultivated and presented a multi-generational community of artists who challenge the conventions of live performance by producing original work at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery. IAP programs provided access to a fully equipped venue along with personalized career support and strategic investment of resources individually tailored to the needs of each artist. By providing production opportunities for early career artists, Incubator Arts Project functions as a training ground where formative repertoire is conceived and new work can be constructed as each participant’s artistic voice develops a distinct style. In addition to offering artists exclusive access to a theater, technical assistance and administrative support, IAP provides them with professional mentoring and advisement to assist them in the process of making well-considered choices in support of their long-term stability and success during all stages of their careers.

Core programs included the New Performance Series, Other Forces, Music and Short Form. Incubator Arts Project is fiscally managed by Performing Artservices Inc., a nonprofit arts organization based in NYC and is artistically led by a team of Curators who collectively make programmatic artistic and organizational decision. The Incubator Arts Project 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, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Fund for Small Theatres, a project of A.R.T./New York, The Mental Insight Foundation, Dramatists Guild Fund and The Puffin Foundation.

Samara Naeymi is a Brooklyn based theater artist, voice actor and producer. She has been a curator, artistic director and producer of the Incubator Arts Project since 2009. Incubator Arts Project presents contemporary theater artists year round at its venue inside the historic St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery and has been praised in print nationally and locally for it’s vibrant, enigmatic new work (NY Times) and gutsy curation (American Theater Magazine). In 2010 Incubator was awarded a Village Voice Obie Award and in 2012 became a recommended venue in Time Out NY. In addition to her work with Incubator, Samara creates theater with Brendan Regimbal, their latest work was the critically acclaimed original work AVIARY. She has produced the widely popular variety show MAMMA RICE N’ FRIENDS since 2009 and continues to work with Xavier “Mamma” Rice on his solo projects. As a voice actor Samara is on staff for Pandora Radio, Premiere Radio Networks and Brick Shop Audio. Her most recent work was narration for the best selling novel TROPHY HUSBAND.

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.

Performance Lab Auditions: THE CONDUCT OF LIFE

BY MARIA IRENE FORNES
DIRECTED BY GEORGE BARTENIEFF

AUDITIONS:
Tues, June 3, 3pm – 5pm
Fri, June 6, 6pm – 8pm
Tues, June 10, 3pm – 5pm
Fri, June 13, 6pm – 8pm

To schedule your audition visit or call the registration office: 212-675-2370 x. 1

– Please read the play prior to your audition. Copies are available to read in the registration office.
– Prepare sides, available for pick up in the registration office.
– Please bring headshot & resume to your audition.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
• ORLANDO (m) – A young career officer
• LETICIA (f) – Several years older, always speaks her mind, wife to Orlando
• ALEJO (m) – Schoolteacher friend to Leticia
• OLIMPIA (f) – Servant to the house
• NENA (f) – Woman of color, prisoner to Orlando

This lab is offered free of charge to current and recent HB students: those registered for the 2014 Summer term or those previously enrolled during the 2014 Spring or 2014 Winter terms.

The Lab meets June 18 2014 – July 18, 2014, Wed, Thu, Fri, 6:30pm – 9:30pm
With additional performances on Sat & Sun, July 19 & 20.

People Who Make Theatre: RACHEL CHAVKIN of THE TEAM

MODERATED TALK WITH AWARD WINNING
BROOKLYN BASED DIRECTOR

Moderated by Jane Fujita

Monday, June 16, 2014 | 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 HERE

Rachel Chavkin is an Obie Award-winning, Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel nominated director, and the Artistic Director of Brooklyn-based ensemble, the TEAM (www.theteamplays.org), whose work was recently ranked Best of 2013 on three continents. Selected freelance: Dave Malloy’s NATASHA, PIERRE, AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 (World Premiere – Ars Nova; Kazino – commercial transfer, New York Times, Time Out New York and New York Post Critics’ Picks); British live artist Chris Thorpe’s CONFIRMATION (Warwick Arts Centre and Battersea Arts Centre); Joseph Heller’s CATCH-22 (Northern Stage, UK national tour); Meg Miroshnik’s THE FAIRYTALE LIVES OF RUSSIAN GIRLS (Yale Rep); and multiple collaborations with Taylor Mac, including his extravaganza THE LILY’S REVENGE (World Premiere (Act II) – HERE). NYTW Usual Suspect, Artistic Associate at London’s Gate Theatre and Classic Stage Company, alum of Soho Rep’s Writer/Director Lab, Drama League Directors Project, Women’s Project Director’s Lab, and New Georges Affiliate Artist. She has also taught extensively at NYU, Pace, and other colleges. B.F.A. NYU, M.F.A. Columbia.

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.

Summer Classes

Registration is now open for the Summer Term! Summer Term runs 10 weeks, June 16 – August 24.

Auditions for new students wishing to study above level 1 will be held May 8, June 3, 5, & 12. Visit our Audition page for more information and to sign up.

Browse our class offerings and register online, or call the registration office: 212-675-2370 x. 1

THE STORY OF YOU

First Floor Studio Performance Project

Written and Performed by Brian Kelly

Saturdays, May 3, 10, 17, & 24 | 7pm
Sundays, May 4, 11, 18, & 25 | 6pm
HB Studio, First Floor Studio | 120 Bank Street
Free!

Stories from a dam with no water, behind the bar, offshore, on deck, across the table, from the side of the road, under the influence, with imaginary flashbulbs. I am. Nowhere. Full pitch full blast drifting open.

Editing, guidance, and direction: Christina LaPrease,
Therese Plummer and Eric Michael Gillett
Sound design: Jun Mizumachi

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.

Auditions: The Jack & Julie Project

A collaborative staged reading of selected new 10 minute plays from the students of Julie McKee directed by the students of Jack Hofsiss, with set design by Nikolay Sviridchik.
Show date is June 2nd.

AUDITIONS: MONDAY, APRIL 28^th| 6:30pm – 9:30pm | FIRST FLOOR STUDIO.
For consideration, please sendheadshot/resume to play’s director:

DINNER FOR TWO, by Peter Klein. Directed By Kenneth Thompson
Submit to Kthompson@hbstudio.org
Carol: (50) Attractive and attentive, likes to stay at home. Feels that her husband has grown distant and maybe is having an affair.
Henry: (50) Carol’s husband, a dental surgeon. Feels that life has passed him by. Tries to be polite but is irritable and prone to headaches.

THE GREATER GOOD, by Jane L. Watson. Directed By Jennifer Bond
Submit to jenniferbond383@gmail.com
Aimee: (20’s) A young, attractive college girl in trouble after a brief affair with her professor.
Betty: (50’s-60’s) A jaded nun who attempts to create her own “miracle”.

HOME, by Zoe Lasden-Lyman. Directed By Craig Perkins
Submit to cpengage@gmail.com
Woman: (60’s) In the late stages of Alzheimers
Nurse: (20’s) Worker Bee.

INTO THE FORREST, by Mayumi Lane. Directed By Stephan Schmidt
Submit to stephan@chatlag.net
Hans: (M, 30’s) A woodcutter.
Heidi: (F, 19) Hans’ second wife, a stay at home mom.

CAFFEINE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS, by Claire Torn. Directed by Vero Barr
Submit to a.veronica.barr@gmail.com
Stephan: (25-30) Coffee shop barista. Serious, attentive, expressive.
Olivia: (25-30) Coffee shop customer. Coffee addict; Eccentric, loud, obnoxious, charming.

JUST DESSERT, by John Mahoney. Directed By Laurent Wilson
Submit to laurentcw@gmail.com
Sofia: (mid/late 20’s) Italian American woman hailing from NJ. Attractive, feisty and determined to rise above her blue collar.
Marty: (late 40’s) Italian American man with a bad habit of dealing with the mob. A menacing guy from the streets with a great love of family and his daughter

COFFEE AND MURAKAMI, by Inna Tysyrlin. Directed By Alina Sokolova
Submit to alinka_malinka@ymail.com
Mandy: (early 30’s) She is excited and enthusiastic at the start, but cautious and skeptical as the play continues
Ben/Rick: (early/mid 30’s) He is attractive in a subtle way, and is very attracted to Mandy

HB Studio Receives National Endowment for the Arts Grant

April 21, 2014 | New York, NY— National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Acting Chairman Joan Shigekawa announced last week that HB Studio is one of 886 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant. HB Studio is recommended for a grant to support professional development courses, workshops, labs, and residencies.

These programs offer artists opportunities to both strengthen core competencies in acting, playwriting, and directing, and to experiment with new skills that expand their repertoire. Theatre artists, like artists in all fields, require time and space away from audiences and critics to hone their craft. Each artist faces different hurdles as he or she progresses professionally. Some actors are pigeonholed into roles; some directors become the go-to person for a particular style; some playwrights take time away to raise families or seek work in other fields. These programs provide these artists a supportive and challenging environment to go out on a limb artistically and break creative habits; to build the needed versatility to become competitive in new areas of their business; and to test new ideas that are not yet ready for public evaluation.

NEA Acting Chairman Shigekawa said, “The NEA is pleased to announce that HB Studio is recommended for an NEA Art Works grant. These NEA-supported projects will not only have a positive impact on local economies, but will also provide opportunities for people of all ages to participate in the arts, help our communities to become more vibrant, and support our nation’s artists as they contribute to our cultural landscape.”

Art Works grants support the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and enhancement of the livability of communities through the arts. The NEA received 1,515 eligible applications under the Art Workscategory, requesting more than $76 million in funding. Of those applications, 886 are recommended for grants for a total of $25.8 million.

For a complete listing of projects recommended for Art Works grant support, please visit the NEA website at arts.gov.

People Who Make Theatre: JOSHUA ASTRACHAN

Moderated talk with film producer

A discussion about the art and business of acting on film!

Monday, April 28, 2014 | 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 HERE

JOSHUA ASTRACHAN, in July 2012, co-founded ANIMAL KINGDOM, the film and television production company under whose banner he produced SHORT TERM 12, by writer/director Destin Daniel Cretton. That film, starring Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr, Kaitlyn Dever, Rami Malek and Keith Stanfield, premiered at SXSW in 2013, where it was awarded the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature. It went on to receive awards at numerous additional festivals, from Little Rock to Los Angeles to Locarno – and beyond. SHORT TERM 12 was released by Cinedgim to extraordinary critical acclaim –and was named one of the 10 best films of 2013 by, among others, New York Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic, Forbes, and E! Online. For her performance in the film, Brie Larson was awarded the Best Actress prize at both the 66° Locarno Film Festival and the 23rd IFP Gotham Independent Film Awards.

In 2011, under the LOCOMOTIVE banner (a company he founded with producer Lucy Barzun Donnelly), Astrachan produced Jennifer Westfeldt’s celebrated ensemble comedy FRIENDS WITH KIDS, starring Westfeldt, Adam Scott, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Chris O’Dowd, Maya Rudolph, Megan Fox and Edward Burns. The film premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival and was theatrically released by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions in March, 2012. The film was named by New York Magazine’s film critic, David Edelstein, as one of the 10 best films of 2012.

Prior to LOCOMOTIVE, Astrachan was a producer for the better part of a decade for the great American film director Robert Altman. He produced Altman’s last film, A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION(2006), written by Garrison Keillor and starring Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, John C. Reilly, Woody Harrelson and Kevin Kline. Astrachan also produced THE COMPANY(2003), Altman’s narrative feature set in the world of dance, starring Neve Campbell, James Franco, Malcolm McDowell and the company members of the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago.

He co-produced the critically-acclaimed, Academy Award-winning and seven-time Oscar-nominated GOSFORD PARK(2001), starring, among others, Maggie Smith, Clive Owen, Kelly Macdonald, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jeremy Northam, Emily Watson and Bob Balaban. For GOSFORD PARK, Altman received the Golden Globe and New York Film Critics Circle Award as Best Director.

Before working in film, Astrachan was the co-founder and Artistic Director of NEW ARTS, a not-for- profit theater production company that developed and presented new plays by American writers in New York City.

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.