The Light We Carry Festival

May 30 – June 5

HB Studio’s New Annual Festival

Featuring Special Performances, Screenings, Masterclasses, Conversations, and More from the HB Community

Reservations Available Now

Throughout HB Studio’s rich history, we have acted as a home for artists to hone their craft, to promote the value of excellence through effort and to honor the brilliant staff who have made us the longest continually active theater school in New York City. Since HB’s 1945 beginnings, the Studio has been inextricable from the history of American theater, film and television. The spirit that Herbert Berghof, Uta Hagen and hundreds of other teaching artists and creators crafted at HB Studio over the decades has never been limited to our longtime home at Bank Street. We exist within an 81 year lineage of thousands of performers. We are the spotlight that shines on each new generation of actors, whether it’s on Broadway or at their first moment in the rehearsal room. Now we are letting that beacon shine even brighter: to illuminate our past, set the scene for our present and peer into our future.

Welcome to HB Studio’s first annual The Light We Carry Festival.

Over the course of a full week running from May 30-June 5, HB Studio will host performances, workshops, masterclasses, and other events to invite our community to appreciate and engage with the talent that HB produces today. We will also act as a hub for the collection of oral histories, familiar ground for prior eras of performers to reunite with alumni, a gallery to peruse exhibitions of HB ephemera, and an opportunity to look back on all the work that brought us to now. Lastly, The Light We Carry will offer a glimpse of HB’s future with special events at major theaters around the city, conversations around trends in contemporary performance and a closing night party on Bank Street. Whether you’re a past student, a current practitioner, curious about becoming a new student or simply want to know more about the tradition of American theater, we invite you to join us for The Light We Carry.

Festival highlights include:

A conversation with Jessica Hecht, Mercedes Ruehl, Marsha Mason, and Peter Francis James with Victor Slezak at the venerable Lucille Lortel Theatre on June 1
Light & Memory, a multi-day exhibition of the HB archives
A screening of Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s 1963 movie Cleopatra (featuring Herbert Berghof) at IFC Center on June 3
Over a dozen more events at HB’s Bank Street campus including a community-wide street party

Festival Ambassadors of the Day

Each day of The Light We Carry Festival will be guided by Festival Ambassadors of the Day: artists, alums or members of the extended HB community invited to embody the spirit of that festival day’s theme. These Ambassadors will serve as a connective presence throughout these events, offering a brief introduction, framing the day’s theme or helping to carry the conversation along between artists and audiences. We are pleased to welcome them as valued representatives of HB’s living history.

Day 1 – Carrying the Flame

Ambassadors of the Day: Carol Rosenfeld (HB Teaching Artist, Founder of the The Hagen Institute) and Jim Boerlin (Program Administrator of The Hagen Institute)

Saturday, May 30 at 6:00 pm
Where We Began : A Ritual Walk
Beginning at 108 West 16th Street, ending at 124 Bank Street
Free and Open to the Public
We begin our weeklong The Light We Carry Festival in the place where HB Studio originated. You are invited to gather at the physical location of our original home on West 16th Street in Manhattan to commune with the energy of our foundation. Then, hand in hand with our present Co-Executive Directors Francesca Ferrara and Christopher Hibma with key figures from HB’s past, we will intentionally move with the group toward our current location on Bank Street, carrying memory, lineage, and passion for our future. We ask those who are capable to join us on our route for an act of procession and practice, a living acknowledgment that the work of acting, like the work of community, is transmitted body to body, step by step. Participants will depart promptly at 6:15pm from 16th street; you can follow our route on this map. For those who find street travel complicated, please meet us at 124 Bank Street for a toast leading into a live performance at HB Playwrights Theatre.

Saturday, May 30 at 7:00 pm
All in the Timing by David Ives – A Staged Performance
at HB Playwrights Theatre, 124 Bank Street
$25
For this signature performance at HB’s historic Playwrights Theatre, HB Studio’s own Hagen Core Ensemble will bring Uta Hagen’s teachings into the present moment with a live performance of author David Ives’ classic 1993 one-act anthology All in the Timing. Through deft character study and sharp writing, Ives’ classic hit provides a spectacular platform for our highly trained students to show their skill in what is sure to be an exciting and entertaining night of theater. This culminating presentation will also offer insight into the activated practice of one of HB’s legendary founders. Through rigor, restraint and lived presence, the ensemble will demonstrate how focused craft endures when it is practiced daily and re-earned in every generation. These performances are dedicated to the late Obie Award-winning actor, educator and former director of HB Studio’s Hagen Core Training Program, Mark Blum. Please join us after this show for our Festival Opening Party at the Helen Gallagher Studio.

Saturday, May 30 at 8:45 pm
The Light We Carry Festival Opening Night Party
at HB Studio at 120 Bank Street in the Helen Gallagher Studio
Free and Open to the Public – Sponsored by Dalla Terra Wine and Spirits
Join us for an opening-night gathering for artists, alumni, students, and friends of HB at a celebration of return and arrival. This event marks the formal beginning of The Light We Carry Festival with friendship, community, light snacks and wine provided by our sponsor Dalla Terra Italian Wine and Spirits. Come and contribute to the next chapter in the storied history of HB Studio.

Day 2 – Living the Craft

Ambassadors of the Day: Letty Ferrer (HB Hagen Legacy Chair and Daughter of Uta Hagen) and Teresa Teuscher (Granddaughter of Uta Hagen)

Sunday, May 31 at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm
All in the Timing by David Ives – A Staged Performance
at HB Playwrights Theatre, 124 Bank Street
$25
For this signature performance at HB’s historic Playwrights Theatre, HB Studio’s own Hagen Core Ensemble will bring Uta Hagen’s teachings into the present moment with a live performance of the entirety of author David Ives’ classic 1993 one-act anthology All in the Timing. Through deft character study and sharp writing, Ives’ classic hit provides a spectacular platform for our highly trained students to show their significant skill in what is sure to be an exciting and entertaining night of theater. This culminating presentation will also offer insight into the activated practice of one of HB’s legendary founders.Through rigor, restraint and lived presence, the ensemble will demonstrate how focused craft endures when it is practiced daily and re-earned in every generation. These performances are dedicated to the late Obie Award-winning actor and former director of HB Studio’s Hagen Core Training Program, Mark Blum.

Day 3 – Roots and Stories

Ambassadors of the Day: Matthew Conlon (HB Alum) and Katharine Cullison (HB Alum)

Monday, June 1 from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Light & Memory : An Exhibition
at HB Studio’s Lobby at 120 Bank Street
Free and Open to the Public
Sourced from the HB archives, the effects of founder Herbert Berghof, the estate of iconic educator Uta Hagen and the personal collections of HB Teaching Artists and alumni, this HB-centered exhibition will include photographs, letters, programs, and ephemera that trace decades of practice and artistic devotion. Much of the material on display has not been seen in decades; some items will be instantly familiar as beloved installations within the building. Long time regulars and first-time visitors alike will find unique relics that reveal the past of our storied institution. Alongside the exhibition, visitors will be invited to contribute their own memories through an on-site recording station, charting a pathway forward to a living oral history in our HB digital archive.

Monday, June 1 at 2:00 pm
Film Screening – While We Are Here: When Theater Becomes Refuge
at HB Playwrights Theatre at 124 Bank Street
Free and Open to the Public
The one hour documentary film While We Are Here is a love letter to the HB Studio community and to the path of the actor. Filmed by Sara Velasco, an actor and filmmaker from Spain who studied at HB Studio in 2025 as a Fulbright grantee, this insightful portrait brings together voices from across the HB community, each carrying their own story, their own path, and their own reasons for committing to the work. This film observes a community built around training, questioning, and collaboration. Through interviews, classroom moments, and culminating moments of performance, While We Are Here offers a collective portrait of HB Studio that honors its legacy while simultaneously reflecting on its modern relevancy. Tonight marks the first public screening of While We Are Here in its finished form.

Monday, June 1 at 4:00 pm
In Memoriam : Remembering Friends Who Have Passed
at HB Playwrights Theatre at 124 Bank Street
Free and Open to the Public
This participatory communal remembrance will honor our recently departed members of the HB family, with particular attention to those who have left us since 2020. Participants are invited to join us and share their memories and physical remembrances of the spirits who still resonate in our Studio. We invite you to speak on your experience with the departed as we intentionally host a space where the lives of those we have loved and lost can be celebrated in words and song.

Monday, June 1 at 7:00 pm
HB Studio and Lucille Lortel Theatre present
In Conversation: Respect for Acting with Jessica Hecht, Mercedes Ruehl, Marsha Mason, Peter Francis James, and Moderator Victor Slezak
at The Lucille Lortel Theatre at 121 Christopher Street
$25 – 90 Minutes – Tickets on Sale Soon
HB Studio, in partnership with Greenwich Village’s venerable Lucille Lortel Theatre, presents a public conversation exploring the enduring relevance of Uta Hagen’s legendary Respect for Acting, a book that has influenced and inspired generations of actors. The panel, moderated by HB Board Member and alumni Victor Slezak, is scheduled to include the Tony and Emmy nominee Jessica Hecht (HB teaching artist); Academy Award nominee and 2-time Golden Globe winner Marsha Mason (HB teaching artist); Tony, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winner Mercedes Ruehl (HB teaching artist) and Obie and Lortel Award-winner Peter Francis James (HB teaching artist). This impressive and gifted assembly will examine their craft as a lifelong practice and as a way of life, with particular attention to how Respect for Acting has impacted them personally. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear shared insights from an august collection of performers at the top of their game. Participating panelists are subject to change.

Day 4 – Inside the Practice

Ambassadors of the Day: Craig MacAurthur Dolezel (HB Teaching Artist & Artistic Council) and Marlene Mancini, HB Teaching Artist, Former HB Playwrights Managing Director

Tuesday, June 2 from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Light & Memory : An Exhibition
at HB Studio’s Lobby at 120 Bank Street
Free and Open to the Public
Sourced from the HB archives, the effects of founder Herbert Berghof, the estate of iconic educator Uta Hagen and the personal collections of HB Teaching Artists and alumni, this HB-centered exhibition will include photographs, letters, programs, and ephemera that trace decades of practice and artistic devotion. Much of the material on display has not been seen in decades; some items will be instantly familiar as beloved installations within the building. Long time regulars and first-time visitors alike will find unique relics that reveal the past of our storied institution. Alongside the exhibition, visitors will be invited to contribute their own memories through an on-site recording station, charting a pathway forward to a living oral history in our HB digital archive.

Tuesday, June 2 at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm
A Taste of HB : Participatory Masterclasses
at HB Studio at 120 Bank Street and 124 Bank Street
Free and Open to the Public
Every day, HB welcomes curious and aspiring actors into our studio space to explore the boundaries of their talent. At this series of four free masterclasses led by HB teaching artists, we invite first-time performers to experience what our classroom has to offer. Join us at our first floor studio in 120 Bank Street and at our 124 Bank Street Theatre space for workshops on the topics of Voice, Speech, Movement and Clowning with HB Teaching Artists. Please plan to be at HB at least 20 minutes before the respective 11am and 1pm class times so that you can claim a seat, put your bags down and be ready to get started!

Tuesday, June 2 at 3:00 pm
Behind the Studio Doors : An Introduction to HB Studio
at HB Playwrights Theatre at 124 Bank Street
Free and Open to the Public
Walking through the doors at HB Studio has been many great actors’ first step toward fame, fortune and a full-time career in the theater. Come and see what the greats have seen on this tour through HB’s classrooms, rehearsal halls and private spaces. Your guide will provide historical context, show you some of the studio’s hidden secrets and share rarely-heard stories of the people that keep HB alive. Cap off your tour with a live performance from HB students.

Tuesday, June 2 at 7:00 pm
In Performance : An Evening of Scenes by Donna deMatteo and her Long-Time Students
at HB Playwrights Theatre at 124 Bank Street
$10
Donna deMatteo (d. 2024) was a beloved member of the HB community who served for many years as the Executive Director of the HB Playwrights Foundation, where she taught her craft every Tuesday night. Many of deMatteo’s productions were directed by Herbert Berghoff and starred Uta Hagen. Her plays engaged with issues ranging from her own childhood trauma to the emotional dynamic between husband/wife and parent/child. As an Italian American who grew up in Harlem, Donna also explored themes associated with the culture of New York’s Italian American community, addressing homophobia, drug abuse and organized crime. In 2026, deMatteo’s playwriting class is still going strong. At this memorial event, teaching artist and deMatteo mentee Bill Quigley will lead his students through staged readings of scenes from Donna’s plays and their own.

Day 5 – Investing in What Endures

Ambassadors of the Day: Christopher Abbott, (HB Alum) and Kim Allen-Mills (HB Board of Directors)

Wednesday, June 3 from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Light & Memory : An Exhibition
at HB Studio’s Lobby at 120 Bank Street
Free and Open to the Public
Sourced from the HB archives, the effects of founder Herbert Berghof, the estate of iconic educator Uta Hagen and the personal collections of HB Teaching Artists and alumni, this HB-centered exhibition will include photographs, letters, programs, and ephemera that trace decades of practice and artistic devotion. Much of the material on display has not been seen in decades; some items will be instantly familiar as beloved installations within the building. Long time regulars and first-time visitors alike will find unique relics that reveal the past of our storied institution. Alongside the exhibition, visitors will be invited to contribute their own memories through an on-site recording station, charting a pathway forward to a living oral history in our HB digital archive.

Wednesday, June 3 at 1:00 pm
Cleopatra (1963): An HB Legacy Screening
at IFC Center at 323 Sixth Avenue
$15 – Tickets on Sale Soon
The educator and actor Herbert Berghof is the namesake of HB Studio, NYC’s longest continuously-running acting school. In addition to his role as HB’s founder, Berghof was a busy actor on and off Broadway with a regular schedule of television and movie appearances that helped fund the school. For this special collaboration with our neighboring West Village theater, the IFC Center, HB will co-host a screening of Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s 1963 epic Cleopatra, featuring Berghof in one of his many Hollywood roles.

Day 6 – Letters to Our Future

Ambassador of the Day: Ilse Pfeifer (HB Teaching Artist & Artistic Council)

Thursday, June 4 from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Light & Memory : An Exhibition
at HB Studio’s Lobby at 120 Bank Street
Sourced from the HB archives, the effects of founder Herbert Berghof, the estate of iconic educator Uta Hagen and the personal collections of HB Teaching Artists and alumni, this HB-centered exhibition will include photographs, letters, programs, and ephemera that trace decades of practice and artistic devotion. Much of the material on display has not been seen in decades; some items will be instantly familiar as beloved installations within the building. Long time regulars and first-time visitors alike will find unique relics that reveal the past of our storied institution. Alongside the exhibition, visitors will be invited to contribute their own memories through an on-site recording station, charting a pathway forward to a living oral history in our HB digital archive.

Thursday, June 4 at 11:00 am
The Future of Actor Training: An Open Conversation
Moderated by Linsey Bostwick, Director of the NYU Production Lab
Hosted by New York University Tisch School of the Arts,
Dean’s Conference Room at 721 Broadway, 12th Floor
Free and Open to the Public
With global changes in the worlds of finance, technology, education and media, the theater world is experiencing a seismic shift. What does the next generation of actor training look like in a changing cultural landscape? For this unprecedented salon, HB Studio will convene leaders from New York City’s leading training institutions for a wide-ranging conversation, hosted by Linsey Bostwick, Director of the NYU Production Lab, about the future of the craft, the classroom, artificial intelligence and the evolving needs of artists. We are proud to welcome faculty and creative leaders from The Neighborhood Playhouse, The Barrow Group, T. Schreiber Studio and Theatre, Terry Knickerbocker Studio and (of course) HB Studio for a morning reflection on tradition, innovation and the responsibility of training actors for the world ahead. Participating panelists are subject to change.

Thursday, June 4 at 4:30 pm
To the Future, From Here : A Participatory Ritual of Gratitude for HB Studio
at HB Studio at 120 Bank Street in the Helen Gallagher Studio
Free and Open to the Public
Join us anytime between 4:30pm and 6:00 pm as we look forward into the future of HB Studio in a participatory ritual of memory, gratitude, and dreaming forward best intentions. Attendees are invited to write letters to the artists, students, and stewards of HB’s future, capturing their personal experiences and history with the studio and the people who made it. Feel free to bring along old classroom notes, play programs, expired IDs and other ephemera of your time at HB and we will seal all these papers in a time capsule for the next generation to discover. One part spring cleaning, one part reminiscence, one part coffee klatsch and one part collective faith, this casual conversational event is a gesture of hope that what we practice now will be welcomed later.

Day 7 – Collective Renewal

Ambassadors of the Day: Magaly Colimon-Christopher (HB Teaching Artist) and Diego Cornejo (HB Student)

Friday, June 5 from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Light & Memory : An Exhibition
at HB Studio’s Lobby at 120 Bank Street
Free and Open to the Public
Sourced from the HB archives, the effects of founder Herbert Berghof, the estate of iconic educator Uta Hagen and the personal collections of HB Teaching Artists and alumni, this HB-centered exhibition will include photographs, letters, programs, and ephemera that trace decades of practice and artistic devotion. Much of the material on display has not been seen in decades; some items will be instantly familiar as beloved installations within the building. Long time regulars and first-time visitors alike will find unique relics that reveal the past of our storied institution. Alongside the exhibition, visitors will be invited to contribute their own memories through an on-site recording station, charting a pathway forward to a living oral history in our HB digital archive.

Friday, June 5 at 11:00 am
Breath and The Inner Voice : A Well-Being Workshop
at HB Studio at 120 Bank Street
Free and Open to the Public
Get in touch with your inner voice before lunch at this free breath & bodywork well-being workshop. Led by HB Teaching Artist Ilse Pfeifer trained in the mind/body/breath connection, this closing week The Light We Carry event acts as an invitation to participatory clarity and release. Please arrive no later than 10:45 so that you can properly prepare to settle into the calm.

Friday, June 5 at 3:00 pm
HB Studio Breakthrough Lab Performance
at HB Playwrights Theatre, 124 Bank Street
Free and Open to the Public
Even the best ideas often require a little push forward to get started. HB Studio’s Breakthrough Lab provides the impetus needed to take a project from the hypothetical into completion. HB teaching artist Snezhana Chernova helps her students realize a multitude of creative concepts, including screenplays, play, podcast, livestreams, monologues or scenes, TV pilots, scores and feature films. At this free culminating showcase, Chernova’s spring class will present their work in its current state of process to a live audience for the first time.

Friday, June 5 at 5:00 pm
The Light We Carry Street Party
Outside of HB Studio at 120 Bank Street
Free and Open to the Public – Sponsored by Dalla Terra Wine and Spirits
We close our first-annual The Light We Carry Festival with an outdoor/indoor celebration of our longtime West Village neighborhood. Join us as we open the doors to the Playwrights Theatre and extend out onto the street to make our shared commons a space for music, conversation, and jubilation. Stop by to sample free light snacks and libations from Dalla Terra Wine and Spirits, purchase unique merchandise, leave your mark at our Light and Memory station and hear HB faculty and alumni perform and sing. All are welcome as we embrace summer the HB way with an evening of fun and friendship that you’ll never forget!