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Uta Hagen’s Acting Exercises (Snezhana Chernova)

Presented by Snezhana Chernova

Held in-person

The extremely practical acting exercises found in Uta Hagen’s world-famous books, Respect for Acting and A Challenge for the Actor, probe the depths and heights of human behavior. They offer the actor a structure for lifelong practice exploring the dynamic interaction between sensory/emotional experience and the creative imagination. Uta Hagen’s approach to acting works. She challenges the actor to develop skills continually. She offers avenues of creativity that, with an open imagination and expanding sense of self, are unlimited. Her ongoing process of self-observation and self-discovery fortifies your ability to respond truthfully, dynamically, and vividly with fellow actors, releasing unpremeditated truthful behavior in performance. Over time, you find yourself creatively alive and present in the process.

Taught by Snezhana Chernova, who trained directly with Uta Hagen. Held at HB Studio, the birthplace of the Hagen exercises.

This acting workshop is open to actors at all levels of experience.

“The application of the techniques must become second nature and an inherent part of your work. Practice, Practice, Practice!” – Uta Hagen, A Challenge for the Actor

Required Reading:
A CHALLENGE FOR THE ACTOR by Uta Hagen

Acting in Russian: Method of Etudes | ТЕХНИКА АКТЕРА НА РУССКОМ: МЕТОД ЭТЮДОВ (Snezhana Chernova)

Presented by: Snezhana Chernova

This acting class, conducted in Russian, explores the Method of Etudes developed by Konstantin Stanislavsky. Stanislavsky opened the door for American actors to his famous System when he toured the United States with his celebrated Moscow Art Theatre in the early 1920s. His System became the foundation of American actors’ training, and his American pupils developed it further into methods of their own. For example, in Uta Hagen’s book, A Challenge for the Actor, you can see similarities to the Stanislavsky system.

This class helps Russian speaking actors to find their own voice and uniqueness and reveal the psychology of a character and the emotional life in a monologue and a scene. Learn a contemporary approach to the Stanislavsky system designed to improve your ability to be in the moment on stage using your impulses, images and words. This method will help you build depth of character in an organic way, exploring psychological, physical and verbal actions in given circumstances. You will improve the effectiveness of your interactions with scene partners and break through the problems that block you in performance.

We will work on material written by Anton Chekhov. You are also invited to bring in plays and poetry written by classical and contemporary Russian writers.

(This class is for Russian speaking actors of all levels and will be conducted in Russian)


ПРЕПОДАВАТЕЛЬ: СНЕЖАНА ЧЕРНОВА

Этот Метод был разработан Константином Станиславским, гастролировавшим с Московским Художественным Театром (МХАТ) по Соединенным Штатам в начале 20-х годов прошлого века. Он познакомил Америку со своей известной системой, которая стала фундаментом для обучения местных актеров. На её основе американские студенты Станиславского создали свои актерские методы, преподаваемые в театральных студиях и сегодня. К примеру, в книге Уты Хаген, Вызов для Актера, можно увидеть влияние системы Станиславского на её подход к обучению студентов. 

Этот класс поможет русскоговорящим актерам: найти свой собственный голос и уникальность; раскрыть психологию характера и эмоциональную жизнь в монологе и отрывке из пьесы. Изучение современного подхода системы Станиславского направлено на умение находиться в моменте используя импульсы, образы и слова. Этот метод поможет актерам найти глубину героя через органическое исследование психофизических, физических и речевых действий в предлагаемых обстоятельствах. Актёры смогут повысить эффективность общения с партнерами, преодолевая проблемы, которые мешают им во время представления.

Мы будем разбирать пьесы Антона Чехова.

Студенты могут также предложить свой выбор пьес и поэзии классических и современных Русских писателей.

(Это класс для русскоговорящих начинающих и профессиональных актеров будет проводиться на русском языке)

Acting Through the Method of Etudes (Snezhana Chernova)

Presented by: Snezhana Chernova

Held in-person. Before your first class, please review the information outlined here. 

“The creative imaginary life is often much more realistic and fulfilling than one’s mundane existence.” – Nicolai Demidov

“Art and creativity are mysterious enough without any efforts to make them more so!” – Uta Hagen 

The Method of Etudes, developed by Konstantin Stanislavsky, helps you to improve your ability as an actor to be in the moment on stage, using your impulses, images and words. You will develop acting technique through the practice of independent work, or etudes (meaning” study” in French, widely used in music and art). You will learn how to be yourself in imaginary circumstances, how to observe, select and recreate life around you. This workshop will help you discover your inner emotional life and physical awareness, awake your creativity, and develop your skills as an actor. An actor without imagination is an empty vessel. Creativity and imagination come from evoking your inner potentials, observing life around you, finding magic in simple things, and bringing them to life through your point of view!

Classes will start with a warm up. Please wear comfortable clothes and be ready to move and enjoy the process of discovery.

Sign up for either Part A or Part B independently (5 weeks each), or join both for the full 10 week term. You may join Part B without taking Part A:

Chernova, Snezhana

BIO: 

Snezhana Chernova graduated from the St-Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy (LGTMIK) in Russia. Before moving to America, she acted at the Baltic Repertoire Theater, in St. Petersburg. She studied with the legendary Uta Hagen at HB Studio, New York. She took the Jacques Lecoq workshop with Norman Taylor in NYC and a Theatre Pedagogy course with Anatoli Vasiliev in Venice, Italy. She taught Speech/Speaking voice and Acting at St-Petersburg State Theater Arts Academy and the Danish Theater School GITIS Scandinavia. Ms. Chernova was on the faculty at Trinity/La MaMa Performing Arts of Trinity College. She was invited to teach Uta Hagen’s Master Class at the Shanghai Theatre Academy (China) in 2024. She worked as a Cultural Consultant in the Off-Broadway 2024 premiere of The Meeting The Interpreter directed by Brian Mertes. She has performed in the USA, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, Germany and South Korea. Her favorite roles are Zoya in Dostoevsky’s UNCLE’S DREAM (International tour with Russian-Canadian Theater), Abby in O’Neill’s DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS (Workshop Theater), Natasha in Chekhov’s THREE SISTERS, Margarita in Bulgakov’s MASTER AND MARGARITA, Arkadina in Chekhov’s THE SEAGULL (HB Playwrights Theatre). She is a leading actress with Literary Theater Dialogue, New York. She performed in ABOVE THE BARRIERS, Theater Dialogue, at The World Of The Theater Festival in Berlin in 2018, Germany, and was invited to perform this show in Moscow in 2019. She has been performing at the Metropolitan Opera since 2010, working with world-renowned directors including William Kentridge, Richard Eyre, Tom Morris, David McVicar, Bartlett Sher, and others. Film and TV appearances include THE RING, ALASKA KIDS, POTERPEVSHIY, NO LOVE IN THE CITY, RUSSIAN ENGINE, PROOF OF BIRTH, THE LOUISE LOG, OUTWORLD, FOREIGN SOUNDS, LITVINOV’S FALL, MURDER IN MANHATTAN, FX’S THE AMERICANS, LAW AND ORDER: ORGANIZED CRIME and MR & MRS SMITH.

Снежана Чернова

Выпускница Российской Санкт Петербургской Государственной Академии Театрального Искусства (СПГАТИ). До переезда в Америку работала в театре Балтийский дом в Санкт Петербурге. В Нью Йорке брала классы у легендарной Уты Хаген в Herbert Berghof Studio (HB Studio) и технику Лекока с Норманом Тэйлором. Училась на курсе для театральных педагогов у Анатолия Васильева в Венеции, Италия. Она преподавала Речь/Голос и Актерское Мастерство в СПГAТИ и в Театральной школе Дании – ГИТИС Скандинавия. Снежана вела курс Актерского Мастерства в Trinity/La MaMa Performing Arts of Trinity College. Она была приглашена провести Мастер Классы по технике актера разработанной Ута Хаген в Шанхайской Театральной Академии в Китае в 2024 году. Гастролировала по Америке, Канаде, России, Украине, Германии и Южной Корее. Её любимые роли: Зоя в ДЯДЮШКИНОМ СНЕ, Достоевского (Русско-Канадский театр); Абби в ЛЮБОВЬ ПОД ВЯЗАМИ, Ю. Онила (Workshop Theater); Наташа в ТРЁХ СЕСТРАХ, А. Чехова; Маргарита в МАСТЕР И МАРГАРИТЕ М. Булгакова; Аркадина в ЧАЙКЕ, А.Чехова (HBPF Theatre). Она ведущая актриса Литературного Театра Диалог, в Нью Йорке. Со спектаклем Поверх Барьеров театра Диалог принимала участие в театральном фестивале МИР РУССКОГО ТЕАТРА в Берлине в 2018 году и была приглашена с этим же спектаклем в 2019 Москву. Она участвует в спектаклях Metropolitan Opera с 2010 года, работая со знаменитыми режиссерами: У. Кентридж, Р. Эйр, Т. Морис, Д. Маквикер и др. Фильм/ТВ: КОЛЬЦО, АЛЯСКА КИД, ПОТЕРПЕВШИЙ, ЛЮБОВЬ В БОЛЬШОМ ГОРОДЕ, РУССКИЙ ПАРОВОЗ, PROOF OF BIRTH, THE LOIS LOG, MURDER IN MANHATTAN, FX’s THE AMERICANS, LAW AND ORDER: ORGANIZED CRIME, MR & MRS SMITH.

Chernova- The Method of Etudes with Uta Hagen Exercises

Presented by: Snezhana Chernova

The Method of Etudes with Uta Hagen Exercises – A two-workshop series:
Discovering Anton Chekhov’s THE SEAGULL (Sept 16- Oct 14)
Discovering Ivan Turgenev’s A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY (Oct 21 – Nov 18)

Sundays, 12-3pm | $270 for five weeks or both workshop parts for $525 (ten weeks); to purchase both parts, please call the registration office at (212)-675-2370 x1 


“This series of two workshops is dedicated to the memory of the legendary Uta Hagen in the year of her Centennial. She continues to be an inspiration to me today.

“I came from another country, from another culture, and was welcomed to study in her class at HB Studio, where I could learn more about theater and about life. I was able to use the technique that I gained at St. Petersburg Academy of Theater Arts and when working on the professional stage in Russia, and develop new skills under her guidance.” – From the instructor, Snezhana Chernova

Konstantin Stanislavsky’s Method of Etudes helps actors to reveal the psychology of a character and the emotional life in a monologue or scene. In these workshops, you learn a contemporary approach to the Stanislavsky system, designed to improve your ability to be in the moment on stage using your impulses, images and words. This method will help you build depth of character in an organic way, exploring psychological, physical and verbal actions in given circumstances. You will improve the effectiveness of your interactions with partners and break through the problems that block you in performance.

The extremely practical exercises found in Uta Hagen’s world-famous books, Respect for Acting and A Challenge for the Actor, probe the depths and heights of human behavior. They offer the actor a structure for lifelong practice exploring the dynamic interaction between sensory/emotional experience and the creative imagination.


These workshops incorporate The Method of Etudes with Uta Hagen’s technique while you explore a play over the course of five weeks:

Workshop Part 1) Discovering Anton Chekhov’s THE SEAGULL
Sept 16-Oct 14

“Uta Hagen played Nina in THE SEAGULL on Broadway when she was only 18 years old. Throughout her career, she continued working on many more of Anton Chekhov’s plays. In this workshop, I incorporate Uta Hagen’s acting exercises and Konstantin Stanislavsky’s Method of Etudes, as we explore A. Chekhov’s THE SEAGULL.” – Snezhana Chernova

Over the course of this five-week workshop you will explore The Method of Etudes and Uta Hagen’s exercises, applying them as you work on two monologues from THE SEAGULL: one given by the instructor and one of your own choice.

Must be familiar with Anton Chekhov’s play THE SEAGULL.


Workshop Part 2) Discovering Ivan Turgenev’s A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY
Oct 21-Nov 18

“Uta Hagen was very fond of Russian Literature and Culture. She appeared on a TV version of Ivan Turgenev’s A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY. In this workshop, we will discover this play together, and see what we can find anew that resembles life today in this play that was written in 19th century.” – Snezhana Chernova

Using the structured improvisation style that was developed by Konstantin Stanislavsky—The  Method of Etudes—and incorporating Uta Hagen’s acting exercises, over the course of five weeks you will work on dialogues and scenes of Ivan Turgenev’s play, A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY. You will use your own images, feelings, words and personal experiences, communicating and exchanging ideas truthfully and artistically. Through this process, you come to interact with partners more effectively, trusting and connecting, learning to be co-creators, finding an individual understanding, and revealing a unique awareness and appreciation of the playwright’s work.

Must be familiar with Ivan Turgenev’s play A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY.

Chernova: Discovering Chekhov Through the Method of Etudes 2 – Scenes

Presented by: Snezhana Chernova

This class will run for the last 5 weeks of the Spring Term. If purchased with Discovering Chekhov Through the Method of Etudes 1 – Monologues both for $525

You will continue using the structured improvisation style that was developed by Konstantin Stanislavsky, and that you began exploring in Part 1 when working on monologues. You will work on dialogues and scenes from Anton Chekhov’s plays using your own images, feelings, words and personal experiences, communicating and exchanging ideas truthfully and artistically. You will interact with partners more effectively, trusting and connecting, learning to be co-creators, finding an individual understanding and revealing a unique awareness and appreciation of the playwright’s work.

Chernova: Discovering Chekhov Through the Method of Etudes 1 – Monologues

Presented by: Snezhana Chernova

This class will run for the first 5 weeks of the Spring Term. If purchased with Discovering Chekhov Through the Method of Etudes 2 – Scenes both for $525

This method developed by Konstantin Stanislavsky helps to reveal the psychology of a character and the emotional life in a monologue or scene. While focusing on monologues from the works of Anton Chekhov, you will learn a contemporary approach to the Stanislavsky system designed to improve your ability to be in the moment on stage using your impulses, images and words. This method will help you build depth of character in an organic way, exploring psychological, physical and verbal actions in given circumstances. You will improve the effectiveness of your interactions with partners and break through the problems that block you in performance. You will work on a monologue given by the instructor and one of your own choice.

 

Chernova: Acting Through the Method of Etudes – Scenes

Presented by: Snezhana Chernova

Using the structured improvisation style that was developed by Konstantin Stanislavsky, you will work on dialogues and scenes, using your own images, feelings, words and personal experiences, communicating and exchanging ideas truthfully and artistically. You will interact with partners more effectively, trusting and connecting, learning to be co-creators, finding an individual understanding and revealing a unique awareness and appreciation of a playwright’s work.

*if purchased with Acting Through the Method of Etudes – Monologues, both for $525

 

Chernova- Acting Through the Method of Etudes: Monologues

Presented by: Snezhana Chernova

To be held online over Zoom: 

This method developed by Konstantin Stanislavsky helps to reveal the psychology of a character and the emotional life in a monologue or a scene. Learn a contemporary approach to the Stanislavsky system designed to improve your ability to be in the moment on stage using your impulses, images, and words. This method will help you build depth of character in an organic way exploring psychological, physical and verbal actions in given circumstances. You will improve the effectiveness of your interactions with partners and break through the problems that block you in performance. You will work on a monologue given by the instructor and one of your own choice.

Fall 2024 Independent Study Lab Projects

Fall 2024 Independent Study Showcase of developed works, under the guidance of Snezhana Chernova.

Sunday, Nov 24 at 6:00 PM

at HB Studio
124 Bank Street, New York

Featuring work from Martha Argyriou, Kevin Cheng, Mari Mar Gomez, Guillermo Hernandez Arias, Andy Law, Terry Lee, Camilla Nigro, Maria Roa, and Hisa Viscovich.

About Independent Study Lab

For artists who are interested in developing their own projects, this is an independent class working solo or with a partner on an independent study project that you devise, under the guidance of HB faculty, Snezhana Chernova.

Snezhana Chernova graduated from Russian State Institute of Performing Arts (LGITMIK). She studied with the legendary Uta Hagen in New York. She taught at the LGITMIK, Danish Theater school GITIS Scandinavia and Trinity/La Mama of Performing Arts of Trinity College. She currently teaches Acting 1 at HB Studio. Snezhana is a leading actress with Literary Theater Dialogue, New York. She is happy to work with young artists and help them to develop their talents and be creative.

 


HB Studio’s programs are supported in part by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council, and many generous supporters.