News & Events

Spring Weekly Classes are underway. Register Today!

Spring Term runs March 19 – June 3 (no classes April 24-29, May 28).

BROWSE CLASSES

UNION DISCOUNT:* Industry union members receive 10% OFF Spring Term ClassesTo qualify, present your membership card in the registration office or email a copy to registration@hbstudio.org. To receive discount, register in person or on the phone (212-675-2370 x.1)

INTAKE AUDITION / CONSULTATIONS: Interested in our upper level classes? Audition & consult with a panel of HB’s faculty. For details and sign up info, visit Auditions & Prerequisites.

REEL SUBMISSIONS: Are you a working professional seeking a place to practice? Submit your reel for placement into our studio practice classes.

*Discounts valid for Studio Classes only; not valid for workshop offerings, full-time programs or merchandise. Discounts cannot be combined nor applied retroactively.

Financial Aid Applications Now Open for Summer Term

Applications are now being accepted for those seeking financial aid for the Summer Term. Financial aid is awarded on both merit and need. HB Studio offers two forms of financial aid:

  • Scholarships, which support partial enrollment in one studio class
  • Work study, which offers one free class in exchange for working at the studio weekly.

Application deadline: April 22, 2018

READ MORE AND APPLY

Summer Term will run 10 weeks, June 13 – August 22. Registration opens May 1.

CASTING CALL for BEE

An HB Studio & LES Shakespeare Co-Production

 LES Shakespeare and HB Studio are producing a new work this season based on Izat Erfani’s life in Langarud, Iran set in 1940’s. The focus of the work is a young woman trying to give her children more and intertwine that with the interviews from others currently in the Middle East and those that have moved to the USA.

This piece received a HB Residency last year and is now part of their 2018 Season.

Director Melody Erfani is looking for an ensemble that is creative and open to playing.

This piece will be performed by only females and will have women playing men. The ages listed are the character’s age but the actress’ age is flexible.

If interested in auditioning please email lesshakespeareco@gmail.com.

OPEN ROLES

  • Dariush (male 30-45)husband to Izat, 20 years older than her, has internal demons and likes to be in control
  • Rahman(male 40-65)- Izat’s father, a religious man and leader in the community, kind and wise
  • Nassar(male 30’s) Izat’s second husband, reserved but kind, strives to do what is right

Auditions (by appointment):

Monday, April 9th 6.00-9.00pm
Tuesday, April 10th 6.00-9.00pm
Wednesday, April 11th 1.00-5.00pm
CALLBACKS Thursday April 12th 6.00-9.00pm

Rehearsal and Production Dates

Rehearsals from April 23-June 4th
Tech: June 5-8th
Performances:  June 8-10, 15-17, 22-24

This will be an equity showcase with a $300 stipend.

People Who Make Theater: Seeing Rape – Using Creativity to Analyze and Re-Imagine Our World

A conversation with 
Barbara Cassidy and Shonna Trinch

Monday, March 26, 7:30PM
HB Playwrights Theater | 124 Bank Street
Suggested donation: $5-$10
RSVP at hbstudio.eventbrite.com

“Seeing Rape” is a course at John Jay College of Criminal Justice taught by Shonna Trinch (a linguist) and Barbara Cassidy (a playwright) examining sexual violence across various disciplines. The students’ final projects are original short plays, from which Trinch and Cassidy choose 5-10 to be performed in the spring by professional actors.

Join Shonna and Barbara for a conversation about the work they do to foster an awareness of the power of creative visions both to analyze and re-imagine the world.

Moderated talk will be followed by a Q&A.

Continue reading →

People Who Make Theater: Intimacy on Stage, March 19

A conversation with 

Alicia Rodis, Co-Founder of Intimacy Directors International

For years Intimacy Directors have been choreographing intimate moments & advocating for consensual workspaces in the rehearsal room. In this shifting culture, Intimacy Direction is now becoming a new standard practice. Chat with Alicia Rodis, co-founder of Intimacy Directors International, whose company is at the forefront of this shift. From intimate tension to a tender embrace to full on simulated sex, a conversation of how to tell these stories safely and dynamically.


Monday, March 19 | 7:30pm
HB Playwrights Theater | 124 Bank Street
Suggested donation: $5-$10
RSVP at hbstudio.eventbrite.com

HB Celebrates Leonard Bernstein at 100


 HB CELEBRATES

An evening of songs from the musical theater works of Leonard Bernstein during the worldwide #Bernsteinat100 celebration

MONDAY, MARCH 5th at 7:00 PM

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

Leonard Bernstein – composer, conductor, educator, musician, cultural ambassador, and humanitarian – is one of the most iconic artists of the 20th century. Bernstein’s steadfast belief in the power of art to lift, transform, delight and educate was his antidote to a world full of violence and unpredictability. A charter member of HB’s Playwrights Foundation and a longtime friend to HB’s founders, HB Studio is thrilled to present this benefit evening with Broadway stars in a tribute to his work, during the worldwide #Bernsteinat100 celebration.

Featuring remarks by ALEXANDER BERNSTEIN, LONNY PRICE and the talents of Broadway stars STEPHEN DEROSA (BWAY: On the Town, Betrayal, The Nance, Hairspray, Into the Woods), STEVEN ENG (OFF BWAY: Pacific Overtures, Chee-Chee; WEST END: The King and I), MELISSA ERRICO (BWAY: Anna Karenina, My Fair Lady, High Society, Dracula, White Christmas, Amour), ALI EWOLDT  (BWAY: Phantom of the Opera, The King and I, Les Misérables), CHILINA KENNEDY (BWAY: Beautiful, Jesus Christ Superstar), TRACEY MICHAILIDIS (BWAY: Beauty and the Beast; OFF-BWAY: Ethel Sings; NAT’L TOUR: Fun Home), CARL-MICHAEL OGLE (Regional: Showboat (Citi Performing Arts Center), The Wiz (Fiddlehead Theatre Company), West Side Story(FTC), ELIZA SIMPSON (Off-Broadway: The Woodsman (59E59 Theaters), NY: The Mysteries (The Flea Theater), Kapowi Gogo (The PIT, Time Out NY Critics Pick), Three Sisters (HIT)), CHRISTINE TOY JOHNSON (BWAY: The Music Man (Revival), Grease! (Revival), Chu Chem),  and TONY YAZBECK (BWAY: Prince of Broadway, Finding Neverland, On the Town, Chicago, White Christmas, Gypsy, A Chorus Line), with musical directors MICHAEL DANSICKER (BWAY: The Times They Are A-Changin’, Piaf, Good, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Iceman Cometh, Singin’ in the Rain) and Grammy Award-winning JOHN MCDANIEL (BWAY: Bonnie and Clyde, Catch Me If You Can, Brooklyn, Annie Get Your Gun ,Taboo, Chicago, Grease, Patti LuPone on Broadway, Company). Directed by ROBERT MCQUEEN, esteemed HB faculty and Director of New Musical Development for Toronto’s Musical Stage Company. McQueen’s many directing credits include Man of La Mancha (Startford Festival), Forest Boy (NYMF), The Wild Party, Falsettos, Caroline, Or ChangeThe Light in the Piazza, The Magic Flute (Vancouver Opera), Hair and Pal Joey. 

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

Continue reading →

Register Now for Spring Term Weekly Classes

Spring Term will run March 19 – June 3 (no classes April 24-29, May 28).

BROWSE CLASSES

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT:* Use code SPRING18W for 10% OFF Spring Term Classes, valid through March 5. (Don’t forget to mention the code if registering over the phone or in person!)

UNION DISCOUNT:* Industry union members receive 20% OFF Spring Term Classes, valid through March 5. Present your membership card in the registration office or email a copy to registration@hbstudio.org.

INTAKE AUDITION / CONSULTATIONS: Interested in our upper level classes? Audition & consult with a panel of HB’s faculty. For details and sign up info, visit Auditions & Prerequisites.

REEL SUBMISSIONS: Are you a working professional seeking a place to practice? Submit your reel for placement into our studio practice classes.

*Discounts valid for Studio Classes only; not valid for workshop offerings, full-time programs or merchandise. Discounts cannot be combined nor applied retroactively.

5-Week Winter Term Classes Start this Week: Register Today!

Sign up now for an acting class or workshop for the second half of Winter Term! Check out these 5-week offerings:

Tracy Letts Scene Study with Austin Pendleton
11:30AM-2:30PM | Mondays | 2/12/2018-3/12/2018 | $275

Playing the Self, Playing the Other with Robbie McCauley
10:00AM-1:00PM | Mondays | 2/12/2018-3/12/2018 | $270

NYC Accents: Brooklyn & Bronx with Ginger Eckert
12:00PM-2:00PM | Tuesdays | 2/13/2018-3/13/2018 | $205

Scene Study – Studio Practice (Invitational) with Mercedes Ruehl
6:30PM-9:30PM | Tuesdays & Thursdays | 2/13/2018-3/15/2018 | $545 |
This Class is Now Full

Contemporary Monologues and Auditioning Technique with Paul Pryce
6:30PM-9:00PM | Tuesdays | 2/13/2018-3/13/2018 | $230

Actuar en Español with Pablo Andrade & Maria Fontanals
7:00PM-9:30PM | Tuesdays | 2/13/2018-3/13/2018 | $230

The Art of Transformation with Janice Orlandi
6:30PM-8:30PM | Wednesdays | 2/14/2018-3/18/2018 | $180

Shakespeare Fundamentals with George Bartenieff & Paul Pryce
3:30PM-6:30PM | Fridays | 2/16/2018-3/16/2018 | $270

Advanced Acting with the Camera with Caroline Aaron
10:00AM-1:00PM | Saturdays | 2/17/2018-3/17/2018 | $325

Acting Through the Method of Etudes – Monologues with Snezhana Chernova
12:00PM-3:00PM | Sundays | 2/18/2018-3/18/2018 | $270

First Floor Studio Residency – THE SECRET LIFE OF SEAWEED

By Julie McKee 
Directed by Jean Randich

A Staged Reading

Saturday & Sunday, January 27 & 28 | 7 pm
First Floor Studio | 120 Bank Street, New York
Free | RSVP at eventbrite.com

1942.  New Zealand is under threat of a Japanese invasion.  Louise MacGregor,  formidable scientist, is sent in search of  Pterocladia Lucida, a simple seaweed to aid the war effort.  May Smith, an untried youngster, is plucked to assist the prickly botanist as a sketch artist. But having only recently discovered her Maori heritage, May has other questions and struggles to meet Louise’s rigorous demands.  Inspired by Lucy B. Moore’s wartime mission to scour the wilds of New Zealand’s coast for the weed, “The Secret Life of Seaweed” tells the story of two women who learn to feel deeply about each other in a time when expressing feelings of unbearable emotional sadness was forbidden for the good of all.

Featuring James Hallett*, Siw Laurent, Johanna Leister*, Donna Svennevik, with stage directions by Andrew Plimpton.

The Secret Life of Seaweed is a commission by The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation of Science and Technology and The Ensemble Studio Theatre.

*Appearing courtesy of Actors Equity/Aftra.

*Photo credit Donna Svennevik