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.”
As part of the updated curriculum, HB Studio has streamlined studio class offerings into a progressive curriculum in acting, voice, speech, movement, and musical theatre. This curriculum covers all the bases of a solid technique while allowing students to focus on their particular needs. Auditions serve as a diagnostic means to evaluate skills, identify goals, and make recommendations regarding how to best fill gaps and develop particular talents. HB Studio understands the financial and logistical challenges faced by artists as they strive to balance their studies, work, and other aspects of their lives. It has created an environment that provides the support and community that will allow students to stay primed for the demands of the profession while meeting full- or part-time educational requirements.
In addition to studio class offerings, special seminars and master classes are offered between terms, and a variety of skill building and professional development workshops are offered throughout the year. The studio also offers opportunities in performance for actors, playwrights, and directors through a program of free performance labs and studio rehearsal space residencies. With support from the Noël Coward Foundation, HB Studio will also offer a special series of workshops and educational events on the highlights of performing Noël Coward’s work during the 2014–2015 season. Lead faculty members include renowned actor-director-playwright Austin Pendleton and Tony Award winners Helen Gallagher and Jack Hofsiss. A series of free financial planning workshops will also be added to the calendar in the coming weeks. HB Studio receives support for its professional development programs from the New York State Council on the Arts and from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Applications are still being accepted for a few remaining places in the Hagen Core Training: a full-time, one-year training program for actors seeking full immersion in training. Rooted in the teachings of Uta Hagen and taught by world-class faculty and practitioners, the integrated, progressive curriculum comprises Acting Technique, Scene Study, Script Analysis, Movement, Alexander Technique, Voice, and Speech.
HB Studio also offers a variety of special workshops throughout the year focused on topics related to both artistic and career development. These extracurricular offerings are designed for theatre artists seeking to sharpen and expand their skills and to build professional peer relationships. For more information, visit hbstudio.org.
New and returning students are invited to take advantage of a ten percent early registration discount when enrolled by August 31. New students who wish to study in classes above level 1 are required to audition. Accepted students will be invited to choose from a menu of classes at their assigned level. Students already enrolled at HB Studio will receive diagnostic guidance and recommendations from faculty as they prepare to advance to new levels of study. Returning students are asked to complete a placement application. Audition schedules and prerequisite information are available at hbstudio.org.
About HB Studio:
As one of New York’s original acting schools, HB Studio imbues students with New York authenticity. What sets this nonprofit organization apart is its atmosphere: HB Studio is not a college or a conservatory but rather a workplace for the teaching and practice of art. Students are expected to take charge of their own development and come forth with respect for the craft, highlighting areas in which some deepening in students’ personal practice is necessary. HB Studio’s training has roots in the European classical tradition and focuses on practicality. Stockard Channing, Bette Midler, and Sarah Jessica Parker are among its alumni.