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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.

nysca_60pxThis 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.

People Who Make Theatre: JOSÉ ZAYAS & REPERTORIO ESPAÑOL

Moderated talk with NYC leaders of Latin American, Spanish, and Hispanic American theatre

Moderated by HB alumni Ingrid Wheatley and Reza Salazar

Monday, May 5, 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

JOSÉ ZAYAS (Resident Director, Repertorio Español) began working with Repertorio in 2004 when he was selected as a fellow of the Van Lier Young Directors Project. Ever since, he has directed seven productions for the company and was named Resident Director in 2013. His production of Caridad Svich’s THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS, based on Isabel Allende’s novel, at Repertorio Español, won multiple ACE and HOLA awards, including best production and director. Other credits with Repertorio include MADRE, EL DRAMA PADRE ; LETTERS TO A MOTHER; NOWHERE ON THE BORDER;  NO BETTER FRIEND, NO WORSE ENEMY; IN THE TIME OF THE BUTTERFLIES; and LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA.

His production of THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS had its international debut at the Mori Theatre in Santiago, Chile. In addition, his production of the same play at the Denver Center has won numerous Ovation Awards including Best Production and Direction and was selected as Best Production of the Year by the Denver Post. Zayas was born in Puerto Rico and graduated from Harvard and Carnegie Mellon Universities. He is co-Founder of The Immediate Theater Company. He held a residency at the Ensemble Studio Theater and was selected as one of nytheater.com’s 2007 People of the Year. He is also a Drama League Fellow and an alumnus of Lincoln Center’s Director’s Lab and Soho Rep Writer/Director’s Lab and has received fellowships such as the Phil Killian, Kenneth Frankel, John Pasquin and Van Lier.

His theatre credits include FEEDER by JD Carter (TERRAnova Collective); THE STRANGEST by Betty Shamieh (HERE Arts Center); THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD by Mando Alvarado and Tommy Newman (TheaterworksUSA); MILKMILKLEMONADE by Joshua Conkel (APAC); SOUTHERN PROMISES by Thomas Bradshaw (PS122); OKAY by Taylor Mac (Ensemble Studio Theatre); VENGEANCE CAN WAIT by Yukiko Motoya (PS122); AGAIN AND AGAINST by Betty Shamieh (The Lark); THE PAST IS NOT A FOREIGN COUNTRY (VERY) PERSONAL MAPS OF SEATTLE by Mallery Avidon (Soho Rep); THE WASPS and TECMESSA by Ken Urban (Target Margin); STROM THURMOND IS NOT A RACIST by Thomas Bradshaw (Brick Theater, 4 New York Innovative Theater Award Nominations); DEVIL LAND by Desi Moreno-Penson (Summer Play Festival/Cherry Lane Theatre); CROWNS by Regina Taylor (Virginia Stage Company). Zayas co-produced INTAR’s 2006 New Works Theater Lab. His credits as Assistant Director include TALK RADIO directed by Robert Falls and starring Liev Schreiber; REGRETS ONLY directed by Christopher Ashley; COME BACK LITTLE SHEBA directed by Michael Pressman.

nysca_60pxThis 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.

Jack Garfein Returns to HB Studio! Apply today.

Internationally renowned director, writer, and master teacher Jack Garfein visits us from Paris this June to teach THE ART OF ACTING, a two-week intensive seminar:

The Art of Acting
Monday – Friday, June 9 – 13 and 16 – 20
10am – 3pm, $720
Submission required: click here for details

“Imitation will never reveal the real. It is only the involuntary memory, the magician in ourselves, the work of the latent subconscious, that is able to grasp the experience of another…”
– Jack Garfein, LIFE AND ACTING

THE LADY FROM THE SEA

Screen shot 2014-02-07 at 11.38.58 AMHB PERFORMANCE LAB

By Henrik Ibsen

Saturday & Sunday, April 26 & 27  |  8pm
HB Studio, First Floor Studio  |  120 Bank Street
Free!  |  RSVP here

An HB Performance Lab presentation of Ibsen’s classic piece about a woman struggling in her damaged and controlling marriage while facing temptation from an old love that seeks to reclaim her hand. Adapted and directed by Stuart Vaughan, the iconoclastic and visionary Founding Artistic Director of The New York Shakespeare Festival and The Seattle Repertory Theatre.

Performed by: Chantelle Goulevitch, Hugh Heckman, Peter Klein, Kevin Mackenzie Mejia, Andrew Mayer, Louise Mittelman, Philip OGorman, and Madeline Harper Smith.

Adapted and Directed by Stuart Vaughan
Assistant to the Director: Ashish Pant
Set design by: Nikolay Sviridchik

MAGIC BULLETS: A Work-in-Progress Showing

MagicBullets420WebFirst Floor Studio Performance Project

By Buran Theatre Company

Sunday, April 20  |  7pm
HB Studio, First Floor Studio  |   120 Bank Street
Free!  |  RSVP here

Please join Buran Theatre Co. for this informal work-in-progress showing and conversation in preparation for their May premiere!

This hybrid theatre work will entertain our crave for a quick fix – whether it’s anti-depressants, chemotherapy or romantic love. How do we know we are unwell? How can real healing occur? And can we ever return to health? Or is it always a trip to some other destination? Through a series of seemingly unconnected scenes, events, songs and dance, MAGIC BULLETS will build a cacophony of disparate parts into a cohesive performance with live video and music. The production will be an overwhelming sensory experience completing Buran’s rhythmic, immersive performance style developed over the past four years.

Performed by Caitlin Bebb, Jud Knudsen, Catrin Lloyd-Bollard, Erin Mallon, Michael McKim, Kate Schroeder, and Mari Yamamoto

Written by Adam R. Burnett
Directed by Adam R. Burnett & Jud Knudsen
Music by Casey Mraz
Lyrics by Adam R. Burnett, Casey Mraz & Catfox
Choreography by Donna Jewell + the company
Scenic & Light design by Nick Kostner
Costume design by Jennifer Stimple Kamei
Video design by Geraldo Mercado
Assistant design/direction/photography by Abigail Blueher

A full run of MAGIC BULLETS will be performed at The Incubator Arts Project, May 2 – 11.

nysca_60pxThis 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.

Save the Date – 2014 Fall Benefit

SAVE THE DATE!

Our annual fall benefit has been scheduled for Monday, November 3, 2014.

We are happy to announce that we will once again continue our festivities at Manhattan Penthouse, a stunning venue with panoramic views of the NYC skyline.

Ticket and honoree information will be available shortly. Click here for more details and to view photos from our previous celebrations.

Movement Class Presentation

Fred Timm’s Movement 1 class will have an open house where students will present original stories told through words and movement.

Friday, March 21 | 4pm
2nd Floor Studio, 120 Bank Street
All are welcomed. Free!

In Memorium: Walt Witcover

Walt Witcover, who taught acting and scene study at HB Studio for over 25 years, died last year on November 15. Following service in World War II, Walt attended Cornell University receiving a BA and MA and then began a career as actor, director, and teacher, studying with such luminaries as Lee Strasberg, Curt Conway, and Herbert Berghof. In addition to teaching classes at HB in acting scene study and stage direction, Walt founded the Masterworks Laboratory Theatre in Brooklyn Heights where he staged a vast variety of productions, often involving HB Studio students and faculty. He had a profound impact upon hundreds of students here at HB and at the Actors Studio, the Stella Adler Studio, and at SUNY Purchase where he was a Professor of Theatre Arts. He will long be remembered and his memory will be cherished by all who had the good fortune to work with him.

BEACH TRIP

Screen shot 2014-02-07 at 11.38.58 AMHB Performance Lab

By Perry Guzzi
Directed by Amy Wright

Featuring:
 E. James Fordyce, Katherine Hay, Christopher Heard, Gail Merzer-Behrens, George Port, and Antony Raymond.

This fascinating new play tells the story of two life-long friends on a road trip to an unexpected and all-too-real destination.

Performances:
Friday, Saturday & Sunday | March 21, 22 & 23 | 8pm
HB Studio, First Floor Studio
FREE!

 

10 Minute Play Auditions

“KISSED OFF”

a 10 minute play by Andrew Marvel, directed by Michael Manuelian

Auditions:  Wed, March 12, 7 PM – 9 PM | Playwright’s Room, 2nd Floor, 122 Bank Street
Sides will be provided.
To be considered: Please send your headshot & resume, with the character name in the subject line, to Michael Manuelian: michaelmanuelian1@gmail.com

Event: This will be a full production of a ten-minute play, to be produced at the HB Playwrights Theatre in April 2014 as part of THE OFFICE PLAYS: A 10 Minute Play Festival. Five Performances.

Character breakdown:

  • Jeannie Donahue: early 30’s, junior executive who’s spent her corporate career playing by the rules. Big heart. Buried ambitions. Desperate for change.
  • Caroline Blatt: 50’s, in charge of Human Resources at a privately-owned company in NYC. Discombobulated. Shoots from the hip. Strives to do what’s right. Low tolerance for stress. An artist at heart.