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.
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BEACH TRIP
HB 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.
10 Minute Play Auditions
“WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THINGS DONE IN WASHINGTON”
a 10 minute play by Andrew R. Heinze, directed by Eli Thacker Taylor
Auditions: Tuesday, March 4, 7pm – 9pm | Playwright’s Room, 2nd Floor, 122 Bank Street
Sides will be provided; no appointment necessary
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.
Character breakdown:
- LBJ (Lyndon Johnson): (m) 40-50s. Intimidating yet intimate. Captivating and tireless. A born leader. Preferably tall. Texas/Southern accent a must.
- BLUE: (m) 30s. Idealistic with a youthful energy.
- RED: (m) 50s. Warm and worn. Career politician. Southern accent.
Performance Lab Auditions: THE LADY FROM THE SEA
Spring Performance Lab 1, directed by Stuart Vaughan, will be a presentation of Henrik Ibsen’s THE LADY FROM THE SEA, a New Version by Stuart Vaughan.
Auditions: Thursday, March 6th, 6pm – 8pm; and Friday, March 7th, 6pm – 8pm
Call the HB registration office to schedule an audition: 212-675-2370 x. 1
For your audition, you are asked to prepare a monologue from any published prose play and bring a headshot and resume.
Click here for a character breakdown and Performance Lab dates and details.
This lab is open by audition to current and recent HB students: those registered for the 2014 Spring term or those previously enrolled during the 2014 Winter or 2013 Fall terms.
Spring Term began March 24! Register Now.
Spring Term classes run 10 weeks, March 24 – June 8. Registration continues through April 13.
Browse our class offerings and register online today!
There will be no classes during Spring Clean-Up (April 29 – May 4) or Memorial Day (May 26).
Spring Term auditions are now closed. Please stay tuned for Summer Term audition dates.
PLAY THE MOMENT
HB PERFORMANCE LAB
From a Co-Founder of LAByrinth Theater Company and a select group of advanced students from HB Studio
Conceived and directed by
David Deblinger
Developed and created with Nezam Ardalan, Paul Burke, Dominic Comperatore, Yun Hee Kim, Natalia Korablina, James Meneses, Cyndee Rivera, Jo Anne Sellers, Donna Svennevik, Jessica Winograd, and Karen Zechowy.
Music—singing—storytelling—bursting forth from the hearts and minds of an international and intergenerational group of artists.
This performance culminates a five-week ensemble-building process with a personal and playful performance exploration using one important theme and tool…
that is…“PLAY.”
Friday & Saturday, February 14 & 15, 8:00pm
HB Studio, First Floor Studio
FREE!
Backstage names HB Studio one of “Six Classic NYC Acting Schools”
HB Studio
One of New York’s original acting schools, HB Studio can imbue you with that New York authenticity. What sets this nonprofit organization apart is its atmosphere: HB Studio is not a college or conservatory, but 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 where some deepening is necessary in their personal practice. HB training has roots in the European classical tradition and focuses on practicality. Stockard Channing, Bette Midler, and Sarah Jessica Parker are among its alumni.
– “Six Classic NYC Acting Schools” – Jan 31, 2014, Backstage
Announcing the 2014 First Floor Studio Performance Projects
HB STUDIO IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE 2014 SEASON OF
FIRST FLOOR STUDIO PERFORMANCE PROJECT RESIDENCIES
- MAGIC BULLETS, by Buran Theatre Co. With Adam Burnett (director), Caitlin Bebb, Donna Jewell (choreography/performer), Jud Knudsen, Nick Kostner (set/lights), Catrin Lloyd-Bollard, CS Luxem (sound), Geraldo Mercado (video/performer), Erin Mallon, Casey Mraz (music), Anastasia Olowin, Kate Schroeder, Jennifer Stimple Kamei (costumes), and Mari Yamamoto.
- THE STORY OF YOU, written and performed by Brian Kelly. With Christina LaPrease (editor), Jun Mizumachi (sound), and Eric Michael Gillet (consultant).
- ABOMINATION, by Jason Jung. With Adam Delia (director), Jim Broaddus, and Adam Dodway.
- BRIDAL SHOWER, by Andrew Marvel. With Joshua Lombard (director), Fernando Torres, and more.
- GHOSTS AFTER IBSEN, by Thomas Kilroy. With Austin Pendleton (director), Debra Lass (producer/performer), Joe Stillman (producer/performer), Keegan McDonald, Christina Calph, and Jim Broaddus.
- THE BUTTER AND EGG MAN, by George S. Kaufman. With Amy Wright (director), Hugh Heckman (producer/performer), Phil Kushner, Eric Scholl, and more.
- SAND & SILENCE, written and performed by Rasa Allan Kazlas.
Stay tuned for performance details!
This program is made possible through the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
Apply Now! Hagen Summer Intensive, Teacher Training, and Core Training Programs
The Hagen Institute is now accepting applications for its Summer Intensive, Teacher Training, and Core Training programs.
The Hagen Summer Intensive is a rigorous, 6-week workshop that probes the practical applications of Uta Hagen’s technique as discussed in her book A CHALLENGE FOR THE ACTOR. It runs Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm, June 29, 2014 – August 8, 2014. READ MORE
The Hagen Teacher Training is a program for artists and educators interested in experiencing the depth and utility, for professional actor training, of Uta Hagen’s Object Exercises and scene study process. It runs Mon – Sat, 9:30am – 4:30pm, August 11 – 16, 2014. READ MORE
The Hagen Core Training is a full-time one-year training program for actors who seek full immersion in the practice of their craft. It runs Mon – Fri, 9:30am – 3:30pm, September 15, 2014 – June 5, 2015. READ MORE