HB Studio is saddened by the loss of Agnes Garrett (Aggie), long-time member and friend to many in the HB community. Aggie was Managing Director of HB Studio for a period of years, a role to which she brought her great reserves of warmth, humor, unflappable and practical good sense. She was a marvel in the job and much loved by all who had the pleasure of working with her. After her retirement from HB, she accepted Donna de Matteo’s invitation to join her Tuesday evening playwriting seminar, and began to explore her own capacity for writing. Aggie’s plays have been presented on the HB Playwrights stage and at other venues around the city. 

Fellow classmates of Agnes express their condolences:

“Aggie had eyes that deepened the longer she looked at you. You had to earn her smile. Donna’s class was complete when Aggie was there. I will continue to miss her.” – Karen Ludwig 

“Agnes was one of the first people to ever talk to me seriously about writing and one of the best sense of humor. Miss you Aggie.” – Jason Jung

“Aggie was a quiet soul who could listen and offer opinions when asked . She had a sense of humor that was quick to surprise you. I will miss those days in Donna’s class sitting next to her. May she rest in peace. God bless her.” – Nora Ferrari

We note with sadness the passing of Joseph Toucette (Tish) who was a longtime Greenwich Village resident and could be seen regularly out on his stoop on Bank Street. Tish moved to NYC in the late 1950s where he was a regular performer at The Moroccan Village and later ran his own show at The Crazy Horse on Bleecker Street.

“During my time at the Library at Lincoln Center, I produced many public programs working with New York’s drag community. Tish was a regular visitor. After I retired, I would see Tish, sitting on the stoop in front of his building on Bank Street: he was a resident of Bank Street for more than 60 years and, like HB, part of the Village community. Many of you will have seen him, as you walked west on Bank Street on your way to HB.” – Alan Pally

Enjoy this interview with Tish from a few years back.

Theresa Buchheister and Ryan William Downey present THE EXPONENTIAL FESTIVAL, a month-long festival in January dedicated to New York City-based emerging artists working in experimental performance. 

Joan La Barbara portrays Honorata in ONLY YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THE SIGNAL, available for streaming through Here Art Center until February 17, 2021.

Peter Francis James is currently filming and will star in upcoming episodes of THE GODFATHER OF HARLEM. 

Jessica Hecht stars in the new indie film THE ATLANTIC CITY STORY.

Dael Orlandersmith, who recently received the prestigious Doris Duke Artist Award for theater from the DDCF, will have her solo show UNTIL THE FLOOD rebroadcast beginning November 15, 2020 as part of Rattlestick Playwrights Theater’s Fall 2020 virtual lineup.

Melissa Errico performed in the concert LOVE, DESIRE & MYSTERY alongside Adam Gopnik on October 14, 2020, now available to stream.

Magaly Colimon stars as Antoinette Pierre in the Netflix show GRAND ARMY, which premiered on October 16, 2020.

Austin Pendleton stars in the dark comedy PAINT, the 2020 Dances with Films Festival prize winner. He also stars in Thomas F. Mazziotti’s THE MIMIC, set to release February 5, 2021.

Tina Benko, who was nominated for Best Guest Actress (Drama) and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Digital Drama for her performance, stars in THE REHEARSAL, available to stream now. 

Amanda Quaid‘s book AMERICAN ACCENT DRILLS FOR BRITISH AND AUSTRALIAN SPEAKERS released March 11, 2020.

Jackson Moran appears in THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA, currently streaming on HBO.

Laura Esterman appears in a new 6-part HBO series, I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE, with Mark Ruffalo. The show premiered on April 27, 2020

Connie Kirk performs in EPIC SHORTS as part of Fertile Ground Projects Lunchtime Reading Series at noon on January 29, 2021.

Ryan Czerwonko‘s new film, airing now on the Ugly/Handsome Films YouTube, has been accepted into Manhattan Repertory Theatre’ Stories Film Festival.

Christina Calph voiced the leading role in Hamid Rahmanian’s latest production, SONG OF THE NORTH, which will be premiering at BAM in 2021.

Mary Francina Golden, Jaime Sheedy, Duncan Hazard, Elissa Middleton, Elaine Yudkovitz (producer and performer) and Jacquelyn Avery Greenspan, directed by Laura Esterman, performed in SHUT IN BUT NOT SHUT DOWN on November 11, 2020, available for streaming now.

Lauren Eve will star in the short films SIR and PURPLE LADY.

Susan Barnes Walker plays the cashier in two scenes of MR ROBOT, Episode 404, streaming now on Amazon Prime.

Anna Katarina leads an acting intensive for seniors, TRANSCENDING AGEISM, which culminates in an outdoor performance at a country retreat.

Ginger Grace plays the lead in WEDDING MARCH, winner of PBS Reel 13 “Shorts” which was initially developed in Austin Pendleton’s class, now streaming online. 

Lenore Loveman performs in the feature film PRINCE HARMING, currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

Amanda Enzo performs in FIRST DAY from Eden Theater Company’s The Living Room Plays.

Youlim Nam‘s film ACTING IS MY DESTINY is available to watch on YouTube.

John Varina performs and directs in DOOMED TO LIVE, Theare68’s 9th Annual One Act Festival, Tuesday evenings at 8PM EDT.

Cynthia Granville performed in CITY OF WOMEN at the Hudson Theatre Works Virtual Play Festival, streaming now on YouTube.

Anna Kaliuzhnaia, Ronan Colfer and Paulo Cartier star in the short film OUTSIDE THE LIGHTHOUSE, available now on Amazon Prime.

Justin Linville is set to star as a series regular opposite Chelsea Holmes, Sam Straley and Seann William Scott in Fox’s single-camera comedy pilot THIS COUNTRY.

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