Monday, September 7, 2009

NEW TERM AT HB STUDIO

The new term at HB studio starts today (sic; yes; Labor Day -- Lo-o-ong tradition of ignoring Holidays there; hey! actors work on Holidays).

There are many interesting classes:

George Bartenieff is teaching Shakespeare & Classics. George was Cadmus in this summer's production of The Bacchae at Shakespeare in the Park, Chef Max Bugnard, the cooking instructor in Paris in Julie & Julia. And, he's been on 30 Rock!

George Bartenieff
as Cadmus in The Bacchae
with his thyrsus & fawnskin outfit.
Photo by Joan Marcus.

Tracey Jackson, who wrote Confessions of a Shopaholic, is teaching screenwriting. She is a brilliant teacher, and hilarious as well. Take the class for her riffs, not just to learn how to write screenplays and deal with the real life of a screenwriter.

Anne Jackson (r) with Jerry Stiller, Eli Wallach and Anne Meara
at last year's benefit honoring Stiller & Meara.
Photo by Eric Roffman
.

Distinguished actresses Anne Jackson and Louise Lasser and actor/director Austin Pendelton each teach courses for advanced actors.

There's a class this year reviewing Greek, Roman and other early plays.

Tony award winning director Jack Hofsiss is teaching a directing class as well as a career development class.

In addition to classes (in acting, speech, singing, movement, writing, and directing, etc) , there is a company of actors that regularly present plays in the theater next door. Coming up is Horton Foote's The Chase (see below **) with the HB Ensemble, including Catherine Kjome, one of my favorite actresses.

The faculty is excellent. They are all working actors (or working directors or writers or ...) Many of the faculty trace their careers back directly to Uta Hagen and Herbert Berghoff (or one generation behind, to teachers who studied with UH and HB) . The school is very serious about acting... or rather, not acting, but being real on stage.

There are classes for young 'uns too.

A la carte selection of classes is possible. There are day and evening classes. A full time program is also available. They cater to foreign students. Some classes are designed for advanced students with a required audition. Most classes are available to students at all levels, including beginners, with no prerequisites or audition required. Auditing a class before taking it is allowed and, in fact, encouraged. HB Studio is also one of the least expensive acting progams around, as well as one of the best, most professional, and most comprehensive. Many famous and successful actors have studied at HB.

Each year HB presents a benefit dinner. Last year Stiller & Meara were honored in a great evening. This year the dinner -- on November 9th -- will celebrate Horton Foote, in honor of Herbert Berghof's 100th birthday. (The Chase is being performed in conjunction with this celebration.)

HB is at 120 Bank Street. For information about classes, the benefit, the plays, or anything else... check their website: http://www.hbstudio.org/

(**The Chase, by Horton Foote opens September 13th and runs for 16 performances. For reservations call 212-989-7856 beginning August 31st. If you want to come to this, don't delay as tickets are free and will go quickly!

"The Chase" originally opened in New York in 1952, but it is still current. This HB Ensemble project was initiated a year ago. Horton Foote died this past March, so with this production we get to celebrate his life and his longtime collaboration with Herbert Berghof.

Horton Foote wrote the films "Tender Mercies," and "The Trip to Bountiful," as well as many, many important plays.)