Recorded June 4, 2025

In this special episode of the HB Insight Series, we explore the enduring connections between HB Studio, the Noël Coward Foundation, and the Witness to History project. Host Francesca Ferrara is joined by preservationist Alan Pally, Tony Award-winning actor Frank Wood, and HB’s Production Manager Moshe Henderson. Together, they trace Uta Hagen and Herbert Berghof’s relationships to Noël Coward, uncover personal stories that illuminate Coward’s legacy as both wit and social critic, and reflect on how his influence continues to inspire contemporary political theater.

This episode provides the historical and artistic context for the Witness to History: The Testimony Project, highlighting how HB Studio and the Noël Coward Foundation carry forward a tradition of daring, socially engaged artistry.

Recorded May 15, 2025

In this episode of the HB Insight Series, we explore the recent workshop Testimony: Theater as a Witness to Our Times, part of the Witness to History: The Testimony Project supported by the Noël Coward Foundation. Joined by Tony Award-winning actor and HB Studio faculty member Frank Wood and playwright-actor Emily Adler, we reflect on their experiences working with three historically significant plays and the process of confronting systems of power through theater.

Together, they share the journey from investigating texts to building a performance that resonated deeply with audiences, highlighting how historical narratives remain urgent and relevant today. This conversation offers an inside look at the collaborative, transformative nature of theater-making at HB Studio.

Exploring the artistic journey with Writer and Intimacy Coordinator, Joey Massa, and Director, Katharine Lorraine. In this episode, we talk about the importance of intimacy coordination in sensitive work, and their work developing WORKSHOP, as a part of their 2024 HB Residency.

Exploring the artistic journey with Đavid Lee Huỳnh, a Vietnamese American theatre artist, voice over, and 2024 HB Rehearsal Space Resident Artist developing X#*! You Very Much, Mom, a one-man show where theatre meets TED talk, based on his own life growing up Asian American, and why it was so hard for his mom to say "I love you".

Exploring the artistic journey with Tank and Darius, artists from the queer arts collective “I Don’t Wanna See That?!!?!”. Join us as we talk about their journey into forming a collective, their introduction into the artform of drag, and getting insight on their 2024 Residency with HB Studio developing The Mannequin Play, a devised folk-rap musical about three mannequins thrust into unfamiliar worlds and are forced to create new families while they try to reunite with each other.

A special four-guest episode, HB Studio hosts a virtual conversation with the four Uta Hagen Award Recipients: Kelly Quinnett (2019 Awardee, University of Idaho), Yesenia Herrington (2022 Awardee from Texas State University), Katherine LeRoy-Lawson (2023 Awardee from South Georgia State College), and Jenny McKnight (2024 Awardee from Indiana University). Join us as we explore each journey that led to teaching theatre in higher education, connecting with students, mental health support, teaching artist styles, seeking opportunities for student artists, and their time in our Hagen Teacher’s Lab.

The Uta Hagen Award is offered through College of Fellows of the American Theatre, in celebration of the Uta Hagen centennial and the 2020 centennial of the women’s vote (a voice for all women). Led by Bonnie Nelson Schwartz,  the recipients are awarded a scholarship to study at HB Studio’s one-week teaching artist intensive program, Hagen Teacher’s Lab. Led by Mark Nelson and Carol Rosenfeld.

Exploring the artistic journey of Amanda McDowall and Jacqueline Raymond Wegman, co-founders of the International Girls Ensemble! Listen to their approach on creating a lasting community and uplifting young women through the lens of theatre. The International Girls Ensemble was chosen for HB’s residency in 2020 and finally they are back in 2024 with 12 young girls eager to tell their inspiring stories and share their artistry with the community. Amanda and Jacqueline guide us through their artistic development towards creating theatre that liberates young women. Their enlightened experience during their first volunteer trip to Thailand led the ladies to apply for their 501(c)3 and embark on the beautiful journey that is the International Girls Ensemble! Join us as we explore how theatre can uplift and support women all over the world.

Exploring the artistic journey of Melody Erfani, founder of Lower Eastside Shakespeare Company, Resident HB Artist developing,The Words Will Come, a play about dyslexia. Join us as Melody shares her upbringing as an Iranian-American living in Texas, falling in love with theatre, traveling the world, her love of classical theatre and the power of artistic collaboration. We reflect on the conception of Melody’s 2017 HB residency Bee, a story inspired about her Iranian grandmother's arranged marriage. Melody transparently shares works from her own lived experience and through her honesty we are opened to how theatre has the capability to inspire the creation of marginalized stories. Listen as we unpack the ways our own lived experiences are the heart of powerful theatre.

Explore the artistic journey of Nehassaiu deGannes, actor, poet, maker, educator, storyteller and so much more… Experience with us as Nehassaiu shares her unique path to the development of her artistry. We explore her relationship to language, her ethos as an artist and educator, her Caribbean background, her diverse educational journey, some of her favorite roles and mentors that guided her along the way.Nehassaiu graciously shares personal stories and challenges us to advocate for our creativity and how we can find our alchemy as artists. Nehessaiu comes to HB with degree’s in English Literature, African American Studies, Poetry and trained at Trinity Repertory Conservatory. Listen as we dive into the intersectional ways theatre can be a vehicle for our unique creativity.

Exploring the artistic journey of multi-hyphenate creator Jermaine Rowe as he reflects and shares his journey towards becoming an artist through cultural exploration, self acceptance, growth, and spirituality. We talk about his upbringing in Spanish Town Jamaica, being an F1 student new to NYC with a scholarship to Alvin Ailey, touring with The Lion King and Fela!, his transition into becoming an educator, and his inventive new works under his genre Afro Caribbean magical realism. Fresh off of working alongside Bill T. Jones as his associate director for Watch Night at the Perelman Performing Arts Center Jermaine is diving into every part of his artistry. Listen as Jermaine genuinely offers us insight on the conception of his artistry.

Exploring the artistic journey of Recovery, a devised theatre experience produced and directed by 2023 HB resident artists Ashley Olive Teague and Jayne McLendon. Ashley and Jayne share their community based approach to theatre as they guide us through the conception of their healing presentation. As leaders of their own theatre spaces the ladies give us advice on the collaborative process and how to create stories around difficult topics. Listen as Ashley and Jayne dive into how they create theatre that touches audiences, creates ensemble and inspires further communal conversations.

Exploring the artistic journey of Matt Butler, musician and songwriter. We talk about transition of being a lone wolf artist to working a collaborative theatre setting, and his work performing and storytelling in correctional facilities.

Explore the artistic journey of Deirdre MacNamara, playwright, actress, yoga instructor. We take a look back of how she got her start as an artist, from being offered the wrong kind of dance job, to the artists she's worked with over the years—and to this day, and creating art through personal experiences.

Exploring the artistic journey of Kate Fuglei, actress, writer, and author. We talked about growing up artistic, trauma, and retelling those human experiences to find healing and human experience, which lead Kate to write In The Blink Of An Eye.

Exploring the artistic journey of Kayhan Irani, artist and activist. We talk about how Kayhan got her start at HB, taking classes a very young age, sharing a special moment with founder Herbert Berghof, how she found her activist spirit in her art and life, and how it all lead to her to start her project: The Whole World Over: Refugee Art Making & Making Home in the West Village, bringing together immigrants artists to share their work with the community and how it's grown.

Explore the artistic journey of Maria Cominis, actor, playwright, director, author, educator, mother. We talk about finding truth and how she came to write her new piece, Women of Zalongo, a story inspired by her ancestral history.

Artist-in-Residency, Ashley Olive Teague and Playwright, Gwen Kingston, share with us the development of their residency project: DICK, excavating the iconic text of Moby Dick and telling stories from womxn, and non-binary folx perspectives. And the community work that they've done through Notch Theatre Company.

Featuring Ashley Olive Teague & Gwen Kingston
Host: Francesca Ferrara
Production Manager: Melisa Kucevic
Audio Technician: Gabriel Robinson
Graphics Design: Claudia Quintero
Composter: Zaq Latino
Editor: Josiah Smiley
Producer: Frank Nicholas Poon & HB Studio

Richard Hoehler discusses his company, ACTING OUT: a theatre that offers professional training, practice, and performance opportunities for the formerly incarcerated. Each participant in ACTING OUT experienced the transformative value of a theatre program while in prison and wish to continue their training upon release.

Featuring Richard Hoehler
Co-Host: Richie Dang
Host: Francesca Ferrara
Production Manager: Melisa Kucevic
Audio Technician: Gabriel Robinson
Graphics Design: Claudia Quintero
Composter: Zaq Latino
Editor: Josiah Smiley
Producer: Frank Nicholas Poon & HB Studio

Our first episode features, Core & Movement Instructor, Ben Mehl about how he got his start in acting, becoming a teaching artist, and his struggles with vision prepared that led him to his role in Season 3 of Netflix’s You.

Featuring Ben Mehl
Co-Host: Yessi Hernandez
Host: Francesca Ferrara
Production Manager: Melisa Kucevic
Audio Technician: Gabriel Robinson
Graphics: Claudia Quintero
Music: Zaq Latino
Editor: Josiah Smiley
Producer: Frank Nicholas Poon & HB Studio