HB Studio

The HB Studio, formally known as the Herbert Berghof Studio, is a non-profit organization founded in 1945 in New York City's Greenwich Village, dedicated to providing professional training and practice in the performing arts for actors, playwrights, and directors of all ages.^[1][2] Established by Austrian-born Broadway actor and director Herbert Berghof as a creative haven free from commercial pressures, the studio emphasizes an eclectic, practical approach to theater rooted in European classical traditions, fostering authentic expression and lifelong artistic growth.^[1][3] Berghof's wife, acclaimed actress and teacher Uta Hagen, joined shortly after its inception and became a cornerstone of its pedagogy, developing influential techniques outlined in her seminal books Respect for Acting (1973) and A Challenge for the Actor (1991), which continue to shape the studio's curriculum.^[1][3] Located at 120 Bank Street in a historic former horse stable, HB Studio operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, serving thousands of artists annually through a diverse array of programs, including weekly in-person and online acting classes, full-time professional training via the Uta Hagen Institute, intensive workshops, playwrighting labs, directing courses, and public residencies for new works.^[1][4][5] The studio's mission centers on cultivating flexible, emotionally versatile performers capable of addressing contemporary issues, balancing encouragement with rigorous demands to nurture both emerging talents and seasoned professionals in a supportive, non-competitive environment.^[3] Over its nearly eight decades, HB has produced generations of influential artists, with notable alumni including Anne Bancroft, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Candice Bergen, Matthew Broderick, and Liza Minnelli, many of whom credit its foundational training for their careers in theater, film, and television.^[6]

History

Founding

Herbert Berghof, born on September 13, 1909, in Vienna, Austria, began his career as an actor and director in Europe during the interwar period.^[7] As a protégé of the renowned German director Max Reinhardt, he gained experience in realist theater traditions before the rise of Nazism forced him to flee Austria.^[1] Berghof emigrated to the United States in 1939, where he continued working as an actor on Broadway and teaching at institutions like Erwin Piscator's Dramatic Workshop.^[8] In 1945, Berghof established the HB Studio (named for Herbert Berghof) in New York City as a non-profit organization dedicated to practical training in the performing arts.^[6] Initially operating out of a rented space on West 16th Street near Greenwich Village, the studio served as a collaborative workspace for actors, directors, and writers, emphasizing improvisation, hands-on practice, and ongoing professional development free from commercial pressures.^[8] This approach positioned HB Studio as an alternative to more formal, rigid acting academies, catering specifically to working theater professionals seeking flexible, supportive environments to hone their craft.^[1] The founding took place in the immediate post-World War II period, a time of economic recovery and limited resources for the arts in New York.^[9] Berghof began with modest classes in the small rented venue, relying on his own reputation and the influx of European émigré artists to build a community-focused program amid financial constraints.^[8] By prioritizing accessibility and collaboration, the studio quickly became a vital hub for emerging and established talents in the city's vibrant theater scene.^[6]

Uta Hagen's Role and Contributions

Uta Hagen, born on June 12, 1919, in Göttingen, Germany, to an artistic family—her father was an art historian and her mother an opera singer—moved to the United States at age six and settled in Madison, Wisconsin.^[10] She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and the University of Wisconsin before making her Broadway debut at age 18 as Nina in Anton Chekhov's The Seagull in 1938, a role that launched her distinguished acting career alongside luminaries like Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne.^[11] Hagen's early professional experiences, including acclaimed performances in plays such as The Seagull and later A Streetcar Named Desire, established her as a prominent stage actress known for her emotional depth and realism.^[11] Hagen's connection to HB Studio began in 1947 when she met Herbert Berghof during the Broadway production of The Whole World Over, directed by Harold Clurman; Berghof, who had founded the studio two years earlier, invited her to join the faculty that fall.^[1] She began teaching acting classes immediately, complementing Berghof's European-influenced methods with her own practical insights drawn from Broadway.^[1] The two married on January 25, 1957, forming a professional and personal partnership that lasted until Berghof's death in 1990.^[8] From the 1950s onward, Hagen co-directed HB Studio alongside Berghof, shaping its curriculum and fostering a collaborative environment that emphasized truthful, experiential acting over stylized performance.^[1] Her key contributions included developing innovative teaching approaches, such as object exercises—where actors engage with everyday items to evoke authentic sensory responses—and substitution techniques, which encouraged performers to draw from personal experiences to inhabit characters realistically.^[10] These methods grounded acting in personal truth and sensory awareness, shifting the studio's culture toward a more realistic, sense-based training model that influenced generations of actors, including Liza Minnelli and Whoopi Goldberg.^[10] During her tenure, Hagen also authored seminal texts like Respect for Acting (1973) and A Challenge for the Actor (1991), which codified her philosophy and became foundational resources in drama education.^[10]

Key Milestones and Evolution

During the mid-20th century, HB Studio underwent significant growth, particularly in the 1960s, when it established the HB Playwrights Foundation in 1964 to support the development of new plays and introduced dedicated playwriting classes alongside its core acting curriculum.^[12] The foundation operated until 2013.^[13] This period also saw the addition of directing programs, broadening the studio's scope to encompass comprehensive training for theater artists at various career stages.^[14] Enrollment increased steadily, reflecting the studio's rising reputation in New York City's theater community.^[15] Herbert Berghof, the studio's founder, passed away on November 5, 1990, at the age of 81, after decades of leadership that shaped its artistic direction.^[7] Uta Hagen continued teaching at HB Studio into her later years, maintaining her classes despite health challenges that emerged in the early 2000s; she died on January 14, 2004, at age 84.^[16] To honor Hagen's legacy and preserve her practical acting methods, HB Studio established the Uta Hagen Institute, which offers immersive programs like the Hagen Core Training and Summer Intensive focused on her technique.^[17] In 2020, the studio marked its 75th anniversary with a series of celebratory events, including a postponed gala on November 11, public performances, and tributes to alumni and faculty that highlighted its enduring impact on American theater.^[9] The COVID-19 pandemic prompted adaptations at HB Studio, including the launch of hybrid learning models in 2021 for programs like the Hagen Core Training, combining online sessions with optional in-person classes compliant with health safety protocols.^[18] These changes enabled continued access for students worldwide while emphasizing support for emerging talents through flexible, technique-driven instruction. In July 2025, the Board of Directors approved a new shared leadership structure to guide the organization forward.^[19] As of November 2025, HB Studio maintains its commitment to nurturing new artists via seasonal cohorts and workshops. The studio has preserved its original Greenwich Village facilities at 120 Bank Street since their acquisition and initial renovation in 1958, with subsequent updates to enhance functionality, such as accessibility features in the adjacent 124 Bank Street theater space.^[13][20]

Teaching Philosophy

Uta Hagen's Technique

Uta Hagen's acting technique, often referred to as "Respect for Acting," centers on achieving realism through personal authenticity and direct engagement with everyday experiences, rejecting overly intellectual or abstract approaches to character development. Hagen advocated for actors to observe and replicate the nuances of daily life to infuse performances with genuine truth, emphasizing that true acting arises from the actor's lived reality rather than contrived imagination. This philosophy underscores a disciplined process that builds trust in the performer's instincts, fostering repeatable and reliable results on stage and screen.^[21] A core principle of the technique is substitution, where actors replace the scripted circumstances with parallel personal experiences to evoke authentic emotional responses without delving into potentially harmful emotional recall. For instance, to portray grief, an actor might substitute a memory of personal loss, allowing the emotion to emerge naturally through specific, relatable details. This method, detailed in Hagen's seminal book Respect for Acting (1973), promotes accessibility and safety, enabling actors to access deep feelings while maintaining control and avoiding psychological strain. Hagen further refined this in A Challenge for the Actor (1991), where she expands on using substitution to bridge the gap between self and character.^[22][23] Key concepts include object exercises, a set of structured tasks designed to sharpen sensory awareness and physical presence by re-enacting mundane activities with everyday items, such as sorting mail or fixing a broken appliance. These exercises train actors to respond behaviorally to objects as if they hold personal significance, thereby grounding abstract character actions in tangible reality and combating self-consciousness. Complementing this is the identification of essential objectives, the fundamental drives or needs propelling a character's actions in any given moment, which Hagen described as the "why" behind behavior to ensure purposeful and dynamic interactions. These elements, drawn from her writings, encourage a rehearsal process rooted in specificity and preparation over vague inspiration.^[24][25] Hagen's approach profoundly influenced American theater by offering a counterpoint to Method Acting's reliance on intense affective memory, instead prioritizing practical, objective tools that yield consistent, truthful performances adaptable to both theater and film. By focusing on grounded techniques, her method empowered actors to create living, believable characters without the risks of emotional exhaustion, establishing a legacy of professional rigor and humanistic depth.^[26][27]

Core Training Methods

The core training methods at HB Studio center on the practical application of Uta Hagen's exercises, which form the foundation of actor development by emphasizing truthful, moment-to-moment engagement with given circumstances. These exercises begin with individual object work, such as the Destination Exercise, where actors physically interact with everyday objects to explore sensory awareness, emotional responses, and specific actions under imagined conditions, fostering a base for authentic behavior. This leads progressively to improvisation through paired activities like Double Destinations, where students apply the exercise to character-driven scenarios, incorporating text analysis to deepen relational dynamics and spontaneity. Finally, the process culminates in scene study, where actors integrate these tools into full rehearsals of published plays, prioritizing physicalization—such as precise gestures and spatial relationships—to embody the character's objectives without relying on external indicators. Dialect work is woven in during voice and speech components to enhance vocal authenticity, ensuring the actor's sound aligns with the physical and emotional core of the role.^[28][29] Complementing Hagen's approach, HB Studio incorporates movement, voice, and ensemble training to develop a holistic psycho-physical instrument for the actor. Movement classes draw on Michael Chekhov's techniques, exploring psychological gestures and transformative physicality to access imaginative sources for character creation, often through exercises that link body awareness to emotional expression. Voice training focuses on breath support, resonance, and speech clarity, including dialect acquisition to support textual demands, while ensemble work builds collaborative listening and group dynamics through improvisational structures that emphasize shared space and response. These elements are integrated across classes, such as in the Alexander Technique for postural efficiency, to prevent habitual tensions and promote fluid, responsive performance.^[29][30] Training progresses from beginner to advanced levels in a structured yet flexible manner, allowing students to build foundational skills before tackling complexity. Entry-level classes require no prerequisites and introduce presence, sensory exploration, and basic Hagen exercises to expand personal resources under varied circumstances. Intermediate levels shift to scene breakdown and repeatable truthful actions, using object work and improvisation to analyze character motivations. Advanced and professional tracks, including the full-time Hagen Core Training—a 32-week immersion program—demand auditions via contrasting monologues and focus on intricate scenes, script interpretation, and professional readiness in a safe, creative environment that prioritizes artistic growth over competition. This non-competitive ethos encourages vulnerability and mutual support, aligning with Hagen's principles of substitution and personalization for genuine self-expression.^[31][29] Assessment emphasizes internal self-discovery and process refinement rather than external validation, with faculty providing ongoing feedback through observation and discussion to guide individual breakthroughs. There is no formal certification upon completion, but the rigorous application of exercises prepares actors for professional auditions by honing versatile, authentic techniques applicable to diverse roles and collaborations. Outcomes include enhanced personal artistry, collaborative proficiency, and the ability to create vivid, truthful portrayals, often recognized through eligibility for college credits via partnerships like the National College Credit Recommendation Service.^[29][32]

Programs and Offerings

Acting and Performance Classes

HB Studio's acting and performance classes form the cornerstone of its curriculum, providing structured training for aspiring and professional performers through a range of offerings tailored to different skill levels and interests. These classes emphasize practical scene work and technique development, drawing briefly on Uta Hagen's foundational exercises to build authentic character portrayal.^[31][17] The core class offerings include beginner scene study in Acting 1, which introduces foundational elements such as presence, sensory awareness, and physical relationship to the material without prerequisites; advanced improvisation through dedicated levels that explore complex exercises for expanding technique; integration of musical theater via classes like Acting the Song, which applies acting principles to vocal performance; and screen acting in Acting with the Camera, focusing on on-camera presence and adjustment. These are supplemented by specialized workshops on dialects and accents, such as Standard British or American Southern, to enhance vocal versatility. The studio maintains a year-round schedule with 10-week terms in fall, winter, spring, and summer, alongside shorter 5-week options and intensive workshops.^{[31][33][34][35]} Level progression begins with non-audition entry for basic classes like Acting 1, allowing newcomers to build fundamentals before advancing to Level 2 scene study with text analysis or Level 3 for professional refinement. Full-time programs, such as the Hagen Core Training, require auditions and interviews, committing participants to multi-year or year-long schedules that combine required and elective courses. Durations range from single-session workshops to extended commitments, enabling flexible pacing for ongoing skill maintenance in Studio Practice classes.^[31][29][5] Unique features of the curriculum highlight an emphasis on both classical and contemporary texts across scene studies, fostering adaptability in diverse roles, while incorporating movement classes—like Alexander Technique or advanced physical training—to develop a holistic performer's instrument free from habitual tensions. Dialects training further supports this by addressing pronunciation and intonation for authentic character voices, often through targeted workshops.^[31][36][37] As of 2025, HB Studio offers diverse adult and youth classes, with youth programs for ages 9-17 including Acting for Young People and Teen Intensives to nurture early development. The international student program accommodates F-1 visa holders in full-time acting tracks, requiring application, audition, and demonstrated English proficiency—often assessed via placement in supportive classes like Acting in English for non-native speakers.^[38][39][40]

Playwriting and Directing Programs

HB Studio offers a range of playwriting classes designed for writers at every stage of development, from beginners exploring dramatic writing to seasoned professionals refining their craft. These term-length courses, typically spanning 10 weeks with weekly sessions, emphasize practical techniques such as character development, structure, and dialogue, often drawing on contemporary American plays for exercises. Introductory classes like Playwriting Technique introduce foundational elements without prerequisites, while intermediate and advanced options, including the Playwrights Forum, focus on in-depth feedback, content revision, and critical analysis of full scripts.^[41][42][43] Complementing the core curriculum, HB Studio provides screenwriting programs that extend playwriting skills to film and television formats, including specialized courses on feature films, short films, and TV pilots. These workshops require significant writing assignments and peer critiques, culminating in detailed outlines or complete scripts, and are open to those with prior experience or equivalent training. Outstanding student work from playwriting and screenwriting classes frequently advances to staged readings or workshop performances, fostering collaboration between writers and directors to iterate on new material in a supportive environment.^{[44][45][46][41]} To further support emerging playwrights, HB Studio's Rehearsal Space Residency program selects five theater artists annually for one-week intensive residencies, providing a $1,000 stipend, free access to dedicated rehearsal spaces at 124 Bank Street, and technical resources for developing original works such as new plays or adaptations. Participants rehearse their projects and present public readings or showcases, inviting audience feedback to refine scripts, though the program emphasizes development over full production. This initiative, open to all without HB affiliation required, integrates directly with the studio's playwriting offerings by prioritizing innovative dramatic works.^[47] HB Studio's directing programs cater to aspiring and established directors through structured classes that build skills in script interpretation and production leadership, grounded in the studio's foundational principles derived from Uta Hagen's approach to truthful, object-based storytelling. Courses range from introductory sessions on basic scene staging to advanced explorations of artistic vision, where participants analyze contemporary scripts, cast performers, and experiment with blocking to convey narrative clarity and emotional depth. A key example is the Directors New Play Lab, which pairs directors with playwrights to workshop scenes from full-length plays, leading to staged readings that highlight collaborative dynamics.^{[14][48][49][50]} These programs emphasize hands-on integration with HB Studio's acting students, allowing directors to cast and rehearse scenes in real-time, applying Hagen-inspired techniques to ensure authentic performances. Term-length classes culminate in practical exercises or public showcases, enabling participants to test staging choices with live audiences and receive targeted critiques. As of 2025, HB Studio has expanded access through hybrid formats, offering both in-person and fully online directing classes via Zoom. This flexibility supports broader participation while maintaining the studio's commitment to rigorous, collaborative training.^[14][51][52]

Specialized Workshops and Initiatives

The Uta Hagen Institute, established in 2010, provides intensive training in Uta Hagen's practical acting methods through programs such as the Hagen Core Training, a full-time one-year course covering acting technique, scene study, script analysis, movement, Alexander Technique, voice, and speech; the Hagen Summer Intensive, a six-week workshop focusing on similar elements; and the Hagen Teacher's Lab, which offers workshops for educators and artists to explore Hagen's teaching approaches, including advanced seminars on object exercises.^[17] These initiatives are led by faculty who are direct trainees of Uta Hagen, ensuring fidelity to her techniques.^[17] HB Studio offers age-specific programs for youth and teens, including Acting for Young People (ages 9-13) and Acting for Teens (ages 14-17), which emphasize imaginative play, improvisation, and self-discovery to build confidence and poise in a supportive, non-competitive environment.^[38] Additional options like the Hagen Teen Intensive provide structured conservatory-style training on weekends, fostering compassionate insight and problem-solving skills through theater without imposing professional pressure.^[53] To support international participants and non-native English speakers, HB Studio runs specialized classes such as Acting in English and accent-focused voice training to aid language proficiency and integration into acting studies.^[54] Occasional guest artist workshops feature industry professionals, while post-2020 expansions include virtual online classes and workshops, enabling global access to HB's offerings.^[51] HB Studio enhances community impact through affordably priced programs and free public events, alongside a commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion that prioritizes underrepresented voices in theater training as of 2025.^[55][56]

Faculty

Legacy Faculty

The legacy faculty of HB Studio played a pivotal role in shaping its curriculum and fostering a tight-knit, intergenerational community, many of whom were alumni who returned to teach, creating a family-like atmosphere of mentorship and collaboration.^[57] This group of instructors, rooted in the studio's founding principles, emphasized practical, ensemble-oriented training drawn from European theatrical traditions, influencing generations of artists through their long tenures and innovative approaches.^[1] Herbert Berghof, the studio's founder, taught directing and acting classes from its inception in 1945 until his death in 1990, focusing on ensemble dynamics through productions like the HB Ensemble's stagings of works by William Styron and John Phillips.^[7][58] As a Viennese-born director and actor, Berghof developed the core curriculum by integrating continuous practice and collaborative exercises, which became hallmarks of HB's programs and helped build the studio's reputation as a nurturing hub for emerging talent.^[1] Uta Hagen, who joined as a core instructor in 1947 and taught until her death in 2004, specialized in technique-based classes that emphasized object exercises and substitution methods, as detailed in her seminal books Respect for Acting (1973) and A Challenge for the Actor (1991).^[10][3] Her approach, which prioritized truthful, present-moment performance over illusion, directly informed HB's foundational acting training and was delivered through ongoing workshops that attracted both beginners and professionals.^[2] Among other notable legacy instructors, William Hickey taught character acting from the 1950s through the 1990s, spanning over 40 years, where he guided students in nuanced portrayals by drawing on his own Broadway and film experience to encourage authentic emotional depth.^[59][60] Jack Hofsiss, a Tony Award-winning director, led directing classes from the 1970s until his death in 2016, mentoring students on staging new works and fostering collaborative vision in productions like the annual Jack and Julie Project.^[61][62] Edward Morehouse, the longest-serving faculty member, instructed acting from 1957 until his death in 2021, contributing to curriculum evolution by substituting in advanced classes and embodying the studio's commitment to lifelong practice as a former student himself.^[63][64] These instructors' collective efforts not only refined HB's methods but also reinforced its ethos of a supportive, alumni-driven community that sustained the studio's vitality across decades.^[3]

Current Faculty

The current faculty at HB Studio consists of practicing theater artists recognized for their professional work in performance across theater, film, and television, with many having begun their careers as colleagues or students of founders Herbert Berghof and Uta Hagen.^[57] This group includes numerous HB Studio alumni who bring a blend of ongoing industry experience to their teaching roles.^[57] Notable members include Carol Rosenfeld, founding director of the Uta Hagen Institute, who specializes in advanced technique through script analysis, scene study, and the use of her workbook Acting and Living in Discovery.^[65] She has taught at HB Studio since 1968, with additional expertise in directing and international master classes, including Fulbright Specialist residencies in Uruguay, Poland, and Georgia.^[65] Another key instructor is Pablo Andrade, an award-winning actor, director, and producer with over 20 years of experience, whose teaching philosophy is rooted in Uta Hagen's techniques and enriched by influences from Michael Chekhov, Lee Strasberg, and Jerzy Grotowski.^[66] As a founder of Corezon Theater Company and HB alumnus, Andrade focuses on actor training that integrates these methods for contemporary performance.^[66] Faculty members specialize in diverse areas such as voice, movement, Shakespearean acting, scene study, and playwriting, with instructors like Peter Francis James offering advanced Shakespearean classes based on his Broadway and renowned stage career.^[67] Austin Pendleton, teaching since 1969, emphasizes acting, directing, and playwriting drawn from his extensive Broadway, film (over 250 movies), and television credits.^[68] Others, including Sita Mani in foundational acting and Michelle Uranowitz in movement, contribute to specialized workshops that require ongoing professional development to maintain relevance.^[69][70] Guest instructors augment the core faculty with high-profile perspectives, including Broadway performers like Melissa Errico and directors such as those involved in recent productions, providing targeted insights into current industry practices.^[57] HB Studio prioritizes inclusive hiring to foster diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion across its organization, reflected in the 2025 roster that incorporates emerging voices alongside established professionals.^[55]

Notable Alumni

Prominent Actors

HB Studio has produced numerous acclaimed actors who have achieved success across theater, film, and television, often attributing their foundational skills to the studio's emphasis on realistic, character-driven training. Among its most prominent alumni are Anne Bancroft, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Candice Bergen, Matthew Broderick, and Liza Minnelli, many of whom credit the studio's training for their careers.^[71] Al Pacino, who trained at the studio in the 1960s under instructor Charlie Laughton and later credited HB's rigorous approach with shaping his method acting technique, which contributed to his Academy Award for Best Actor in Scent of a Woman (1992).^[72][71] F. Murray Abraham, who studied there under Uta Hagen, similarly drew on HB's techniques for his versatile performances, earning an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Antonio Salieri in Amadeus (1984).^[71] More recent graduates include Christopher Abbott, who trained at HB in the 2000s and has since garnered acclaim for Broadway roles in productions like The House of Blue Leaves (2011) and film appearances in Girls and Catch-22.^[71][73] Debbie Allen, who studied acting at the studio after earning her degree from Howard University, integrated HB's performance principles with her dance background to excel in roles on Fame and as a choreographer-director, winning multiple Emmys.^[71][74] John David Washington, a 2010s alumnus, honed his skills at HB before breaking out in Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman (2018), where he earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, and later in Tenet (2020); he has noted the studio's flexibility in training as key to his transition from professional football.^[71][75] Caroline Aaron, another longtime HB trainee, has built a career in character-driven film and TV roles, including Woody Allen's Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) and HBO's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, leveraging the studio's scene study methods for her nuanced portrayals.^[71][76] These actors exemplify how HB Studio's realistic training has fostered versatile careers, with alumni frequently citing its supportive environment as instrumental to their professional growth.^[71][75]

Directors, Playwrights, and Other Professionals

Jack Hofsiss, who served as a faculty member teaching directing and acting at HB Studio, achieved acclaim for directing the Broadway production of The Elephant Man in 1979, winning the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play.^[62][61] His work extended to other notable stage productions, including Morning's at Seven and The Oldest Living Graduate, blending innovative staging with character-driven narratives honed through his HB training.^[77] Rae Allen, an HB Studio alumna, directed several Broadway shows, including the 1975 revival of Travesties by Tom Stoppard, for which she received a Tony nomination, and contributed to the studio's legacy as both a performer and creative leader.^[71][78] Robbie McCauley, an Obie Award-winning playwright and long-time HB Studio faculty member associated with its playwriting programs, created her 1990 performance piece Sally's Rape, a seminal work exploring race, gender, and family history through autobiographical theater.^[79] McCauley's contributions, including directing and performing in her own plays like Sugar, reflect the programs' emphasis on innovative, socially engaged writing.^[79] In choreography and dance, Mary Anthony, a pioneering figure in modern dance and an HB Studio alumna and colleague, founded the Mary Anthony Dance Theatre in 1953, creating works such as Theodora and In the Beginning that integrated theatrical elements from her HB training.^[80] As a producer, Matthew Arkin, son of actor Alan Arkin and an HB alumnus, co-founded Batch 22, a production company focused on socially conscious films and series, including titles like The Last Full Measure.^[71][81] HB Studio's playwriting programs continue to nurture emerging talents in the 2020s, with participants from the HB Playwrights Reading Series, such as Eliza Bent (Year Rounders, 2020) and Adam Kraar (The Sound of Birds You Don’t Expect, 2020), developing their work through initiatives like the Directors New Play Lab.^[82][50]