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.