MEMORIES OF MADAME SERGAVA

Here is an excerpt from a book written about Katherine Sergava by David Arthur Walters, another former student:

 

“I have had great teachers. I love them because they told me the truth.”  Katharine Sergava

 

“I recall very well my evening classes with master drama teacher Katharine Sergava in the basement of HB Studio on shady Bank Street in West Greenwich Village.   Hers was an “open” or mixed-level class designed for beginners but more experienced students including her regular followers attended as well much to the benefit of the newcomers.

 

“You all have great potentials, but you have not worked all your life on your potentials.  We come to class to be vulnerable, not to be protected.  So don’t take yourself seriously.  Take your work seriously.  It will teach you about life.   We have to actually DO it in order to act.  And we have to be organized in our everyday life in order to be ready to work.   If you have a system, you don’t leave things to chance!   Even if you are not inspired, if you use the system you will have a performance.  This is the difference between knowing what you are doing and not knowing.  I would be scared to get on the stage not knowing what I’m doing.   I’m showing you the way.   The rest is in your hands.   Do you want to do it or not?”

 

Notes from the late Madame Sergava’s acting classes at HB Studios, collected details of her life within its historical context. ‘

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