CHRIS  LUTKIN - Starting with his membership at Ensemble Studio Theater (one of  New York's premier developmental centers for actors, writers and directors) in  1977, Chris Lutkin has been in and around the business of acting for more than  20 years. Chris studied at Weist-Barron under both Dwight Weist and Bob  Barron, went on to book national commercials, land various supporting roles on  T.V. and performed 300 plus shows as Lionel while in the long running  Off-Broadway show "Perfect Crime." He was seen in the movie "Hair," directed  by Jerry Zaks in "Buddy-Pals" and worked with Horton Foote on his play "Lily  Dale" playing Horace, along with many other artistic adventures. He has been  on camera in countless industrial films, print ads and as a voiceover artist.  Chris trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, as well as the  Ensemble Studio Theatre under Curt Dempster. Chris is also Co-Producer and  Director of Coupla Swells Productions along with his wife, Heather  Smith Lutkin and is collaborating on a number of screen and stage projects,  including the development of the long form improv group “Next Door  Neighbors” now performing regularly at The Pit and elsewhere around town.  Visit couplaswells.com for project information and posted videos.

Mr.  Lutkin currently teaches Acting For Film/TV at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and  Film Institute. He has taught at Stonestreet Film and Television, where he was  a field instructor for the advanced drama conservatory at NYU/Tisch. He also  collaborated with Playwrights Horizon to design workshops on “Acting For  Frames.”

Personal Philosophy:

I work with all actors to help  them understand the difference between acting for the stage and acting for  film and television. Taking theater-oriented actors who have been trained in  all the acting disciplines (Stanislavski, Adler, Meisner, et al) and/or those  with little or no training, I have developed a practical approach that allows  actors to fully understand their relationship with the camera and learn what’s  expected of them while “working in frames.”

FRANK PETRILLI - (Acting Technique) - Frank S. Petrilli (Acting Technique) is an adjunct director at Western Connecticut State University Communications  & Theater Arts Department; has
guest directed at Manhattanville College and instructed theater at Sacred Heart University. He is the Producing Artistic Director of the Acme Stage Company, the former Artistic Director of the Ten Ten Players Theater (Theatre Ten Ten) and former Managing Artistic Director of the Oakwood Players Theater in Los Angeles. 

Frank studied at the New York Academy of Theatrical Arts with actors Bruce Dern and Gordon Phillips. He trained with Bob Balaban and Austin Pendleton at the Hartman Theatre Company Conservatory of Acting; with the acclaimed Broadway director Jose Quintero at New York¹s Van Dam Theater and with the acclaimed Shakespearean actor Morris Carnovsky in CT. He also studied the Stanislavsky Acting Technique, privately for many years, with Beatrice Heddericg.

Personal Philosophy: 

"Acting is standing on your own two feet, looking the other {actor} in the
eye, and telling the truth" 

                                                                JIMMY CAGNEY

"...Arrive on time, know your lines, and listen."
                                                               SPENCER TRACEY

"The lights can fall, the set can drop, but if you maintain character and
live the moment, the show WILL go on!"
                                                               FRANK PETRILLI