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DIRECTORS

KRISTINE LEWIS 
Founder

Kristine's career in show business spans the gamut. Her professional theatre credits are extensive and her work has appeared in national tours, summer stock, regional theatres, dinner theatres, and cabaret rooms throughout the U.S.

As a partner in Lewis & Fox Casting, she recently cast a new musical play in New York, (boasting Richard Maltby as creative consultant) called, THE MAGDALENE. Just a few additional credits include: a special presentation of Stephen Sondheim’s never-before-staged, EVENING PRIMROSE, (w/Candice Bergen), directed by Tony Walton, the Westport Playhouse production of VIGIL (w/ Timothy Busfield) followed by the off-Broadway production (w/Malcom Gets), the off-Broadway thriller, MINDGAME (w/Keith Carradine) directed by legendary film director, Ken Russell,  BURLEIGH GRIME$ (w/WendieMalick), MEDEA IN  JERUSALEM, IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE MURDER, THE MOST HAPPY FELLA (which she also directed). Regional productions include:FLIGHTS OF ANGELS (w/THE HURT LOCKER’S Brian Geraghty) and THE KID FROM BROOKLYNand,in development, the Sherman Brother’s musical MERRY-GO-ROUND, starring Florence Henderson.She has cast numerous readings including TIMOR MORTIS (w/ John Heard), MODERN MAN (w/ Maxwell Caulfield) and THE 5000 FINGERS OF DR. T. (w/ Eric McCormack). Live events work includes celebrity casting for the Olympic Torch Services.

Film casting credits include AFRICAN GOTHIC (w/all South African cast), VIVALDI (w/ Alfred Molina, Claire Foy, Elle Fanning, Jacqueline Bissett, Neve Campbell), THE ROAD TO CAPRI (w/Virginia Madsen, Kevin Zegers), the award winning, OPEN AIR (w/Lynn Cohen),  LOVE LUDLOW  (w/ SEX AND THE CITY’S David Eigenberg, and Alicia Goranson), which became a Sundance Selection. Other credits include: E-DAY with Chevy Chase (film short for NY Comedy Film Festival); PET THE GOAT, CHAINING THE HUDSON(Docudrama); music videos, commercials (including PSA w/Kevin Bacon and Andrea McCardle) and industrials.Upcoming film: THE HARD KILL (w/Greg Itzin). 

As a producer, Kristine was managing producer on BURLEIGH GRIME$, associate producer on the NY production of VIGIL, and along w/TAC’s Robert Laconi on Broadway’s ENCHANTED APRIL. Additionally, she has produced numerous stage productions in Bucks County, including THAT’S WHAT KIDS DO!

Kristine founded The Theatre Arts Center in 1985 to prepare young actors for professional theatre. Additionally, she served three years as Director of the Times Square Bid Kidz in Manhattan, a performance ensemble that entertained at various Times Square Broadway events.  She has taught at North Carolina School of the Arts and throughout the U.S., as well as workshops in London. Her own training began studying with Uta Hagen at H.B. Studios and at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts for Drama.  As a dancer and choreographer, she studied with Phil Black, Matt Mattox, Gus Giordano and for many years worked with the American Ballet Theatre.

 

 

ROBERT LACONI

Robert has worked in theater, film, radio, television, and children's theater, as actor, director, manager, and producer.  

As an actor, New York Off-Broadway appearances include Amy Vanderbilt's Book of Etiquette, Gulliver's Travels, Penny Arcade's Based on a True Story, Karna (a shadow puppet opera world premier; on original cast recording), and Ionessco's Frenzy for Two or More (New York premiere).  For the Odyssey Theatre he starred in original adaptations of The Gambler and The Picture of Dorian Gray, and produced The Island of Dr. Moreau.  Other New York acting credits include That Him at Playwrights Horizons, Shakespeare's Macbeth and Julius Caesar, the first revival of Cole Porter's Let's Face It, and cummings & goings (première of a musical based on E.E. Cummings poems).  In Regional Theatre, he has appeared in roles ranging from the Japanese Houseboy in The Bat, Zebulum in Joseph & the Technicolor Dreamcoat, to Etienne in Can-Can (principal dancer), to a Puerto Rican Superintendent in 6 Rms Riv Vu.    Summer stock appearances include a season at Long Island's Gateway Playhouse in Bellport where he was seen in Zorba, Mame, Applause, and Children's Theatre. While living in Italy, Robert worked with  American Theatre Company of Rome

At LaMama ETC, he was awarded a national CETA Grant for Artists & worked with internationally known theater artists such as Wilfred Leach, Andrei Serbàn, Elizabeth Swados, John Vaccaro, Harvey Fierstien, Bill Hoffman, Tadeus Kantor, and Ellen Stewart.  He was invited in the National Theatre of Great Britain Workshops in New York focusing on Shakespeare and classical styles.  He was Ass't Director to Rina Yerulshami on the Off-Broadway production, Glass House at St. Peters/Citicorp.

Screen roles range from Scorcese's The Last Temptation of Christ (filmed in Morocco) and Goodfella's, Night of the Zombies, to the musical Annie.  Other film appearances include Zelig, Wrong is Right, Delirious, God Father III.  Television appearances include The Ananda Lewis Show & $50,00 Pyramid.

On Broadway, he was Director of Development at Circle in the Square, home to some of the countries most renowned actors.  He produced their 45th anniversary gala that was chaired by Annette Bening.  In 2000, he was the founding Director of Development for Yo-Yo Ma on the creation of the Silk Road Project, an international endeavor celebrating the music and arts of Asia in partnership with Sony Music.

Robert has twice been a guest actor at Ensemble Studio Theatre's summer conference to develop new work, working with playwright, Peter Morris.  While living in Italy, Robert was a member of the American Theatre Company of Rome, and on radio, he was a news broadcaster for the In Touch Network for the Blind.

As a producer, he and Kristine Lewis were Associates to the Producers on the Broadway production of Enchanted April, which was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play & Best Actress of 2003.  Other producing credits include Circle in the Square on Broadway, Broadway Hits the Heights in Queens, & The Island of Dr. Moreau Off-Broadway.

Robert has been teaching and directing  at Theatre Arts Center since 1999.  Robert holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater and Acting from Kent State University and did post graduate work in Education at Fordham University's Lincoln Center campus, and at Blossom Music Center.  He has studied at HB Studios, Playwrights Horizons (directing), the National Theatre of Great Britain, and privately with Julie Bovasso, Rina Yerulshalmi, & Jane Hoffman.  He is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and Actors Equity.

  


 

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