Team Playhouse Northwest

Kendall Wells has been a student of Anthony De Longis since 2004,and taught his system since 2008. He is also an instructor of Shinkendo Japanese Swordsmanship, studying since 2007. Kendall is a professional actor, stunt performer, and fight coordinator. Credits include The Russo Brothers; The Gray Man, HBO Our Flag Means Death, Tom Clancy,Jack Ryan, Amazon Hunters, and more.

More info at
kendallwells.com

Chad Hawthorne is a film armorer, firearm safety coordinator, weapons coach, and certified firearms instructor. He spent many years training law enforcement, private agency contractors, and civilians alike in the safe use of weapons. Chad made the jump into teaching actors and stunt professionals the skills necessary to perform violence safely on screen in 2014.

That is when Chad co-founded On Set Arms the premier film armorer, prop-weapon supplier, and combat technical advisor firm in the Pacific Northwest. Since that time, Chad has worked across the United States both behind and in front of the camera, performing, choreographing, and coordinating hand-to-hand, bladed, and armed combat sequences for film. As an armorer and firearms instructor, Chad routinely works with actors, screenwriters, directors, stunt coordinators, and stunt performers to safely design and realistically perform combat sequences on film in a variety of projects, spanning independent short films to nationally distributed feature films.

Lisa’s two passions in life are acting and martial arts, and she has many special skills that align with her two life passions. She’s an executive producer, associate producer, acting teacher, self-defense instructor, fight performer, and an actress who enjoys doing her own stunt work.

Lisa received her degree in Television Production and Communications from Clarion University in Pennsylvania. She is a SAG/AFTRA actor and has appeared on numerous national television shows including “Northern Exposure,” “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” “Case Closed,” and the Discovery Channel’s “The Worst Thing that Ever Happened to Me.” Internationally Lisa appeared on the popular Japanese Television series “The World’s Astonishing News.” She has also appeared in numerous commercials, industrials, web series, and theater productions in the LA, Portland and Seattle Markets.

In 2013 Lisa founded Playhouse Northwest Acting School, which was a dream come true because she loves helping other artists to learn, grow, and prosper in their careers.

This training has a tendency to not only improve careers but to improve lives. Meisner really is a super power. — Lisa Skvarla

Her goal is to elevate acting in local communities across the region.  

Lisa appeared in the award-winning feature film;”Woodstock or Bust” with Willow Shields (from Hunger Games) and Meg DeLacy ( from The Fosters) that came out this past spring. She also appeared on the TV show “Wonderland Murders” that was released in February. Lisa is currently involved in the comedy soap opera “All My Lives” which films monthly in the Seattle area. She is also a singer in the Coeurdalene choir that will be performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City May 2026.

Lisa is a 4th degree Master in Tae kwon do and was the proud owner of Lee’s Martial Arts for 15 years in West Seattle, Washington. For three years Lisa served as the chairwoman for the American Women’s Self-Defense Association and has taught self-defense and rape prevention courses to women and girls across the country.