Franklin Corey Aquilina is an educator, actor, and director. He began his professional theater career 30 years ago as the Assistant Director of Education at Studio Arena Theater alongside the incomparable Ansley Valentine. There, he was blessed to work with mentors such as Mr. Valentine, Blossom Cohen, Gavin Cameron Webb, and Claire DeCoster. He considers these fine artists his “theater angels.”

Regional audiences may remember Franklin’s performances with the Studio Arena Young Company, Buffalo Ensemble Theater, Syracuse Stage Black Box Theater, Salt City Center, Downstairs Cabaret, Buffalo United Artists and Shakespeare in Delaware Park.

In Los Angeles, as a professional actor, Franklin studied at The Tom Todoroff Studio and was a company member of Open Fist Theater.

Franklin has taught Acting at Studio Arena Theater School, North Hollywood Actors Studio, South Coast Repertory, and Lee Strasberg Conservatory. Recently, he served as a co-advisor for two years for The Academy of Visual and Performing Arts in the Clarence Central School District, where he also is a teacher of English, Acting, and Directing. He is a mentor in the district.

Franklin is a graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Crouse College of Visual and Performing Arts.