Acting The Fundamentals

Improvisation

Scene Study and Commercials Classes

Who we are

Toni Attell

Toni Attell’s background as an Emmy nominated actress. Her credits includes a variety of work in television and movies, as well as, experience working with some of the masters of the performance arts field, internationally. Some of these include Jean Louis Barroult. Marcel Marceau and Mamako Yoenyama for mime, Carlos Mazzonne for Comedia del Arte, Bill Ball, David Dukes, Paul Shanar, David Alexander, Nina Foche and Harvey Lembeck for improvisation, comedy and acting.

Toni Attell's Acting Tips

Acting Tips

Toni Attell's Book

Books

The Little Blue Book for Filmmakers

Originally conceived as a workbook for young directors, The Little Blue Book for Filmmakers has become a handbook...

Just Kidding - Stand-Up Comedy For Kids Of All Ages

Different methods for kids as well as adults to execute and perform stand-up comedy professionally.

You Are What You Were - A Home Guide To Your Past Lives

From the foods you crave to the clothes you wear, learn what reoccurring patterns from past-lives are affecting you now, and learn how to positively change them.

ATTELL BIO

BY PATRICK MCCARTHY

My name is Patrick McCarthy, and I’ve been a TV sitcom writer-producer for all the major networks, as well as cable channels and Netflix. Frankly, words seem so inadequate to describe Toni. She is a truly magical artist, a wonderful, caring teacher, and a tireless keeper of the flame of creative inspiration. Working with her is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, partly because of how much she has to teach! You’ll reap the benefits of her knowledge of the great masters like Bill Ball, Viola Spolin, Uta Hagen, Nina Foch and Marcel Marceau. And the legends with whom she shared the stage – Robin Williams, Steve Martin, and Jay Leno to name a few. You’ll also learn Toni’s secrets on the business side of how to be a working actor, which she is to this day. As a teacher she has started the careers of over 80 actors. She’s accomplished everything she set out to do in the business, from the circus to stand-up comedy, improvisation, acting, TV and commercials. She taught at USC, Chapman, NYFA Film Schools and UCLA Extension. She’s written the Little Blue Book for Filmmakers with Carl Gottlieb, creator of “Jaws.” She even uses hypnosis for memorization and relaxation. Taking even one class from her is something you’ll never forget. I can’t imagine anyone in town – or anywhere – that can give you the artistic education that Toni can! Working with her is like stealing fire from the gods!”

WHAT WE HAVE

Toad the Mime

Toad the Mime was a character that I made famous in the late 1970’s San Francisco. During this time a large picture of Toad’s face would greet a passerby and passing motorist on a freeway billboard. The cover was my face from San Francisco Magazine welcoming everyone to San Francisco.

I came from an old fifth generation San Francisco family. My father was a violinist with the Orpheum Theatre, my mother a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle and Examiner. My brother was, and still is, a very talented Jazz musician. At the time, I was a working actress with the American Conservatory Theatre. I was lucky enough to get into the original production of the musical “HAIR,” portraying the pregnant girl, Jeannie.

Previous slide
Next slide

TONI ATTELL

Photo Gallery

Better Solution

FOUR WEEKS TO STAND-UP COMEDY

DON’T JUDGE THE COMEDY UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE PERFORMED IT A FEW TIMES. REMEMBER, ALL COMICS NEED TO SHIFT AND REFINE THEIR COMEDY UNTIL THEY GET THEIR RHYTHMS AND WORDS TO WORK FOR THE JOKES, OBSERVATIONS OR STORIES.
01

First Week in Writing Comedy

Start observing your friends, family, teachers and surroundings. Note how you respond to people, places and things and how these in turn affect you and how you view life.
02

Second Week

Start observing your friends, family, teachers and surroundings. Note how you respond to people, places and things and how these in turn affect you and how you view life.
03

Third Week

Start observing your friends, family, teachers and surroundings. Note how you respond to people, places and things and how these in turn affect you and how you view life.
04

Final Week

Start observing your friends, family, teachers and surroundings. Note how you respond to people, places and things and how these in turn affect you and how you view life.