Local talent hone skills at acting studio
Erika Tungland
Staff Writer
While some call them acting lessons, others prefer to describe them as life lessons.
Tom Todoroff, founder and artistic director of the Malibu Actors Studio, would call them both.
“Children are the most wonderful actors because they know what they want,” Todoroff said. “Adults struggle with acting because they have a hard time expressing their feelings. I offer my classes to be used as an awareness of one’s feelings.”
Ben Young/Photo Editor
The Malibu Actors Studio was brought to life Jan. 25. With a well-established adult acting studio in Santa Monica, Tom Todoroff decided it was time to open a new branch in Malibu. Many of the students attending the classes in Santa Monica were residents of Malibu, making it the perfect spot, Todoroff said.
“Many people in Malibu wanted to participate, but the drive is too time consuming,” said executive director Shoshana Kuttner. “As a result, Tom decided to bring the studio to them.”
Opening a youth studio was a project conceived by Mark Burnett and Todoroff.
“Mark had been asking me to open a children’s actor studio for his kids,” Todoroff said. “He and I agreed that Malibu would be the perfect place.”
The Malibu Actors Studio was developed by Burnett, the creator of “Survivor” and “The Apprentice,” and Roma Downey, an actress on “Touched by an Angel.”
The studio is backed by celebrities such as Don Johnson, Della Reese, Ron Shelton and Robert Wagner, all of whom are active members of the advisory board.
“Some of the best actors that I have worked with have learned to be more open with their emotions,” Todoroff said. “Expressing your emotions is the biggest part in acting. People have returned to me saying that they are going to therapy less frequently because my classes have allowed them to find their emotions.”
Todoroff was raised in New York where he worked his way up to the top of the acting world.
“Growing up, theater was my creative outlet,” Todoroff said. “It helped me to escape from my problems, hopefully this studio will provide an outlet for these kids as well.”
After acting in numerous youth plays, he received scholarships to and attended Beloit College in Wisconsin and Julliard in Lincoln Center. He trained with the best in theater and traveled the world performing more than 50 roles. Todoroff was a guest on multiple television series such as “All My Children” and “Lois and Clark,” and acted in the Emmy winning mini-series “A Woman Named Jackie.”
Behind the scenes, Todoroff has been working as a vocal coach for such stars as Liam Neeson, Rene Russo and Jimmy Buffett. He is splitting his time between his home in Santa Monica and his home in New York while possibly looking for a home in Malibu.
“I love Malibu,” Todoroff said. “It is one of the most beautiful places.”
Todoroff said he is glad he has been able to collaborate with so many professional actors who call Malibu home.
“I have worked with quite a few well-known actors,” he said. “We have been thinking about collaborating for plays to be held in Malibu.”
Todoroff said he hopes to use his acting and vocal skills to teach aspiring actors all they need to know about the entertainment business.
“I have taught acting for 14 years,” Todoroff said. “Thirteen of those years have been spent in Santa Monica.”
His Santa Monica studio is focused on the adult population while the new Malibu studio focuses on young actors, ages 5 to 17.
Both studios offer programs in the areas of voice and speech, movement, improvisation, singing, monologues, scene study, cold readings and auditions and interviews.
There are two winter sessions being held. The first winter session is held Tuesday afternoons until March 15. The second winter session is held on Saturdays until March 19. Each session includes eight classes and costs $360. Students are placed in classes according to their age and experience.
Each class has a required text varying by age group. The youngest are given coloring books to help them adjust to the acting world and by visually exploring their emotions.
Adult classes are held on Olympic Boulevard in Santa Monica and are offered every Wednesday and Thursday night. Youth classes are held at the Malibu Stage Company on Pacific Coast Highway.
“The Malibu Stage Company has treated us with the utmost respect,” Todoroff said. “We helped them redesign the studio and hope that we can perform together in the future.”
Kuttner said she began acting at the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival. From there she toured with two off-Broadway shows that led her to New York City to direct multiple plays.
“I love running the program as much as Tom does,” Kuttner said. “We are here to introduce the acting world to curious young adults.”
Todoroff said he is happy to help children and adults explore their emotions through acting.
“There needs to be a balance between the emotional and vocal self,” Todoroff said. “Once the balance has been attained, whether you’re talking to a stranger or speaking at a wedding, speaking your feelings will be much easier.”
For more information visit www.malibuactorsstudio.com or www.tomtodoroff.com.
02-24-2005
