"Stephen Rosenfield does it all. In addition to his excellent teaching skills, he is an outstanding writer and director which makes him an even more formidable teacher. He co-wrote and directed my MAC Award winning comedy show that has been playing in New York for more than three years. The person most responsible for the success and uniqueness of my comedy is Stephen Rosenfield."
– Rock Albers

Rock has twice won the MAC Award for Stand-Up Comedy. His critically acclaimed comedy show has been running in New York for more than three years.

"D.B. Gilles is a terrific teacher who will give you the tools to turn your 'vague idea' into a finished script, be it a sketch, sitcom or screenplay. He is wonderfully supportive and encouraging, with a genuine interest in helping his students craft their work. I wrote my first spec sitcom script (for 'Sex and the City') in D.B.'s class, and I never would have done it without his insightful, invaluable guidance."
– Elisabeth Grace

Elisabeth is a writer, producer and stand-up comic.

"Deb Rabbai is among the most talented improv performers today. In her role as instructor, Deb draws on her talent and experience to help the student understand the basics of improv and to tap undiscovered improvisational skills. Deb provides a very supportive, energetic and FUN atmosphere for the class. As a comic, working with live audiences can sometimes take on a life of its own. Taking the class with Deb has made me more confident that I can handle almost anything (gulp) an audience might throw at me!"
– Carol Ann Doner

Carol Ann Doner is a stand-up comic.

"The commercial class is a must for anyone who is serious about booking commercials. The most important thing I learned from this class is how to bring myself and my sense of humor into an audition. I owe a great deal of my success to this class."
– Mary Dimino

Mary is a NYC stand-up comic who appears in national commercials for Nicorette Gum and Dunkin Donuts.

"The commercial class got it all started for me. I learned what the casting directors want. I got to practice how to do it. And I learned a lot about the business. I graduated ... two months later my teacher called me and submitted me for a commercial I did not get. But he did not forget me; he called me back and submitted me for a Heineken commercial. I booked it and once that happened it hasn't stopped. Take this class!"
– Gregory Kay

Gregory is an actor who has booked commercials for Heineken, American Express, 1-800-Collect, Movie Phone and ESPN.

For more information, call the American Comedy Institute at (212) 279-6980 or email us at info@ComedyInstitute.com

The Faculty for the One-Year Professional Comedy Program

Professionals dedicated to preparing students for careers in comedy performing and writing.

Stephen Rosenfield teaches Stand-Up Comedy and Comedy Writing, and is the Director of the American Comedy Institute. He coaches and directs performers ranging from beginners to Emmy and Tony Award-winning and Oscar-nominated star talent. His students have appeared on The David Letterman Show, The Conan O’Brien Show, Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, Comedy Central Presents, HBO, A&E’s Caroline's Comedy Hour, The Apollo Comedy Hour, MTV and VH-1, The Aspen, Montreal and Toyota Comedy Festivals, and The Edinburgh Festival.

His students have made development deals with CBS, ABC, Fox, Paramount, the Henson Co., and Tribune Entertainment to star in their own sitcoms.

Stephen Rosenfield has produced, written and directed comedy shows at Caroline's on Broadway, PSNBC, Stand-Up New York, The Comic Strip, Gotham, Don't Tell Mama and The Improv. For three years he produced, directed and wrote for Rubber Feet, the sketch comedy group that appeared regularly at The Comic Strip.

He directed and co-authored the Obie Award-winning musical comedy review, The Present Tense. He has directed at the Roundabout Theater, The Ensemble Studio Theater, The Actor's Studio, and Manhattan Class Company. He received the Los Angeles Drama-Logue Award and a Robby nomination for his direction of the musical, Charlie and Algernon. He is the Director of the American Comedy Institute.

Joe Gilford teaches sketch comedy writing. He has worked with the comedy duo Babes in the Woods and for many years conducted one of the only Solo Performance workshops in New York. He wrote for Lifetime's Days & Nights of Molly Dodd and is the creator of the animated comedy series Game, currently in development with producer Andrea Miller. His plays have been produced at Ensemble Studio Theater, the Westbank Downstairs, Naked Angels and Todd Mountain Theater in upstate New York. He is a longtime member of the Ensemble Studio Theater's Playwrights Unit. He has taught television and screenwriting at NYU's Kanbar undergrad film department since 1999.

Marci Phillips Phillips teaches Sitcom Audition Technique. She is a Director of Primetime Casting for ABC Entertaiment and is responsible for New York comedy casting. Along with her associates, Marci casts for ABC pilots, new series regulars, TV movies, alternative series, and all of the New York actors for NYPD Blue. Marci previously worked for Steven Bochco Productions and MGM Studios. She recently cast an independent film starring Bernadette Peters, and A Hole in the Dark for the Lark Theater. Marci Phillips is currently on the Board of Directors of The Aspen Comedy Festival.

Rick Dorfman teaches career planning. Rick is a founding partner of Relevant Entertainment Group. He is recognized as one of the top young executives in the comedy business, due to his success as both a personal manager and as a television producer. He began his career working with Barry Katz Management where his duties included managing The Boston Comedy Club and serving as a personal manager. His work involved him with the careers of such comedians as Dave Chapelle and Jay Mohr. Rick is credited with discovering Darrell Hammond and Greg Giraldo. He was asked by Carolines on Broadway to start Carolines Comedy Management. While there, he secured a development deal for Greg Giraldo at ABC, which became the sitcom Common Law. He secured writing positions for two of his clients, JR Havlan and Tom Johnson, on the then new Comedy Central Show, The Daily Show. Both writers played critical roles in shaping the shows, wit and cutting edge sensibilities.

In 1998, Rick began his own company. Within a year he put Greg Giraldo into another development situation with Castlerock. Rick was the Executive Producer of the pilot. He signed Beth Littleford and was instrumental in landing her a regular role on ABC's Spin City. The national headliner, Richard Jeni, became a part of the Rick Dorfman roster and within weeks of signing Mr. Jeni, Rick negotiated a development situation at CBS for the comedian. In 2002, Rick executive produced the NBC pilot, "The Greg Giraldo Show." The pilot was produced by NBC studios and executive produced by Conan O'Brien. Rick partnered with Jonathan Baruch of the Firm and Mike Menchel from CAA/AMG to form Relevant Entertainment. Rick is a graduate of the American Comedy Institute.

The head of the Commercial Department of a major bi-coastal talent agency teaches commercial audition technique. (The Screen Actors Guild prohibits printing his name.)

Patrick Garner teaches commercial Audition Technique. He has appeared in over 250 commercials in a career spanning more than fifteen years. Products have ranged from Wendy's, M&Ms, Burger King, Crest, A&W Cream Soda, Honey Nut Cheerios, Honda, Thomas' English Muffins, many state lotteries and a three and a half year campaign for Kmart. Mr. Garner has also enjoyed a twenty-year career as a legitimate actor, appearing in films (In & Out), television (Criminal Intent, Hack) and Broadway (A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum).
He's worked with stars such as Nathan Lane, Whoopie Goldberg, Rosemary Harris, Michael Learned, Alan Alda, Jerry Seinfeld and John Lithgow. His approach to commercials from an actors' point of view will give you the most accurate, insightful and helpful look into a field that has traditionally helped performers "pay the rent" while gaining the exposure they need to further their career.

Debora Rabbai teaches Improvisation. She is a native New Yorker who's been acting, singing and improvising professionally for the last sixteen years. She's a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and trained improvisationally at Chicago City Limits. She's a former member of Freestyle Repertory Theatre and performed and taught with them for nine years. She's a co-creator and performer in the MAC nominated and critically acclaimed show "The Next Big Broadway Musical" an improvised musical comedy. She's an accomplished voice over artist who has done voice overs for products you love in addition to creating the voice for "Shenfa" in the SEGA Dreamcast game "Shenmue". She is well known as a voice actress among Japanimation/anime fans having voiced 25 anime films.
She has led workshops on "Teamwork and Creative Thinking" and "Teamwork Under Pressure" to corporate executives in companies such as Revlon, Western Union, Oxygen Network & Merck. She has helped create programs which teach curriculum through improvisation and has taught improvisation to children in the New York, New Jersey & Connecticut public schools.

Joannie Mackenzie teaches Acting. She is a teacher, actor and coach. Her students have been featured on Broadway in Cabaret, Fossie, Love, Valour and Compassion, The Pajama Game and on television in the Guilding Light and One life to Live. She has acted at such renowned theaters as Manhattan Theater Club, NY Stageworks, Seattle Rep and the Asolo Theater. She is a performing member of the Manhattan Edge Company where she also coaches and teaches.

Mary Ann Conk very much enjoys the Commercial part of her 26 year career, having appeared in National and Cable television and radio spots for products from Airwick to Ziploc. She was Helga Long, the Delta Dental Lady for many years and recurring campaigns. She has appeared on stage in over 2000 performances of Shear Madness at The Kennedy Center, in Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and St Louis. While in Boston, she was an original member of the Mixed Meters Comedy TV Show, along with Steven Wright. This past year, Mary Ann returned to the theatre in Steve Martin's The Underpants at Geva, Moonlight and Magnolias at Capital Rep and Guilty Off-Broadway at The Acorn. Currently Mary Ann is recording Car Talk, PBS' first prime time animate.

Her philosophy of teaching and this business is a realistic one, based upon integrating training with the actors' uniqueness. Learning basic commercial audition technique and bringing yourself to the party. Mary Ann is a graduate of Emerson College and she has studied with Michael Shurtleff and Richard Hilty. Mary Ann is a proud member of AEA, AFTRA, and SAG.

Brad Trackman teaches stand-up comedy. He is one of New York City's premiere comics. He is a weekend regular at Carolines on Broadway, The Comedy Cellar, Gotham, Stand-Up NY, and The World Famous Comic Strip Live. Trackman also tours the nation and plays the country's top clubs. He is a favorite at The Improv in Las Vegas and The Borgota in Atlantic City. His television credits include CBS's Star Search, NBC's Later, NBC's Friday Night, Metro Channels New Joke City with Robert Klein, and numerous appearances on Comedy Central. Trackman also has a cd entitled " SAFECRACKER " which is one of the most requested on both XM and Sirius comedy channels. He has starred in numerous national commercials. In 2004 he had his own commercial campaign for Spike TV as Spike TV's presidential electee.

Please note: instructors may be added or substituted.