Tony Alcantar

Tony is an accomplished DIALECT COACH and ACTOR.

Born and trained in Chicago, Tony holds a B.A. in Theater and M.F.A. in Acting from Chicago's Roosevelt University. Although he never showed an interest in the arts while in high school (Lane Tech. class of 1978). He was more interested in hockey and was the school's goalie on their 1978 championship team.

Tony's introduction into acting was quite a fluke. Not knowing what to do after high school graduation, he attended part-time courses at Wright Jr. College. It was in an "Introduction To The Theater" class that he saw a Second City show. Like many bitten by the improv bug, Tony took the year course at the world famous "Players Workshop of the Second City", eventually teaching and directing there. Tony was the improv teacher of Stephanie Weir (MAD TV) and Sean Hayes (Will & Grace).

After studying improv for many years in Chicago at Victory Gardens Theatre, ImprovOlympia, etc. Tony finally got cast in the Second City. He is among the long list of Second City actors, working in film, TV, animation voiceover and theater. He was dubbed, "A Standout Comic for his physical humor" by the Edmonton Journal and "The funniest man in summer theatre" by the Meaford Express.

Tony has taught acting in Chicago, Toronto and Vancouver. He runs his ImprovChicago workshops in Vancouver (since 2000) and his Windy City Women improv troupe is a comedy mainstay.

Since 2004, Tony has also been aiding the film industry as a dialect coach.

But all of the above would be meaningless without the Grace of God. Tony and his wife Marie look forward to the birth of their first child (March 2006!) and bringing more of God's love into the world.