Meet Our Coaches

We are FOR you

...With decades of combined experience living and working in Los Angeles, the AFA Team
brings a seasoned, fresh approach to any actor wanting to sharpen their skills.
With over 150 television and film credits between them, they share the techniques that have worked for them...
...and have the on-set experience to back it up.

Teachers & Coaches

Abbie Cobb - AFA Owner, Teacher & Coach Abbie Cobb is a working actress, author, and the founder of The AFA Studio. Her on-screen credits include recurring roles on ABC's Suburgatory and The CW's 90210, alongside appearances on countless shows like American Horror Story, Grey's Anatomy, True Blood, Criminal Minds, The Mentalist, NCIS, Bones, Longmire, Shameless, Santa Clarita Diet, Why Women Kill, 9-1-1, and many more. On the film side, she has appeared in Moms' Night Out from TriStar Pictures and Old Dads, among others.
As passionate about teaching as she is about performing, Abbie has authored a business of acting book and is a keynote speaker at acting conferences and workshops across the country. At The AFA Studio, she brings that same dedication to every actor she works with.
This year, she’s been recurring on Hulu’s The Lowdown opposite Ethan Hawke and on Tyler Perry’s Miss Governor for Netflix. Next month, she’ll head over to the studio lot to film a new thriller starring Mila Kunis, before traveling to Tulsa to continue work on The Lowdown: Season Two. (PS. When the biggest video game in the world finally drops (you know the one!) and the NDA is lifted, definitely ask her about doing facial motion capture in a voiceover booth — a truly wild experience!)

Joel McCrary - Teacher & Coach With an extensive list of credits across multiple genres, Joel has proven himself one of Hollywood's most versatile and in-demand performers.
On the big screen, Joel has appeared in a wide range of films including American Beauty, The Princess Diaries and its sequel, Cheaper by the Dozen, Charlotte's Web, Over the Hedge, Thor, and Best in Show, among many others. His television work is equally impressive, with appearances on Seinfeld, How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, Malcolm in the Middle, Bones, Justified, Cold Case, The Middle, Boston Legal, and iCarly, to name just a few.
Joel is also a highly sought-after voice actor, having lent his talents to major animated projects including The Smurfs, Robot Chicken, We Bare Bears, and Smallfoot, as well as serving as the current voice of Baloo in Disney's The Jungle Book franchise. His long-running Disney relationship also includes playing Bobby Wasabi in Kickin' It — a show he also wrote for — and voicing James P. Sullivan in the Disney Infinity video game series.
Joel brings a rare combination of on-screen experience and behind-the-scenes expertise to his coaching, making him an invaluable resource for actors at every stage of their careers.

Mark Atteberry - Teacher & Coach
Mark Atteberry has been a working actor for more than twenty years. He's trained with some of the most respected teachers in the industry, including Roy London, Ivana Chubbuck, Larry Moss, and Vladimir Ilyin of the Moscow Art Theatre.
Mark has built an extensive career in film and television, with memorable appearances in 24, Dexter, Criminal Minds, This Is Us, Yellowstone, Curb Your Enthusiasm, American Horror Story, The Offer, Dahmer, Grace & Frankie, The Newsroom, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., among many others. On the big screen, he has appeared in countless films including David Fincher's Gone Girl, Ang Lee's The Hulk.
Beyond performing, Mark has dedicated himself to sharing what he's learned with the next generation of actors. He has co-authored The Working Actor's Guide to LA and The Stunt Guide, and lectures regularly on acting, image, and building a sustainable career in Los Angeles. He brings decades of real-world experience and a genuine passion for the craft to every session at The AFA Studio..

Matthew Scott Montgomery - Teacher & Coach
Matthew Scott Montgomery is an award-winning actor, writer, and director whose career spans television, film, theater, and digital media. He first made a name for himself on the Los Angeles stage with a celebrated performance in Del Shores' Yellow, earning the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Featured Performance in a Play, the Backstage Garland Award for Best Featured Actor, and the Stage Scene LA Award for Comedy/Dramatic Performance of the Year.
His television work includes recurring roles on Sonny With a Chance/So Random and Austin & Ally for Disney Channel, alongside appearances on Jane the Virgin, White Famous, and the Peacock documentary series Unidentified with Demi Lovato. On the film side, he appeared in Del Shores' Southern Baptist Sissies opposite Leslie Jordan, and wrote and starred in the thriller Howdy, Neighbor! alongside Debby Ryan and Alyson Stoner. His theater credits include Stage Kissat the Geffen Playhouse, and he has written and starred in multiple original works for the stage.

Sean Spann - Teacher & Coach
Sean Spann is an LA-based actor, voiceover artist, writer, director, and movement specialist originally from a small town outside St. Louis, Missouri. He holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Evansville and an MFA in Acting from the University of California, Irvine — bringing a rigorous academic foundation to both his performing and his teaching.
Sean's on-screen credits include The Little Things, Little America, The People v. O.J. Simpson, Shameless, Jane the Virgin, and The Mentalist, among others. His stage work is equally impressive, most notably as a six-season company member of The New Swan Shakespeare Festival. He has also performed at the Harold Clurman Lab Theatre and with Circle X, further cementing his versatility as a theatrical artist.
With experience as an adjunct instructor, studio teacher, and private coach, Sean brings a thoughtful and deeply informed approach to his work with actors — combining classical technique with the practical demands of working in today's industry.

Valen Shore - Voice & Performance Coach
You've heard Valen's voice and songs on The Sims 4, Amazon Prime's Motorheads, and hit shows like Riverdale, The Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, Lucifer, and more. With over 50 placements across ABC, NBC, FOX, MTV, CBS, Bravo, Paramount, Universal, and major film trailers, she knows what casting directors are listening for—and how to help you deliver it. With 17 years of teaching experience, Valen has coached students from age 7 to adult in voice, piano, songwriting, and music production. As a former manager at School of Rock, she developed curricula and led hundreds of young performers through live shows, recordings, and auditions. Her students have gone on to sign record deals, book roles, and tour nationally—including Noah Cyrus and members of bands like The Regrettes and Lilly. A skilled audio producer with over 20 years of experience, she'll also help you optimize your home recording setup to ensure you're submitting professional-quality self-tape auditions with clear, broadcast-ready audio. Whether you're prepping for a Broadway callback, a Disney audition, or your first open mic, she'll help you sound like the best version of yourself. As a signed songwriter with Kobalt Music Publishing, Valen has collaborated with members of No Doubt, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and Panic! at the Disco. As an artist she toured internationally with BRONCHO and SYML.

Kensington Tallman- Kids & Teens Voiceover Coach
Kensington Tallman is an Emmy-nominated actress and voice artist raised in New York City and Los Angeles, best known for voicing Riley Anderson in Disney and Pixar's blockbuster Inside Out 2. She reprises that role in the Annie Award-winning Disney+ spin-off series Dream Productions, for which she received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Younger Voice Performer, with the ceremony taking place this March in New York City.
Her screen credits include a series regular role on Nickelodeon's Drama Club, a recurring role across all seasons of That Girl Lay Lay, a lead role in Max/BBC's Home Sweet Rome!, and guest-starring turns on TBS's Chad and Showtime's Black Monday. On the film side, she appeared in Summer Camp alongside Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates, Eugene Levy, and Alfre Woodard. Her voiceover work spans projects for Disney, Nickelodeon, and DreamWorks, as well as the award-winning Table Read Podcast's PV & Franny opposite Ty Burrell and Fred Armisen.
With years of experience at the highest levels of animation and voice performance, Kensington brings a rare insider's perspective to her coaching at The AFA Studio, helping kids and teens develop the skills and confidence to find their voice and make it their own.

Studio Staff

Riley Rose Critchlow - Studio Manager
Riley Rose Critchlow holds a Theater Arts degree from Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and a B.F.A. in Acting from USC's School of Dramatic Arts. She is a working actor, director and podcaster whose on-screen credits include S.W.A.T., American Horror Story, Timeless, Rizzoli & Isles, Anime Crimes Division, Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Don Coscarelli's John Dies At The End and Marcia Clark's Guilt By Association. As both and actor and a director, her live theatre work has garnered critical acclaim from Los Angeles, to New York City, to Edinburgh Fringe, to Off-West End London venues. As Studio Manager at AFA, Riley is the organizational backbone of the space — keeping things running smoothly so that coaches and clients alike can focus on the work.

Sophie Steele - Self Tape Operator
Sophie Steele is an actress and filmmaker based in Los Angeles with credits including Happy Campers Camp, Legally Black, and First Last Kiss. Her behind-the-camera experience and on-set know-how make her an invaluable part of the AFA Studio team. As our self-tape operator, Sophie ensures every take is captured with care and professionalism — so actors can focus entirely on their performance.

Jessica Bronwen - Weekend Manager
Jessica Bronwen is an actress and entertainment industry professional based in Los Angeles. With hands-on experience both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, she brings energy, professionalism, and a genuine love of the craft to her role as Weekend Manager at AFA Studio. Jessica ensures that every weekend session runs seamlessly, creating a welcoming and focused environment for all of our clients.