Marla Seidell was born in Chicago, Illinois. She earned a BA degree, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, at Hofstra University and was a Fulbright scholar to the Netherlands, where she earned an MA degree in European Studies at the University of Amsterdam. After returning to Chicago and writing as a freelance journalist, she studied acting with several theaters, including The Artistic Home, A Red Orchid Theatre, and Remy Bumppo Theatre. She also studied improvisation at ComedySportz, Annoyance Theater and The Comedy Clubhouse.