Act 1 Audition Prep

Michele Zimmerman is a New York State Certified English Teacher and Administrator who works individually with each student to create an application that demonstrates his or her passion for their chosen field. What makes this student outstanding? Why should a school accept this particular individual rather than many others? Over twenty-five years, Michele has worked with generations of students, many of whom have garnered millions of dollars in scholarship monies, and many who have gone on to have significant working careers in the theatre world.

Michele's input was essential in my college application process. My school counselor was unfamiliar with the kind of program I was seeking. Michele's knowledge and influence led me to Berklee College of Music. She went above and beyond to make sure I got into the right school to further my education as a conductor and musician."

- Anthony B., Musical Director / Arranger

Abbe Gail Gross is a member of Actors Equity and Screen Actors Guild/AFTRA. She studied at Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, The American Academy Of Dramatic Arts, SUNY Brockport, and has her Master’s Degree in Performance from Hofstra University.

Abbe teaches Acting, Musical Theatre and Audition Techniques at Long Island High School For The Arts. She taught Acting at SUNY College at Old Westbury, and teaches Acting at Queensborough Community College. She was listed in Who’s Who In American Teachers six times and nominated for The Disney Teacher’s Award five times.

Acting credits include EdWARd 2 at The New York Fringe Festival, I OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES, her original suffrage play I WANT MY VOTE, and shows for Periwinkle Productions. Channel 11 Morning News did a segment on her guest appearance on Broadway in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. For Broadway Club House she directed PENGUINS ARE MAD SCARY, WHY VAMPIRE MUSICALS SUCK and MOST LIKLEY TO…THE SENIOR SUPERLATIVE MUSICAL which was chosen to perform at The Midtown International Theatre Festival where it was nominated for eleven awards including Best Director and won Best Ensemble. She directed PROSPECT HIGH: BROOKLYN, a collaboration between The Roundabout Theatre Company and LIHSA. Other directing credits include shows for L.V. Jesters and Town of Hempstead Parks Department.

"Abbe Gail Gross is a wonderful, very deeply feeling and loving human. Her vast knowledge of theatre and peak sense of humor give her classes an enriching atmosphere. She was able to help me bring emotions I didn't know I had to life in the audition room and believed in me long before I believed in myself."

- Aspen C.

A Juilliard graduate, Elliot Weiss has had a many faceted career as a composer/arranger, musical director and educator. Mr. Weiss can be heard accompanying Billy Porter, Ben Platt, Sean Hayes, at the Tony Awards with James Corden.

He has served as musical director for many years overseeing productions at the prestigious Long Island High School for the Arts and the Billy Joel Conservatory of Music. Mr. Weiss is the creator of The Cosmic Warmup, a fun and eclectic sight-singing method employed in classrooms and by professional artists everywhere.

As an arranger, Mr. Weiss contributed to many productions including I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road for the N.Y. Shakespeare Festival.

Mr. Weiss’s compositions include The Witch of Wall Street (Lyrics: Michael Champagne) filmed and archived by the Library at Lincoln Center; Bittersuite: Songs of Experience: an award-winning off-Broadway Song Cycle; Dori: The Life and Times of Theodore Herzl (Lyrics: Eric Blau, creator of Jacques Brel) and The Girl (Libretto by Leslie Epstein, author of King of the Jews) a new Opera.

Mr. Weiss’ Fantasies on Themes by Jerome Kern was recorded by the Audubon String Quartet. He also regularly contributes liturgical compositions across the United States including The Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City.

Mr. Weiss is a recipient of The Eugene O’Neill Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre, the Manhattan Association of Cabaret Award for Best Musical and the prestigious Madame Freschl Award presented by the Juilliard School.

Elliot Weiss is a member of the American Federation of Musicians and The Dramatist Guild.

“Abbe, Elliot, & Michele were absolutely integral in my college application process. I couldn’t speak highly enough of their expertise, guidance, instruction, and support that I received and still apply to this very day as a professional musical theatre artist.”

- NYU Alumna, Melissa R.

Act I Audition Prep is a unique program created by a team of exceptional educators employing their extensive knowledge and experience from both the classroom and professional stage.