Letter from Scott Gross

October 17, 2006 

I was browsing the internet last night and came across your fantastic website...  It brought the memories rushing back of my time studying with you.

Back in 1981, I was a small town kid who got into his car and drove out to Los Angeles to follow a dream...  You were the person who very quickly got me centered as an artist and gave me a process to use that sharply focused my talents.

Your workshops gave me such a solid foundation...  I'll always be honored by the experience you gave me as an actor, especially the night I went on as Forrest Shirley's understudy in A PRAYER FOR MY DAUGHTER with you and Marc Alaimo...  Getting to know other talents in those days like Harvey Solin & Carmen Argenziano...  It was truly an extraordinary time in my life.

After my time with you, I studied at the Beverly Hills Playhouse for a few years and developed a love of writing.  I was able to stage several original one-act showcases at the BH Playhouse that somehow morphed into a career as a professional stand-up comedian that lasted 10 years.  I toured extensively performing for comedy clubs, colleges, resorts, corporate functions, etc.
 
I remember running into you briefly on the streets a few times over the years, but we never really had the time to catch up on things.

In 1991 I was diagnosed with a brain tumor that required seven hours of surgery and cost me the hearing in my left ear...  I continued to make a living in comedy for 4 years after that... By the end of '95, I was married and had my 1st son on the way. At that point in my life, being away from home as much as was required no longer seemed worth it to me...  I focused in other directions.  It was shortly after that I reconnected with your son Peter...  It was great to see him and he was kind enough to help me with marketing some music I was composing at the time...  As is life in L.A., we both got busy and we lost touch again.  Peter was always a great friend to me and I can only hope he feels the same.

While continuing to work on various music & writing endeavors, I made a living dealing in fine art and custom frame design...  My wife & I had a second son in '99 and after much discussion, decided to move to Florida in
2002.

While I now making my living in the insurance industry, I continue to perform in local comedy clubs as well as writing/performing/networking in the music industry.

Life continues to be an unusual, but still very fulfilling journey for me... I just wanted you to know the tremendous impact you and your workshops had on me -- the valuable lessons I learned from you I continue to use in my
life to this day.

I will always be a proud alumni of the Actor Artist Group Workshop.


Sincerely,

Scott Alan Gross
Largo, FL
www.myspace.com/scottgrossmusic