Sean De Simone & Barbara Barna Abel

Teaches at ABEL Intermedia

Sean De Simone is a casting director who has auditioned more than 10,000 men and women for QVC. Barbara Barna Abel has a reputation for recognizing new and emerging talent and has cast over 100 unscripted/alternative projects since launching her company in 2001 finding Adam Richman, Bert Kreisher, Carson Kressley, Clinton Kelly, Ted Allen, Thom Felicia and many others along the way. Barbara started in the business during the last century as music director of her college radio station (KSPC, Claremont, CA) and making tea for powerhouse 80s musical acts like Culture Club and Human League as the first college intern for Virgin Records UK. After stints in music management, Barbara gained her comedy chops at APA in Los Angeles working the phones for the legendary and visionary Marty Klein before merging her backgrounds in music and talent at VH1 where she ran the Talent Development department in New York.