Arts & Entertainment Compass

NEW YORK, NY – Following a lightning-fast sell-out of their initial session, international talent agent Jessica Polsky and industry titan and actor “trainer” Robert Russell have announced an encore date for their double seminar event, and have opened up attendance to virtual zoom participation for actors worldwide to attend. The year’s most transformational happening for any actor ready to break through is now accessible to performers everywhere. On Sunday, May 17, 2026, the “Power Duo” welcoms NYC-area actors to join at Manhattan’s Studios 353, and actors globally to log on for the full experience over zoom.

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Breaking Geographical Barriers

Recognizing that the 2026 casting landscape is defined by digital accessibility, Jessica Polsky has partnered with a premier multimedia firm to offer a high-definition hybrid format. Actors from London to Los Angeles can now “Zoom in” to participate in real-time, gaining the same career-shifting insights as those attending in person.

“Actors today are digital natives,” says Jessica Polsky. “By opening this event to a global audience, we are removing the barriers to elite training. Whether you are in Paris or Brooklyn, you can join us to have access to Robert’s transformational approach to your acting work, and get a heart-to-heart with me about how casting is working in 2026. We want to make sure to send everyone away with both industry smarts and technique tools that will shake things up for their careers. This is one full day to address 360 degrees of an actor’s path and optimize everyone’s potential in getting cast.”

The 4.5-Hour Double Seminar: A Career Injection

The industry has shifted; the self-tape is now the universal currency. This intensive is built on the 3 D’s: Discipline, Drive, and Determination, designed to get talent into “fighting shape” for major hubs.

• Phase 1: The Global Rap Session (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM) Led by Jessica Polsky (Senior Agent, Dryblue Agency), whose roster appears in hits like Mission Impossible, Wednesday, Black Mirror, Dune, and The Gentlemen. Jessica will hold a town hall style rap session to demystify getting an agent, *keeping* an agent, how casting is unfolding behind the scenes in 2026, what it takes to get through the hurdles of current casting mechanics, and what she sees working in the 150+ tapes a week her offices process that convert in to bookings. She will be collecting and reviewing materials from all participants for consideration in DBA’s growing global roster. 
• Phase 2: The Acting Dissertation (3:15 PM – 5:30 PM) Led by Robert Russell (Master Acting Coach & 30-year Casting Veteran). Russell utilizes a “truth serum” approach to strip away “acting” and find the raw authenticity that forces creative teams to take notice.

Event Logistics & Exclusive Incentives

• Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026
• Time: 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM (Doors open 12:45 PM)
• Physical Location: Studios 353 (353 West 48th St, 2nd Floor, NYC)
• Virtual Access: Open to participants worldwide via Zoom.

Exclusive Pricing & “Friends of JMGC” Discounts: To celebrate the global launch, promotional executive Jay Michaels has facilitated exclusive rates for the community:

• Individual Discount: Email Jessica’s office directly for a 10% discount off the EventBrite rate at jessicapolskycoachingstudio@gmail.com
• “Friends of JMGC” Group Rate: Groups of 10 or more (ensembles, university cohorts, or troupes) can secure registration for just $85 per person.

How to Redeem: Skip the EventBrite lines and email jessicapolskycoachingstudio@gmail.com directly to secure these special rates.

About the Mentors

Jessica Polsky is a former Broadway artist and European TV star turned Senior Agent overseeing North American operations for a premiere international agency. Robert Russell is a veteran industry giant whose lineage includes the founders of the Pussycat Dolls; he specializes in logic-based, high-passion performance coaching.