Arise Artists Agency Opens New York Office, Hires 3 Agents
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- Arise Artists Agency is officially becoming bicoastal, opening a New York office alongside its Los Angeles headquarters and hiring agents Ken Melamed, Zach Marlin, and Angelina Barberia.
- Ken Melamed, who spent 20 years as an owner at Bret Adams Ltd., is leading the New York expansion; he began his career at the Monty Silver Agency and Actor's Group and assisted casting on three studio films early on.
- Zach Marlin served as an agent at Bret Adams since 2022 after joining as an assistant in 2020, with dealmaking credits that include major TV series, Broadway productions, and national tours.
- Angelina Barberia joined Bret Adams in 2023 as assistant to the acting department before being promoted to agent in 2024, focusing on theater, television, and film talent.
- Arise Artists Agency was founded in 2024 and already spans film, television, digital media, voiceover, commercials, branding, and celebrity endorsements; the New York push adds theater to the mix.
- CEO Brian Cho framed the move as building "a modern, forward-thinking agency that reflects where entertainment and representation are headed."
Why it matters: By raiding Bret Adams Ltd. of three agents in one swoop, a one-year-old agency has instantly gained a New York theater presence that typically takes years to build, putting pressure on established East Coast firms in the Broadway representation space.
