The Collective unites professional artists who share a responsibility to create work in the contemporary American Theatre that is emotionally truthful, socially relevant, and defiantly accessible.
The company was established in the tradition of the Group Theatre out of a belief that the current conditions of commercialized theatre necessitate collective action.
Commitment to a permanent ensemble distinguishes The Collective. Through a shared vocabulary, uniform technique, and continual practice, the group pursues a common purpose: to establish a theatre that is uncompromising, relevant, and accessible.
History
The Collective began in 2007, when several recent graduates of the William Esper Studio came together to continue to create and produce work that built on their recent training and the strengths and talents of their colleagues. The Collective began to provide a network and a place where these individuals can showcase their talents.
So Collective Mondays were born. These work sessions provide a space for company members to come together and support and elevate each other's craft. These sessions also provide a unique and unconventional approach to a development process. Our writers and actors develop work in studio sessions in order to grow and enrich stories and storytelling to bring to the stage. From race to politics, from romance to religion, our members are encouraged to bring their ideas and voices to test them out on Collective Mondays. Our writers and actors then receive feedback from respected colleagues in a safe space and from that feedback develop the idea into producible work.
Our plays and films have won awards and engaged audiences for many years. Founding member, Amy Schumer developed the Emmy award winning TV series Inside Amy Schumer and Trainwreck in our Monday sessions.
Production History
2007
Collective Mondays Begin The Lesson Comedy Fund raiser
2008
Collective Comedy I, Collective Comedy II, Collective Comedy III, Collective Comedy IV
Finger Noise (Workshop)
2009
Collective Uprising Series: Badda Bing Badda Budda Mourning Lilly Gated Polar Bears Swimming Sacramento The Naughts
Collective Comedy V
Spring Festival: Clayscapes True North: Edward Allen Baker’s Deloris & Lila on the Wall(world Premiere) 360
Fall I.E.D. Festival: Me Equals This/Happy Girl (Headliner) Unstill Life: A Collection of Plays by Craig McNulty
Hogtied (Workshop)
A Long Road (film) Production begins
2010
Collective Comedy VI Someone Who’ll Watch over Me Warning: May Contain Nuts
2011
2012
2013
The Collective:10 (inaugural)
2014
Turtleface (Film) Production begins Second Annual Collective:10
2015
Quick fix (film) Production Begins Third Annual Collective:10
2016
Fourth Annual Collective:10 We The People
2017
The Collective NY @ Coastal Carolina University Fifth annual Collective: 10
*Quick Fix wins Jury award Vail Film Festival Casey229 begins filming
2018
Provincetown* Hurricane Party Sixth Annual Collective:10 The Net Will Appear