We are a collective of artists, in the tradition of the Group Theatre, committed to develop and produce original work for the stage and screen that is rooted in artistic truth. The Collective is an emerging community for collaborative artists to experiment, provoke, feed and contribute their individual talents. Our body of work will define us, and it will be the product of our training, our individual successes and failures, and a thriving network of artists in all disciplines.

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 parting advice to many of the graduates was to 'create your own work' as a way of taking control over one's career. The Collective exists to provide a network and a place where these individuals can showcase their talents.

Eugène Ionesco's classic absurdist comedy "The Lesson" was The Collective's first stage production, and was presented at Center Stage, NY in the Fall of 2007. The response from audiences and colleagues was incredibly positive, and interest in The Collective increased ten-fold. The immediate question became: 'What are you doing next?'

Maura O'Brien of Off Off Online noted in her review of the production: "The Lesson is the Collective's first production... It's exciting to think about how the group will apply such fierce energy to other works."

The Collective continues its mission to actively pursue and develop new work, and to expand into media beyond the stage.