Our History

Collective Consciousness Theatre was founded in 2001, by Dexter J. Singleton and Liz Stanley. Our first production was Little Brother, first performed in NYC at Off-Off Broadway’s Theatre 1050. To get the word out on our new show, we decided to do a two evening run at the Little Theater in New Haven, CT. From the buzz created those nights, we were asked to do a short school tour. We loved it and the rest is, as you say it… history!

Here’s a short time line of how other Collective Consciousness programs were created:

  • 2001: Little Brother, written by Dexter J. Singleton was created and performed, later touring to middle schools, high schools, professional theatres, prisons, juvenile facilities, and other communities across the country.
  • 2002: Young Audiences of Connecticut commissioned Dexter J. Singleton to write and direct I’m Just a Superhero to tour to Connecticut elementary schools.
  • 2002: Dexter meets CT playwright Aaron Jafferis and they decide to collaborate on Jafferis’ No Lie: A Hip Hop Bus Trip, with Singleton directing and touring the piece across the country to middle schools, high schools, juvenile facilities, professional theatres, and other communities.
  • 2005: Singleton writes and directs Harriet Tubman: The Story of the Underground Railroad, featuring Tamara Malawitz and tours it to elementary and middle schools throughout CT.
  • 2006: Dexter writes and directs Struggle for Freedom to meet the middle and high schools need for touring history plays.
  • 2006: Singleton directs Jafferis’ Shakespeare: The Remix, adding to Collective Consciousness Theatre’s growing roster of dynamic and innovative programming.
  • 2007: Dexter J. Singleton becomes Executive Director/Board Chair of Collective Consciousness Theatre after the organization gains its not for profit 501.c.3 status.
  • 2010: Collective Consciousness Theatre receives the Artist of the Year Award from Young Audiences of CT, being recognized for our excellent programming for youth and communities across the state.
  • 2010: Children’s Theatre Foundation of America awards us the 2010 Aurand Harris Grant to support our new production Give Us Free.
  • 2011: Stories of a New America premieres in June after a year and a half of interviews and development with IRIS.