The Assembly
The Assembly is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit devised theater company that produces original ensemble works, runs a multi-year artist development program (Deceleration Lab), and offers paid devising workshops, serving NYC theater audiences, emerging artists, and arts education participants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, NY, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Assembly does
The Assembly is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit devised theater company founded in 2008, producing original ensemble works through a proprietary methodology called the Assembly Collaborative Devising Process. Its core activities are (1) original theatrical productions distributed primarily through co-productions with partner venues such as La MaMa, New Ohio, and the Living Theatre in NYC, with occasional touring partnerships including Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles and Wesleyan University; (2) the Deceleration Lab, a multi-year artist development program entering its fifth cohort in 2025-2026, which provides rehearsal space, artist fees, and a structured devising environment; and (3) paid Devising Workshops ($250/weekend intensive, capped at 12 participants) and private coaching ($80-150/hour) that monetize the company's expertise.
The business model is a hybrid nonprofit structure. Revenue is generated through a mix of government grants (a three-year NYSCA award underwriting Deceleration Lab; NYC DCA support), individual donations, crowdfunding (e.g., a 2023 Kickstarter for IN CORPO), ticketing through partner venues, and fee-based education/workshop programming. The company serves three principal audiences: theater-going audiences in NYC (and selectively LA, Philadelphia, and historically Edinburgh), emerging artists in its development pipeline, and arts education participants.
The team is anchored by three co-artistic directors and a producing director/artistic producer, supported by four associate artists; the company is recognized via a New York Times Critics' Pick, a Drama Review feature, a Lucille Lortel Award, and a Tony Award-producing credit. There is no technology platform, software product, or digital infrastructure underpinning the business; operations are built on artistic labor, venue partnerships, and grant-funded program delivery.
The Assembly firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Assembly
- Legal name
- The Assembly Theater Project
- Website
- https://assemblytheater.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Assembly is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit devised theater company that produces original ensemble works, runs a multi-year artist development program (Deceleration Lab), and offers paid devising workshops, serving NYC theater audiences, emerging artists, and arts education participants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Assembly industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Theater & Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG)
Keywords
Where The Assembly is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn, NY
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Assembly business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from live performances of original productions at partner theaters in New York and touring venues.
- Educational Workshops: Weekend intensives ($250 regular, $200 early bird) and private coaching sessions ($80/hour remote, $150/hour in-person) teaching the Assembly's devising methodology to theater practitioners.
- Individual Donations and Grants: Kickstarter campaigns and individual donations supporting specific productions (e.g., IN CORPO). Institutional funding from NYSCA and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Weekend Workshop Intensive |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Private Coaching |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Assembly product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Assembly Theater Project is a Brooklyn-based devised theater collective that creates original ensemble theatrical productions through a research-driven, collaborative devising process spanning 3-5 year development cycles. The company complements its portfolio of original productions with paid educational workshops teaching its distinctive devising methodology, an annual artist residency program (Deceleration Lab) supporting BIPOC and marginalized theater artists, and post-show talkback discussion series.
Product overview
The Assembly is a collective of multi-disciplinary performance artists committed to realizing a visceral and intelligent theater for a new generation. The company's core offering is its portfolio of devised theatrical productions, ranging from original works like IN CORPO (a new musical in progress) and SEAGULLMACHINE (a radical Chekhov-Müller hybrid), to historically researched pieces such as HOME/SICK (about the Weather Underground) and That Poor Dream (adapted from Dickens' Great Expectations). Complementing these productions are educational programs including devised theater workshops led by the company's artistic directors, and the Deceleration Lab — an annual artist residency supporting BIPOC and marginalized theater artists in developing new work. Post-show talkback series such as 'Your Brain Is a Bomb' and 'I'll Sleep When I'm Dead' extend audience engagement beyond performances. The Assembly does not operate a technology product, platform, or API.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Deceleration Lab: A program supporting artists to develop new theatrical projects using multi-perspective, multi-disciplinary, and collaborative models of creation outside typical fast-paced production styles.
Products and services
- IN CORPO A new musical written by Ben Beckley and Nate Weida, currently in production. The work is being developed by The Assembly's collaborative devising process.
- Deceleration Lab Annual residency program supporting BIPOC and marginalized artists in developing new theatrical projects through multi-perspective, multi-disciplinary, and collaborative models of creation. Provides two weeks of rehearsal space, artist fees, materials budget, and access to The Assembly's administrative infrastructure for a full year.
- Devising Workshops Weekend intensive training in The Assembly's unique collaborative devising process, led by artistic directors Stephen Aubrey, Ben Beckley, and Jess Chayes. Synthesizes writing, action, design, and dramaturgy in a supportive environment. Weekend intensives priced at $250 per participant ($200 early bird, capped at 12 participants, limited financial aid available); private coaching at $80/hour remote or $150/hour in-person.
- Talkback Series Post-show discussion series featuring conversations with experts, historians, activists, and artists following theatrical performances. Examples include 'Your Brain Is a Bomb: A Revolutionary Conversation' and 'I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: Long-View Conversations About Life in the Arts.'
- SEAGULLMACHINE Radical hybrid of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull and Heiner Müller's hamletmachine, premiered spring 2018 at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theater.
- I Will Look Forward to This Later An inter-generational meditation on art-making and evolution, inspired by Kabuki theater and interviews with mentors.
- That Poor Dream Exploration of how class and race shape identity in contemporary America, freely adapted from Charles Dickens' Great Expectations.
- HOME/SICK Devised theater work examining the Weather Underground movement of the 1960s-70s, earning New York Times Critics' Pick and multiple Off-Broadway revivals.
- The Three Sisters Environmental staging of Chekhov's play featuring live music, live-feed video, and audience integration, with audience served tea and given branches to hold.
- We Can't Reach You, Hartford Examination of the Hartford Circus Fire of July 6th, 1944, exploring questions about innocence, truth, and American society. Edinburgh Fringe First Award nominee.
Companies that use The Assembly
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Assembly technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Assembly partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- La MaMa ETCcoreLa MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre is the primary venue for Assembly productions including Seagullmachine. Provides residency and performance space for the company's work.
- The New Ohio TheatrecoreArchive Residency partnership (2015-2016) hosting development of That Poor Dream and I Will Look Forward to This Later. Ongoing venue partner for productions.
- The Living TheatrecoreHOME/SICK remount venue (2012) featuring Your Brain Is a Bomb talkback series with former Weathermen. Judith Malina, legendary Living Theatre Artistic Director, spoke about HOME/SICK.
- Wesleyan UniversitysupportingWorkshop and residency programs hosting Assembly workshops and HOME/SICK remount (2014). Company has conducted workshops at Wesleyan.
- NYU Stella AdlersupportingAssembly has conducted workshops for NYU Stella Adler students. John Gould Rubin cited Assembly as 'a role model for the future of the American theatre.'
- CUNY Cultural Corpssupporting2020 partnership created paid position within producing team providing mentorship and work experience for CUNY students entering NYC arts careers.
- Horse Trade Theater Groupsupporting2009-2010 residency partnership with Horse Trade Theater Group supported development of The Three Sisters and HOME/SICK.
- Theatre Development Fund (TDF)supportingTDF created a short video about The Assembly for their 'Meet the Theatre' Series, profiling the company's process.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Assembly competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Civilians: NYC investigative theater company producing original devised works from real-world research; Jess Chayes is an alum of The Civilians R&D Group. Strong methodological overlap with The Assembly's research-based devising.
- Target Margin Theater: Brooklyn-based experimental theater company producing original devised and adapted works with focus on visual dramaturgy. Comparable methodology and NYC downtown experimental positioning.
- Mabou Mines: Long-running NYC experimental theater collective producing original devised works with ensemble-led processes. Comparable as an artist-driven collective with institutional longevity and critical recognition.
- New Georges: NYC theater organization supporting women-centered experimental work; Jess Chayes is a co-founder of The New Georges Jam artists' lab. Direct overlap via shared artistic community and devised-theater methodology.
- Clubbed Thumb: NYC Off-Off-Broadway company developing and producing original new plays and devised work, with strong ties to downtown experimental theater ecosystem. Comparable in venue partnerships and production model.
- Pig Iron Theatre Company: Philadelphia-based devised theater company with ensemble-driven original works and physical-collaborative methodology. Direct methodological and structural parallel to The Assembly, with longer history and broader touring footprint.
- The TEAM: Brooklyn-based ensemble creating original devised performances that interrogate American history and identity. Closest peer in terms of NYC Off-Off-Broadway model, ensemble-driven devising, and historically-rooted content.
Regional players
- Rattlestick Playwrights Theater: NYC Off-Broadway company producing new plays with an artist-driven development model. Comparable in NYC downtown positioning and commitment to developing new work, though more playwriting-centric than devised.
Broad incumbents
- Soho Rep: Larger NYC Off-Broadway institution producing new American work; Jess Chayes was in the Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab. Comparable in mission and community overlap, but operates a venue and broader institutional scale.
Emerging players
- Third Rail Projects: NYC-based ensemble creating immersive and devised theatrical experiences. Partial overlap via ensemble devising methodology, with a stronger immersive-installation orientation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Assembly social profiles
Digital presenceThe Assembly financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Assembly leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
The Assembly funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Assembly M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Assembly
What does The Assembly do?
The Assembly Theater Project is a Brooklyn-based devised theater collective that creates original ensemble theatrical productions through a research-driven, collaborative devising process spanning 3-5 year development cycles. The company complements its portfolio of original productions with paid educational workshops teaching its distinctive devising methodology, an annual artist residency program (Deceleration Lab) supporting BIPOC and marginalized theater artists, and post-show talkback discussion series.
Is The Assembly a public or private company?
The Assembly is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Assembly founded?
The Assembly was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Assembly based?
The Assembly is headquartered in Brooklyn, NY, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Assembly make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are educational Workshops and individual Donations and Grants.
Who are The Assembly's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Civilians, Target Margin Theater, Mabou Mines, New Georges, Clubbed Thumb, Pig Iron Theatre Company and The TEAM. Rattlestick Playwrights Theater is listed as a regional player. Soho Rep is listed as a broad incumbent. Third Rail Projects is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Assembly have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Assembly.
What industry is The Assembly in?
The Assembly's product category is Live Theater & Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAB, Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies, with a secondary code of EDAMAAAG, Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater). Its NAICS code is 7111.