Alma Collective consists of a monthly gathering of dramatist-members in the Bay Area, many of which are also professional actors. We share our work via informal readings followed by discussion, questions and constructive commentary; an effective and inspiring way to grow new plays.

Plays completed within Alma Collective may be given full readings, staged readings, workshops and potentially full production with Alma Theatre Company.

The Playwrights/Artists:

JOHN LEVINE’S plays have been produced in, among other places, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, California, Texas, Michigan, and Alaska. International productions include Canada, Mexico, India, Australia, the Philippines, and the U.K. His work has also been published in a number of anthologies. He lives in Berkeley, California, with his wife and daughter and teaches at the University of California. He is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild. He wrote the screenplay for the short film "Human Resources" and co-wrote “A Movie Set,” screened recently at film festivals. More info at johnlevineplaywright.com

ROB DARIO, a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, has been a theatre artist for over twenty years, acting with companies such as San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Shotgun Players, and Asian American Theatre Company. A graduate of California State University Sacramento’s Department of Theatre and Dance, has also been a designer, director, stage manager, teacher, and playwright. His first full-length play to be produced was Bagyó at TheatreFirst, for which he was awarded Berkeley’s Sui Generis Foundation Award. He is currently a member of the writing pool for SF PlayGround, where his play Spiskammers was selected for the 2018 Best of PlayGround. Rob is also a visual artist and graphic designer.

KELLI KERSLAKE COLACO (Founding Director Alma Theatre Company/Collective.) Writing credits include the plays, You Are My Sunshine, A play with folk songs. Based on a true story.’ (Eugene O’Neil National Playwright’s Conference Semi Finalist,) Underbelly, The Meeting and Hazardous Materials. Film: award-winning documentary, “The Mad Hannans,” directed by Martin Shore, and the web series “The Meek Shall Inherit.” Select acting credits: Helen in Have Mercy at Manhattan Theatre Source; Marta in Late Fragment at Tristan Bates Theatre, Covent Garden, London; Carver at London’s Arcola Theatre, directed by Bill Gaskill; and roles at Goodspeed Opera House, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Texas Shakespeare Festival, P.C.P.A Theaterfest, International Shakespeare Company, Alma Theatre Company as well as principal roles in Emmy Nominated Film for Television, Moonshot, (UK ITV, History Channel,) True Dare Kiss (BBC 1,) films: Love Is Not Enough, Crossing Bridges and The Decent 2. She is a founding member of The Independent Shakespeare Company and member of The 72nd Street Gang, a New York City playwriting collective. She earned an M.F.A from P.T.T.P (The Professional Theatre Training Program) at the University of Delaware and completed studies in the Actor Training program of P.C.P.A (The Pacific Coast Conservatory for The Performing Arts) in Santa Maria, CA. She is a teaching artist with The Marin Theatre Company.

Josiah Polhemus has performed with ACT, Shotgun Players, Theatreworks, Shakespeare/Santa Cruz, Word For Word and FOOLSfury in the Bay Area and last appeared at the Phoenix in The Quality Of Life by Jane Andersen. He is the founding Artistic Director of RE:ACT and former Artistic Director of Stagebridge. He currently teaches Acting, Screenwriting and Directing at Future’s Explored. His film/tv credits include: Superpowerless, Yes, We're Open, White On Rice, The Truth About Cats and Dogs, Tracy Takes On…, Days Of Our Lives, Surrogate Valentine and The Scottish Tale among others that are too terrible to mention.