N.E.A.T. (Neilssen Entertainment And Theatrical) Productions started in the winter of 2001-2002 when Erik Neilssen was a Senior at Martin Luther High School.  Erik had written a play and had wished to produce this play through his high school drama club.  With the help of his good friend Monica Barczak, Erik was able to put together a talented team of young people who could produce promising and entertaining theater.  The experience was humbling, and while the results were not bound for Broadway, the process was enjoyable and amazing.  Each person involved with the project was holding a position they had not held before, learning as they went through the process.  That learning experience was one that created a strong environment of bonding and creative collaboration.  The most important ideal about any artist must be that they have never reached their full potential and there is always more to learn.  This learning experience sparked a greater idea, the idea that given the chance to succeed, any artist can reach their full potential. 

While Erik was beginning College he would spend allot of time with Monica performing in shows.  Monica and Erik began to talk about the things that they loved about theater, and the things that could be better.  Erik spoke passionately about a company ran by young people with fresh ideas could accomplish more than the traditional companies could ever consider.  The concept was to have a body of people who ran the activities and another who would develop the projects, all the while learning something new.  Erik and Monica recruited Mark Albert to help take the idea to a more profound level of sincerity, by creating the first N.E.A.T. Productions website.  Soon N.E.A.T. was on It’s way to producing their first show Taking Over The World Take:1.  It was a success and the group picked up its fourth and final founding member Annie Barczak, who dramatically helped communicate the ideals of the company to the community.  N.E.A.T. Productions was off and rolling.