No one at Vermont Rep gets paid to be here - not the people who run the company, nor those who perform in it (with the exception of pit musicians). This is a labor of love and it is exclusive to people who wish to spend their free time coming together to create theatre of the highest caliber.

We have come to the conclusion that “compensation” for the creation of art exists in many forms, and the financial variety is only one. The creative fulfillment that comes from being part of a company of people who aspire to something great, to something bigger than themselves, is a different form of compensation - and importantly, being part of an organized structure that is set up to actually be able to deliver that. That is why most of us got involved in theater in the first place.

Our shows are expensive to stage - they have bespoke period costumes, lavish and detailed set designs, large casts, exquisite props, exceptional sound and lighting and extensively supported rehearsal periods. The practitioners who work with us are experienced and excellent - many are ex-professionals from the industry - but the budgets have to exist in order for them to be able to demonstrate their skills. Because we do not pay ourselves or our participants, we have the ability to provide these budgets and our productions are elevated as a result. What we earn goes straight out onto the stage, and our audiences value the difference it makes, as is demonstrated by the full houses we have come to expect.

We recognize that this is not a choice that will work for everyone, but for a great many of the talented performers, artists and practitioners in our area, the opportunity to participate in an enterprise that is truly outstanding in its aspiration is as valued a form of compensation as the financial version.