About VSC
Vermont Stage Company is Burlington's year-round professional theatre company performing at FlynnSpace. From October to May, VSC presents five productions a year, ranging from established classics to original plays, from recent Broadway hits to undiscovered gems from around the country. We've gained a reputation among our audience as a company that produces emotionally engaging, intellectually challenging work that is made even more powerful and compelling by the intimacy of FlynnSpace, a 150-seat black box theatre.
“Only by looking outward, by caring for things that in terms of pure survival one needn't bother with at all... only by throwing oneself over and over again into the tumult of this world, with the intention of making one's voice count - only thus does one really become a person, a being capable of a miracle: the recreation of the world.”
—Playwright Vaclav Havel
Aesthetic
Simply put, we strive for authenticity. From our choice of plays, to the directors we hire, to the actors we cast, to the way we run our business, we are constantly looking for what is honest and true and universal in human experience.
We tend to choose plays that illuminate something about human connection; plays that can teach us about how we may be our best selves, especially in terms of how we interact with those around us. We are always working to discover some truth about what keeps us separate from each other and how we may learn to be closer.
We espouse an acting style that is as close to real life as possible. We ask our actors to truly talk to each other, rather than reciting lines at each other. We encourage them to dig deep within themselves, to take the risk of opening their heart and mind and soul to the audience, to share of themselves honestly, passionately and courageously.
Our performance space supports and informs our aesthetic. When the actors and audience are no more that ten feet apart, only the truth will suffice. There is no room for artifice or inauthentic interaction. The theatre is often thought of as a crucible of the human experience; the intimacy of our space makes that crucible all the more intense.
Ethics
We believe that the way a person is treated has a profound effect on the quality of their work. It is our intention to treat every artist, every technician, and every staff member not only with the respect and straightforwardness that is demanded by any professional environment, but also with kindness, compassion and deep recognition of and appreciation for each individual's humanity.
When a person, and especially an artist, feels cared for, appreciated and supported, when they are acknowledged as the valuable human being that they are, the good will that is created informs every aspect of the creative process. The ultimate result is a healthy and engaging working environment, which sets the stage for the best possible work from all involved.
Furthermore, the love and respect created in such an environment feeds directly into the work on stage. The audience can tell that something special is happening in front of them. They may not be able to define what it is, but the overall effect of the production goes that much deeper into the audience's consciousness.
It is our belief that such an approach to making theatre, an approach that values people as much as product, an approach that makes treating people well the very highest priority, has a ripple effect that reverberates beyond the walls of the theatre. It is our intention to make good theatre, yes; but far more importantly we are interested in making our world a little better.
Mission Statement
At Vermont Stage Company we work to make theatre that matters. By creating professional theatre that is emotionally, intellectually and spiritually engaging, we are committing to the belief that theatre can make a positive difference in our community and in the world.
We work to make a difference by:
- Providing a supportive professional environment in which local, regional and nationally known theatre artists are inspired to perform their best work.
- Enhancing the cultural and commercial vitality of our community with high quality professional theatre.
- Offering reduced rate student matinee performances in order to introduce young people to live theatre.
- Fostering the development of new plays through our statewide young playwrights program and through the cultivation of professional playwrights.
- Remembering that authentic, honest and compassionate communication in all areas of our work holds the greatest promise for personal and cultural transformation.