About
Vermont Stage is Northern Vermont’s home for bold, thought-provoking theatre.
Since 1994, we’ve produced over 150 shows—bringing nationally recognized plays to local audiences hungry for stories that challenge, inspire, and connect. From gripping dramas to unexpected comedies, we celebrate the vibrant, ever-evolving culture of our time.
Since 1994, we’ve produced over 150 shows—bringing nationally recognized plays to local audiences hungry for stories that challenge, inspire, and connect. From gripping dramas to unexpected comedies, we celebrate the vibrant, ever-evolving culture of our time.
As a nonprofit arts organization, Vermont Stage thrives thanks to the support of our community. Each year, we produce more than 100 performances and education programs that engage thousands across the region—on stage, in classrooms, and beyond.
History
The Glass Menagerie, 1994
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When Vermont Stage was founded in 1994, it reignited professional theatre in Burlington for the first time in nearly a decade--bringing bold storytelling and a fresh artistic voice back to the region.
In its early years, the company embraced its role as a cultural trailblazer, producing plays wherever the story could be told: Champlain College’s Hauke Auditorium, UVM’s Royall Tyler Theatre, and even barns across Vermont during a spirited “Barn-Storming Tour” of Mad River Rising. These formative years laid the groundwork for what Vermont Stage would become: inventive, fearless, and deeply connected to the community it serves. |
The Tempest with Burlington's Taiko Drummers
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By 2000, Vermont Stage had transformed from a scrappy, nomadic company into one of Northern Vermont’s most vital cultural institutions.
With three Bessie Awards for Best Play from Burlington City Arts under its belt, the company earned not just acclaim--but a home. Vermont Stage became the resident theatre at FlynnSpace, nestled within the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Burlington. This move marked a major milestone: a permanent space, deeper roots, and an even greater ability to spark conversation, creativity, and community through the power of live theatre. |
Actors performing during a Vermont Young Playwrights Festival
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Vermont Stage’s Vermont Young Playwrights program is where the next generation of storytellers finds its voice.
Since 1995, this award-winning education program has helped more than 13,000 middle and high school students across the state write their very first play--turning classrooms into creative labs and student ideas into fully realized theatrical moments. Hundreds of those plays have been brought to life on stage with humor, heart, and insight, delighting audiences and proving that powerful stories can come from any age. In 2004, Vermont Stage was honored with the New England Theatre Conference Regional Award for Outstanding Achievement in the American Theatre in recognition of this trailblazing program--a testament to the transformative impact of amplifying young voices through the arts. |
"The Legend of Georgia McBride," April/May 2019.
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In December 2018, Vermont Stage opened its first production in a beautifully renovated theatre at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center on the Burlington Waterfront--marking a bold new chapter in our story.
This move gave us the space to dream bigger, produce more ambitious work, and deepen our connection with audiences in a setting that reflects the vibrancy of the art we create. For patrons, the experience is as inviting as it is inspiring: nearby parking makes access easy, while the stunning lobby--with its panoramic views of Lake Champlain--offers a welcoming place to gather with friends, grab a drink, and soak in the beauty of the waterfront before the show begins. Inside the theatre, the intimate space creates a powerful connection between audience and performance, drawing you into the heart of every story we tell. With this space, Vermont Stage has not only grown artistically--it has built a home where community, creativity, and comfort meet. |
Jabari Matthew and Victoria Fearn in "I and You," 2016.
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In 2024, Vermont Stage launched the Teen Tour--a bold expansion of our education programming designed to bring live theatre directly to students across Vermont.
This initiative brings professional actors and powerful, curriculum-connected plays into middle and high schools, creating unforgettable artistic experiences in communities where access to theatre is often limited. Each tour includes post-show discussions that deepen engagement and connect students to the social and historical themes explored on stage. With our Teen Tour program, Vermont Stage is reaching a new generation of Vermonters--sparking empathy, critical thinking, and conversation through the transformative power of live theatre. |
Greg Pierce discusses his play "The Quarry", a Vermont Stage commission, 2014
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Vermont Stage isn’t just creating theatre--we’re fueling Vermont’s creative economy.
Since our founding, we’ve employed more than 3,000 local actors, designers, directors, and technicians, while drawing over 300,000 audience members to our performances. Every show we produce doesn’t just entertain--it drives foot traffic to nearby restaurants, bars, and businesses, creating a ripple effect that supports our entire community. This year alone, Vermont Stage will engage more than 10,000 people--on stage, in classrooms, and throughout the region--proving that the arts aren’t just vital to our spirit… they’re vital to our economy. |
Today, Vermont Stage continues to thrive as a vital cultural force in Northern Vermont.
With bold productions, statewide education initiatives like Vermont Young Playwrights and our Teen Tour program, and a home that welcomes over 10,000 audience members each year, we remain committed to telling timely stories that resonate, challenge, and connect. As we look ahead, our focus is clear: to champion new voices, deepen community impact, and keep the transformative power of theatre alive and accessible for all Vermonters.
With bold productions, statewide education initiatives like Vermont Young Playwrights and our Teen Tour program, and a home that welcomes over 10,000 audience members each year, we remain committed to telling timely stories that resonate, challenge, and connect. As we look ahead, our focus is clear: to champion new voices, deepen community impact, and keep the transformative power of theatre alive and accessible for all Vermonters.
