By Layla Kalinen
Eagle Times Staff
BELLOWS FALLS, VT — David Stern focuses on artistic excellence. After his departure from Main Street Arts in Saxtons River, VT, he set out to establish an independent entity that would artistically thrive while maintaining financial sustainability. ¶ Stern set-up shop with a storefront and before he knew it, his dedicated team members from previous productions followed suit. This led to the formation of Wild Goose Players, an all-volunteer theater company based in Bellows Falls.
“At Main Street Arts, we had done all these Opera House shows and we had performed in a variety of other venues besides Main Street Arts,” said Stern said, who worked without compensation while getting things started. “I rented a storefront across from Flat Iron in Bellows Falls and all these people, honestly, costume people, lighting people, sound people, actor volunteers and set construction people, they just came and joined.”
Today, Stern serves as the artistic and executive director, receiving a salary. While some positions within the company receive stipends, the majority of the team, including costume designers, lighting technicians, actors, and set construction crew, volunteer their time and talents.
A Storefront Stage
Despite the challenges, especially those stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, Wild Goose Players have flourished over the years.
Stern proudly shared that the company has successfully operated a storefront in Bellows Falls for three years, staging 10 shows to date. They have also introduced a summer kids and family show, with productions such as “Frog and Toad” and “The Velveteen Rabbit.” Additionally, Wild Goose Players have an established tradition of hosting a yearly musical at the Opera House, with upcoming plans to stage “Fiddler on the Roof” in April 2024.
Community support helped tremendously when it came to securing funding. Stern and his team applied for grants through the Vermont Arts Council and droves of private donors have stepped forward.
When it came time to introduce Wild Goose Players to the community, Stern was cautious. He wanted to be mindful not to overstep the work and mission of Main Street Street Arts. Instead, Stern shared that they started under the umbrella of Next Stage Arts in Putney, which allowed them to receive donations under their 501©(3) nonprofit status and to collaborate on various events.
It’s a delicate balance between artistic vision and financial sustainability. Stern makes a point to involve the entire company in the decision-making process, discussing potential plays and evaluating the available resources. Consideration of the talents and strengths of team members when selecting plays is heavy, ensuring they can deliver a high-quality performance.
The show must go on
The company strategically chooses shows that they believe will resonate with the audience and fill the house.
Stern mentioned that musicals such as “Fiddler on the Roof” and “You’re in Town” have been successful in terms of ticket sales. However, he noted that they avoid productions with extensive dance requirements as the dancer pool is minimal.
“We do a new play reading every month, which we’ve been doing for almost a full year,” he said. “It is amazing to be based in Bellows Falls, a small town, and have every month somebody bring you a brand new play that they wrote.”
The next play the group is presenting, “Claire In The Chair In The Cematarre,” is an original play written and gifted by a prominent former broadcast reporter and presently an award-winning playwright, Sean Hurley. The play, about life and death, is immersed in surrealistic themes.
The play debuts Friday, Nov. 10, at Next Stage Arts in Putney.
“Sean Hurley is an award-winning playwright; he was a commentator on NHPR for years. But he just writes full time now,” Stern said. “The play is an exploration of life and death, the soul and the body. It’s a unique and thought-provoking play that challenges conventional notions of existence and identity.”
Stern believes that the arts economy has a positive impact on the community, energizing an area’s cultural vitality. If anyone is interested in starting their own theater company, they absolutely should. Just don’t go it alone.
“Strap in, buckle up, and be prepared for a lot of work. Do not try to do it alone,” Stern advised.
For more information, visit wildgooseplayers.com/shows-events.
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