About Us
Why we do what we do.
Our Mission
The mission of the White River Valley Players is to strengthen our community by providing continuing opportunities for involvement with theater and theater related arts. We do this by providing experiences in these areas:
Community Theater
People of all ages and experience are encouraged to be onstage as actors, offstage in production roles, as well as in the audience as theater supporters. Our shows include full-scale musicals, dramas, comedies, and one-act plays, many of which have been original shows written for The White River Valley Players.
Theater Opportunities for Children
School-age children are given the opportunity to participate in plays geared specifically for child actors as well as those shows with primarily adult casts. The first week in August has traditionally been devoted to Performing Arts Camp for kids ages 8-14, with a staff that includes teen helpers. We also support in-school productions in the local schools, giving technical guidance as well as material support.
Theater Workshops
Because we believe in ongoing education in theater crafts, we present workshops open to community members. Past workshops have been offered in directing, producing, playwriting, singing, lighting, costuming, set design and makeup. We offer new workshops as the need arises and presenters become available.
Sponsorship of Community Events and Performances
In order to delight, enlighten and educate local audiences, we periodically bring professional events to the valley in the form of music, dance and drama. We have sponsored a variety of entertainers at our annual Harvest Fair in September, as part of Rochester’s summer concert series, and during the week of Performing Arts Camp in August.
Financial Support of the Theater Arts in the Community
We provide scholarships, grants or honoraria to individuals in our community for the purpose of increasing theater skills, recognizing theatrical contributions, encouraging the creation of new theater experiences and supporting theater arts in our community’s schools.
Our History
Since 1979
The origin of The White River Valley Players was a seat-of-the-pants production of “The Fantasticks”, staged by adults and high school students on the Rochester School Stage in 1979. This production, which had grown out of four musicals performed by Rochester High School students, resulted in momentum for forming an ongoing organization to produce community theater.
1979
IIn October of 1979 Kathy and Gary Gaskill and Dick and Dorothy Robson met and decided to organize such a group which would be based in Rochester, Vermont and would be called The White River Valley Players. A mission statement and by-laws were written, a board of directors was formed, and we were granted non-profit status by the IRS. Board meetings were held monthly at Annabelle’s Restaurant in Stockbridge. The Players’ first show was a traveling production for children, “The Invisible Dragon.”
1981
In 1981 we produced our first full-length musical, “Anything Goes.” (photo at top of page) Subsequently the Players produced a musical nearly every spring into the 20-teens, when smaller scale productions became more practical. In addition, each year there has often been a “straight” play--either full-length or a set of one-act plays-- ten-minute plays, or musical cabarets. During the Covid years we turned to creating outdoor performances, many of which were original, history-based productions.
1990's
We had begun writing our own material in the 1990’s, with help from playwrights who held workshops in the craft of writing plays. Many of these plays were given public performances and led to the writing of larger scale productions.
2000
In 2000 the Players produced our first original musical, “Second Chance”, written by the team of Dick Robson, Dorothy Robson, and Ethan Bowen. Since then there have been two more original musicals: “Ransom”, created by a team including the Robsons, Joe Schenkman and Jake Wildwood (performed in 2010 and again in 2014)
2014
2018
In 2018 another Robson original musical, “The Singing Master.” , was performed by the Players.
2024
“Rochester Light and Power”, written by Dick and Dorothy Robson, will be produced on the Rochester School Stage in 2024.
The talent behind the talent
Our Leadership
We couldn’t do what we do without a lot of effort and support from everyone involved in The White River Valley Players. We’re fortunate to have enjoyed long-term involvement from many of our board and advisory board members. Two of our founding members remain active officers and board members today!