The Savage Wonder Festival of Veterans in the Arts is produced by Veterans Repertory Theater, a professional theater and event nonprofit. Founded by veteran Christopher Paul Meyer upon leaving the military in 2021, VetRep began as a platform for veterans and immediate family members who are professional playwrights. Meyer conceived of the Savage Wonder Festival of Veterans in the Arts to platform veterans into other art forms as well and create a theatrical, multimedia festival that could be repeated annually and establish the Hudson Valley as a mecca for veterans in the arts.
Each performer at the Savage Wonder Festival is more than just an accomplished professional artist, each is also a veteran or an immediate family member. Their backstories – the tragedy, the struggle, the perseverance, and the triumph – lends each one’s art a powerful depth. A dance choreographer who was a Marine machine gunner in Fallujah, Iraq. A combat veteran and female engagement team member turned poet. An Iraq veteran handpicked by Placido Domingo to be one of his proteges. An Afghanistan veteran and survivor of a green-on-blue attack whose debut outlaw country album was engineered and produced by the Grammy winning Station House in Los Angeles. These are not your typical world-class artists. Pairing with the Sugar Loaf Spring Festival, Year 1 of the Savage Wonder Festival saw over 4,000 visitors flock to the Village of Sugar Loaf. Going forward, VetRep will use the festival as its annual fundraiser – it’s a lot more fun for the community and rewarding for the artists than a black-tie gala!.