Founded in February 2021 by Christopher Paul Meyer following his separation from the military, Veterans Repertory Theater is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501c3 organization. VetRep exists to select, develop, and produce talented veterans in order to create compelling live theater and events with the goal of re-energizing the live performance arts by adding more veteran voices into the culture.
VetRep’s Savage Wonder events revolve around veterans in artistic media besides straight theater. It all began with the Savage Wonder podcast, where Meyer would interview veterans in various artistic media. It was the podcast that inspired the Savage Wonder Festival of Veterans in the Arts, held at Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center on Memorial Day weekend, 2022. And it was the festival that inspired the small-scale Savage WonderGround events. Each of VetRep’s Savage WonderGround events is a completely unique, never-to-be-duplicated-again, immersive, theatrical experience featuring art, music and spoken word live performances from local veteran artists.
Why the name Savage Wonder? The name hints at both the marriage and the dichotomy of the warrior artist. Savage Wonder is a nod to the “savage” experiences, determination, and pursuits of the veteran community, and the resulting “wonder” of capturing those experiences, learning from them, and growing from them as only artists can.
VetRep is based in New York’s famed Hudson Valley – home to burgeoning communities of both artists and veterans – but we are a national organization. We look forward to finding and celebrating veteran artists across the country – and giving them the platform to captivate appreciative audiences in person.
