John started with VMT at Flynn Elementary School, when they showed up and his oldest showed interest. He and his younger brother kept going out for those school shows, and then they wanted to do more with their friends... and that was, uh, a long time ago because they are both grown now.

He's now putting those empty nest vibes towards helping out VMT and it has been so rewarding! Serving on the board and now as president has been a privilege and he always feels better leaving the theater than he did when he arrived. Now he wishes he had been a theater kid...

By day he is the manager of a team of web developers for a local company. He is also into snowboarding, novels, film, board and video games, bikes...

Bill joined the Very Merry Theatre board in 2021 after being inspired by the energy and joy of the Wagon Tour shows. Wanting to support both the organization and his community, he became more involved and, in 2025, stepped into the role of Treasurer.

Amy has been a Very Merry parent since 2008. Since then her kids, Eli and Ollie, have been in every show imaginable. She joined the VMT board of directors in 2019, and has recently become board secretary.

During the day Amy spends most of her time around the corner from VMT at the Sustainability Academy where she works as a special education teacher.

Jim joined the Very Merry Theater board in 2025, after seven years in the audience and a few stints on stage himself. Jim so far hasn't missed an opportunity to get on stage with Very Merry in the adult musicals and the Defying Gravity cabaret, rekindling a love for theater dormant since high school. Outside VMT, Jim works in state lands management for the State of Vermont and is an excellent child chauffeur.

India is a born and raised Vermonter and has a provate practice in Burlington. Inspired by her daughters love of theater and VMT'S community, she joined the VMT Board in 2025. 

India's role on the board is merchandise management and can often be found as front of house staff at shows

Amanda joined the Very Merry board in 2021. She serves on the development committee to help sustain and grow the opportunities VMT provides for our kids and our community.

In her day job, Amanda is director of communications and partnerships for the Coalition for College, a national college access non-profit.

Thanks to Very Merry, she’s seen her daughter try on life as a lion, a nun, and a crab; travel to the underworld and to Wonderland; and live on the streets of London and Agrabah, all while discovering a love of theater and building a close group of friends.

Don has authored dozens of original and adapted plays for children and teens and written hundreds of songs with his musical collaborators. Directed hundreds of VMT plays throughout the years and loves every minute he gets to work in this fantastic arts community. Founder of Home Base, Inc, a non-profit serving adults with developmental disabilities, where he served as director from 1987-2018. Awards: 2017: Lifetime Achievement Award from the VT KidSafe Collaborative. 2015: Peter Clavelle Award by the City of Burlington for “leadership that has advanced social equity, environmental stewardship, quality education, or economic growth and vitality in Burlington”. 2009: Honoree at the Burlington’s Neighborhood and Neighborhood Leaders Celebration. 2002: Lund Family Center’s annual “Festival of Fatherhood” It Takes A Village Award.

Co-designed the Very Merry wagon which travels to venues throughout northwestern Vermont in the summer to put on free shows with children. Raised three sons in Burlington and for many years he was an active youth baseball and hockey coach. He also played in the Vermont Senior Baseball League and pitched his team to several league championships. He now lives with his partner, Denise Viscomi, in Burlington.

Very Merry has been a part of Denise’s life since 2002-ish. She started out as a school parent volunteer which included the bonus of hanging out with her two kids, Alta and Jackson, and their classmates. In 2015 she eventually pivoted away from OR Nursing to her current part-time VMT position as costumer/costume curator and administrative assistant, for the joy of working with kids, artistic outlet, and organizing stuff.

Karen is well known for her work with children and communities, as an Artist-in-Residence with the Vermont Arts Council and received the Governor’s Award for Arts in Education. She holds a BA from Middlebury College.

As a Touring Artist, The Karen Amirault Dance Company and KIDZ has performed in every corner of the state and at First Night Burlington for 35 years. Karen has taught and choreographed for CCV, the Flynn Center, Lyric Theatre, Town Hall Theater and the White River Valley Players. She has been thoroughly enjoying choreographing shows for VMT since 2001.

Sarah is a multi-media artist, educator, and herbalist. Sarah is a Vermonter who is passionate about connecting with the natural world through the Arts. After earning her BFA from RISD, she traveled the world making art and teaching in many countries. She was brought into Very Merry Staff 10 years ago at the inception of the Waterways Stage Collaboration as a teaching Artist. Since then she has co-directed and choreographed many productions with Very Merry Theatre. Most notably Sarah has taken a leadership role in keeping the collaboration of Waterways Stage alive by writing grants, coordinating schools, teaching theater and organizing the festival of performances.  Sarah has recently earned a Master's Degree in Art Education.

Lauren Larken Scuderi has been with Very Merry Theatre since 2014, serving camps and school programs wherever needed wearing hats such as director, choreographer, costumer, musical director, leading crew and fundraising. A co-founding teaching artist of Waterway Stage, she brings science and creativity to classrooms and communities. She also helps manage free rural camps, expanding arts access across Vermont. Lauren holds a BA in Theatre from USC and an MFA in Performance and Interactive Media Arts from Brooklyn College. Outside of theatre, she shares healing through Heart Song, her aerial arts studio and finds joy biking, singing, and collaborating with her daughter and spouse, both fellow Very Merry creatives.

Ben joined the VMT staff in 2022, after serving as a front-of-house volunteer for the two previous years, including the pandemic era’s 20-21 season.

In addition to his primary role as marketing manager, he is also the registration coordinator for VMT’s educational programming, and often serves as house captain at performances.

Ben completed his NYU-Tisch School of the Arts certificate program in performing arts management in 2024. He divides his time between Burlington and NYC, and can often be found riding the Amtrak rails. 

Since 2018, Joe has gone from being an audience member, to volunteering, to VMT web support. He has always enjoyed musical theatre. Fun fact: While in the Marine Corps, instead of doing the standard cadence calls during exercise runs, Joe would often call out show tunes. (Note: It is easier for a squad to run to Rogers and Hammerstein than Sondheim.)