The University of Delaware’s Resident Ensemble Players (REP) would seem to have plenty on its plate these days: This year alone, the professional theatre company will put on six elaborately staged plays, involving 46 full-time employees, endless hours of design work and rehearsals, and countless happy fans.

But the REP’s producing artistic director says he’s ready to do more.

“My No. 1 goal is to build up the size of the company” and produce enough plays to suit its audience’s increasingly diverse interests and keep pace with artistic innovations, Sanford “Sandy” Robbins told the UD Association of Retired Faculty at its quarterly luncheon Tuesday, Dec. 10 “I would like to have new people [making creative contributions], so there’s more variety in the ranks.”

Already, there’s enough variety and flair to make the REP one of UD’s better-known community attractions: 62% of audiences are members of the general public, along with 25% students and 13% faculty, Robbins told the retired professors.

“Every year, more people buy tickets to our productions. Every year, the graph goes up, and that’s a function of people like you who support us,” said Robbins, who noted that the REP is the only resident professional acting ensemble in the tri-state region and one of a few in the entire nation.

While a vast proportion of REP funding comes from the University, and about 20% of revenue is fed by ticket sales, the troupe also relies on fans’ generosity and staffers’ selfless commitment.

“All the rest of the funds come from generous, loyal donors—thank goodness,” he said.