The outreach programs of VYT are an extension of our mission to have a positive impact on young people’s lives through a wide range of performing arts opportunities.

LITERACY AND THE ARTS:

"Literacy and The Arts" offers a unique opportunity to inner-city children to expand their worlds through the live theatre experience, while encouraging and developing their enthusiasm for reading. Created in 1994, the program is a partnership with the Roosevelt and Phoenix Elementary School Districts, serving 20,000 inner-city students, 95% of whom are ethnic minorities. Almost 5,000 children participate in VYT's "Literacy and The Arts" program during our season, attending a show and receiving a book related to the show to treasure and keep.

AFTER SCHOOL PLAYHOUSE:

After School Playhouse is a comprehensive 36-week after-school theatre arts experience in partnership with Lowell School, located at 7th Avenue and Buckeye in Phoenix. Just as with "Literacy and The Arts," the After School Playhouse is an innovative project designed to create new opportunities for those children who have so few; provide exposure to the performing arts within the community, and give at-risk children a safe and productive after school environment.

OTHER OUTREACH PROGRAMS AT VYT:

VYT's "Sponsor-A-Seat" program brings disadvantaged children to a special theatre event each season. More than 600 children representing more than 20 different social service organizations from throughout the Valley attend the show and are treated to lunch with the cast members. This event takes place in June of each year. For information on how you can “Sponsor-A-Seat,” call 602-253-8188, ext. 304.

VYT provides free tickets throughout our season to non-profit organizations in service to disadvantaged youth. For two consecutive years, VYT partnered with the Arizona Diamondbacks professional baseball team, offering special performances of our holiday show, A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail, to disadvantaged children being served by Diamondbacks Charities. The same type of partnership also has taken place with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Valley Youth Theatre offers its performance space at no cost to other companies who reach out to children. Essential Theatre, which serves a Phoenix drop-in center and youth outreach program, is one such company. VYT also offers their performance space to "Opera-tunity," which brings the magic of opera to children in need.

For each VYT performance, our theatre walls are hung with artwork created by children through a partnership with Young Arts Arizona. This organization helps disadvantaged and abused children express and respect themselves through the exhibition of their artwork.


For information on how you can help support these programs, contact:
Seth Sulka
Director of Development 602-253-8188 Ext. 304