History
Anything Can Happen, As Long As You Believe
For twenty-two years, Valley Youth Theatre’s mission has been to offer professional quality programs to young people, so that through their participation, they will learn life lessons that will serve them well as adults; that they will discover a lasting interest in and appreciation for the performing arts; and that they will take with them the inspiration to be the very best they can be. The fruits of these labors a generation later are beginning to be seen as young people who have participated in VYT’s education programs and mainstage productions are finding success in their chosen professions. Several of these young people are making their mark at the national level. Jordin Sparks, the 2007 American Idol from Glendale made her first on-stage appearance in The Wiz at Valley Youth Theatre. Max Crumm who has completed a year of performing on Broadway in the lead role of Danny Zuko in GREASE performed in several VYT productions. Emma Stone, who appeared in 15 VYT productions, is working on her major motion picture career, starring in films such as "Easy A" and "The Amazing Spider-Man". Chelsea Kane, also a VYT alum, has starred on the Disney Channel series with the JONAS Brothers. These and scores of other VYT alumni are realizing dreams that began on the stage at Valley Youth Theatre- not only in the entertainment field, but as journalists, lawyers, teachers and other professions as is evidenced by the listings they post on the VYT Alumni section.
A new generation of young people is currently experiencing opportunities provided at VYT that no other youth theatre program in the state offers. Besides a full-time staff of professionals that include performers, educators and technicians, this season Valley Youth Theatre has provided cast members the opportunity to work with guest artists that include: Disney choreographer Sloan Bayer who choreographed VYT’s productions of High School Musical, Cinderella and AIDA; Stage combat expert David Barker who taught swordplay to the casts of The Prince and the Pauper and the Princess and the Pea as well as summer musical camps; Broadway composer Neil Berg who was wowed by VYT’s production of his musical The Prince and the Pauper and presented a talkback/workshop following the performance; NBA star Jeff Hornacek who worked with the High School Musical cast on their basketball moves and Broadway actress Kelli James who performed as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, giving her fellow cast members a glimpse of how professional performers work.
Valley Youth Theatre alumni are also being encouraged to come back to share their skills. Lauren Antioco, who first appeared onstage at VYT as a middle school student, has come back as the Diretor of Education and is teaching residencies and camps for Valley Youth Theatre. Christine Margo, who has performed with VYT since she was nine, was given a chance to serve as assistant choreographer to Sloan Bayer in AIDA and has served as choreographer and director for camps and A Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail this past season. Jordin Sparks and Emma Stone have both made substantial charitable donations to Valley Youth Theatre in appreciation for giving them direction early in their careers.
Valley Youth Theatre has always prided itself in operating in a sound financial manner and prides itself in never having operated in a deficit. In an effort to expand its reach and influence in the business community, this year, VYT increased its board size to twenty-three members, including broadening its diversity. From prestigious law firms, to APS, financial planning organizations and accounting firms, to media outlets and PR firms, VYT’s board is working to expand its involvement in fundraising and community outreach. A part time grant writer has been added to aid development director, Seth Sulka, in the number of grants being written and to better manage existing grants.
A 2008 grant from the Virginia G. Piper Foundation for a comprehensive branding campaign has allowed VYT to conduct research on the public’s perception of Valley Youth Theatre and to enable them to expand their reach into the community. Another method of expanding its reach has been to strengthen the residencies being offered in several school districts and private school settings around the Valley as well as satellite classes in the Northeast Valley.
Now in its 15th year, Valley Youth Theatre’s Sponsor-A-Seat program nearly doubled its reach in 2008 with an aggressive matching gift program that allowed VYT to provide over 950 children from social service agencies a chance to attend a performance of Cinderella at the Herberger Theater Center and to share lunch with the cast. Twenty four agencies from all parts of the Valley participated, up from twelve in 2007.
Valley Youth Theatre’s reputation for providing professional quality performances continues to earn recognition not only at the local level, but nationally as well. In 2003, VYT was accepted into the Theatre Communications Group (TCG), a national organization fostering the growth of non-profit theatre. The only other theatre companies in Arizona who belong to this prestigious organization are Arizona Theatre Company, Actors Theatre, Childsplay, Phoenix Theatre and Southwest Shakespeare Company in Phoenix and Borderlands and Invisible Theatre in Tucson.
VYT has received national coverage in the last year for Jordin Sparks in the New York Post, MTV and other national media including a feature in Stage Directions for the High School Musical set. Locally, VYT was voted Best of Phoenix Children’s Performing Arts Company, and was first runner up for Best Theatre Venue, Best Value for Families and second runner up for Best Theatre Company in 2008. The Arizona Republic listed VYT as one of their top ten places for children to use their imagination and to be a Future Star. In 2009, VYT was named Best Children's Theatre by azcentral.com's Critics Choice.
In 2008, Valley Youth Theatre was honored with 11 National Youth Theatre Awards last year, including Outstanding Production for Bye Bye Birdie, Oustanding Ensemble for Little Women and Bye Bye Birdie and several acting awards. VYT received a Governor’s Arts Award for Arts in Education for its Literacy and the Arts program offering at-risk schools the opportunity to see a live theatre performance in conjunction with curriculum materials tied to the performance for teachers to use in the classroom. Each child also receives his/her own book to keep as a part of the program.
Producing Artistic Director Bobb Cooper is regularly contacted by casting agents from across the country looking for talented young people for movies and television commercials.
Valley Youth Theatre’s vision for a performing arts center in downtown Phoenix continues as the theatre works with the City of Phoenix, Arizona State University and potential developers to transform the existing 202 seat theatre and acompanying ½ city block that is bursting at the seams for education and performing space to a state-of-the-art facility to serve as a center for youth from across the Valley.