Events: Arizona - Phoenix - Scottsdale

Valley Youth Theatre (VYT) opens its 31st season with Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical, August 9, on Center Stage at The Herberger Theater Center, marking the first time this smash Broadway musical has been produced by an Arizona-based theatre company. Twelve public performances and four daytime school performances will take place between August 9 and 25. Public performance tickets are available at www.vyt.com or by calling (602) 252-8497. Field Trip bookings are available by calling (602) 253-8188 x302.

More than 150 young actors from across the Valley auditioned for 41 roles, in June. The final cast and crew include more than sixty performers, tech crew and orchestra members, between the ages of nine and twenty, and rehearsals have been underway for six weeks. VYT’s Matilda is directed by their Producing Artistic Director, Bobb Cooper, and is the 150thshow he has produced for the company in 23 years. Music direction is by Mark Fearey, choreography by Nathalie Velasquez, costume design by Karol Cooper, lighting design by Jeff A. Davis and sound design by Brian Honsberger.

When asked why he selected Matilda as VYT’s season opener, Cooper responded, “In the face of adversity, Matilda never backed down. She always had the inner strength to believe in herself and to use her positive attitude to overcome adversity and to protect herself. By using positivity instead of negativity, she never was a victim.  She learned that she could do anything if she just believed in herself and her dreams. That’s what we try to instill in young people here at VYT, ‘don’t let life challenges or adverse individuals, get in your way,  rise up believe in yourself, don’t be a victim, contribute strongly to your goals and dreams and they will come true.” 

Adds Cooper, “This show is a great showcase for us to feature the talent of young performers. I guarantee, they will knock it out of the park!”

For more information about VYT and its performing arts programs, go to www.vyt.com.

To view the playbill with a complete list of bios, go to: https://issuu.com/cozettephifer/docs/matilda_playbill_2019_final?fr=sNzEwNTU0Nzk4