VYT’s Cooper Earns DREAMR Award

Bobb Cooper, Valley Youth Theatre producing artistic director, received the 2012 DREAMR (Downtown Revitalization Effort Awards of Merit and Recognition) award for Public Sector/Non-Profit Individual on Feb. 4. The award was presented by Downtown Phoenix Partnership President and CEO Dave Roderique.

“I can’t think of a more incredible honor,” Cooper said during his acceptance speech. “To be acknowledged for dreaming and instilling dreams in young people is beyond inspiring to me.”

Roderique noted that the award committee felt Cooper deserved the recognition because of his “long-term efforts to enhance the cultural offerings in downtown.”

In 1999, Vally Youth Theatre won the DREAMR Award for Program or Project after Cooper led a small staff and score of volunteers to convert a blighted building at the southeast corner of First and Fillmore streets into the 202-seat theater.

“Since that time, several hundred-thousand children and families have seen the magic of Valley Youth Theatre,” Cooper continued. “In addition, tens of thousands of young people have had a safe place to learn and grow as performers and future leaders.”

Cooper is proud of all the young people who found a place “where they could learn, grow and be inspired to believe in themselves and make their dreams come true.”

Among VYT’s celebrity alumni whose dreams came true are Golden Globe nominated film actress Emma Stone, Disney television star Chelsea Kane, and American Idol winner and recording artist Jordin Sparks.