Staff Photo by Tim Barber/Chattanooga Times Free Press - Brett Cooper, 9, right, rehearses with her vocal coach Jim Boyle at Northside Presbyterian Church.Some children dream of singing with the opera, dancing with a ballet company or acting in a professional troupe when they grow older. Brett Cooper, 9, asked herself, "Why settle for just one?"
"I want to be a triple threat when I grow up, someone who has really perfected her singing, acting and dance," Brett said. "My mom told me what (a triple threat) was, and I said, 'Wow, that sounds fun.' I've been practicing really hard ever since she told me that."
Brett started down the path to triple mastery when she was 3 and started taking ballet lessons while the family was living on Orcas Island, Wash. At yearly intervals, she began studying gymnastics, then acting.
At age 5, she moved to Chattanooga, where she took to the stage for the first time as a bush in Normal Park Museum Magnet's production of the play "The Little Seed."
The turning point in Brett's career, however, was when she and her mother, Diane Cooper, heard the drama department at Girls Preparatory School was looking for munchkins for its production of the musical "The Wiz," based on "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."
Before that, Brett had pursued many artistic paths, but taking the stage in a musical was like finally seeing the obvious, Cooper said.
NEXT UPBrett Cooper is performing the lead role of Susan Walker in the Cumming (Ga.) Playhouse's production of "It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas," a musical based on the film "Miracle on 34th Street." The show runs through Dec. 18. For more information, visit www.plahousecumming.com.CLAIM TO FAMEBrett Cooper's pursuit of acting in professional-level musical theater has landed her lead roles on stages throughout the region, including in Chattanooga, Crossville, Tenn., and Atlanta.ABOUT HER* Name: Brett Cooper.* Age: 9.* School: Home-schooled third-grader.* Favorite books: The Nancy Drew series and "Winnie the Pooh."* Her favorite role: Molly in the musical "Annie."* Her dream: To play Millie in the musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie."* Favorite actress: Sutton Foster.TALENT SHOWDo you know a child 12 or younger with a precocious talent in academics, athletics or the arts? The Times Free Press is searching for children to feature in "Talent Show," which appears Tuesdays in the Life section. To nominate a child as a possible subject of a future feature article, e-mail staff writer Casey Phillips at cphillips@timesfreepress.com or call him at 423-757-6205.
"(Brett) started realizing how all these separate interests she had came together in one place, in musical theater," Cooper said. "It was like she was saying, 'Oh, this is how all this fits together. This is what a triple threat does.' "
After "The Wiz," Brett began vigorously training, with the longtime goal of pursuing a career in musical theater.
She continued to perform for GPS' drama department in four more musicals but eventually began participating in productions throughout the region.
Last year at the Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, Tenn., Brett donned the red curls of the lead role in "Annie." That indicated Brett had graduated to a different level, said Suzanne Smartt, who directed Brett in GPS' musicals.
"We wanted her to be in our production of 'Annie,' but we lost her to the pros," Smartt said, laughing. "I call Brett my little renaissance kid.
"I have my house seats booked, center aisle, for her debut on Broadway in 2020. I'm positive she'll do it."
In October, Brett sang (some in Italian) as part of the children's chorus during eight performances of the Atlanta Opera's production of "La Boheme." She is currently performing at the Cumming Playhouse in Cumming, Ga., as Susan Walker, the lead role in "It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas," a musical based on the film "Miracle on 34th Street."
From her meager beginnings as shrubbery, Brett's instructors agree she has already made significant progress to achieving her ambition.
"She seems to have what it takes," said Jim Boyle, who has worked with Brett as a vocal instructor and choir director for three years. "I've worked with a lot of children's vocalists, and a lot of kids can sing well, but not many of them have that motivation.
"I wouldn't be at all surprised if she ended up in professional theater and Broadway shows."