PHOENIX: Bobb Cooper, executive producer of Valley Youth Theatre, has announced his retirement after nearly three decades leading the organization. During his tenure, Cooper witnessed thousands of children pass through the doors of VYT.
“The most enduring legacy of VYT is the impact it has on the lives of its participants,” said Cooper in a statement. “For many young people, VYT is not just a theatre—it’s a home away from home, a safe haven where they can express themselves freely and pursue their passions without fear or judgment. It has been my honor to serve the organization as its executive producer.”
“One of the best decisions ever made at VYT was bringing Bobb Cooper on board,” said board founder Hope Ozer in a statement. “I still recall assuring our board back in 1996, ‘If Bobb is half as good as I think he is, we’ve struck gold!’ Well, we didn’t just strike gold—we hit the motherlode. I often shared with him a message from the plaque above my desk: ‘A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove…but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.’”
Over the last 18 months, the VYT board of directors and staff have developed a transition plan that capitalizes on the success of its many programs and theatre productions while establishing a clear path for Cooper’s retirement. Part of the transition plan includes the promotion of VYT alum Leigh Ann Dolan to managing director to oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization.
“I love VYT for what it has done for the thousands of children that have stepped on its stages—including me,” said Dolan in a statement. “I am so proud to be a part of this Phoenix institution, and I am excited to continue the magic.”
Dolan was the Queen of Hearts in VYT’s 1991 production of the musical Alice in Wonderland. She is a graduate of ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunications, with a degree in broadcast journalism and a support in theatre, receiving her MBA in marketing from the University of Phoenix. She is a multiple Emmy-winning television and film producer with an extensive background in nonprofit arts.
Cooper and his wife Karol, who retired as resident costume designer in late 2024 from VYT, reside in Phoenix and will continue to support the company.
“Valley Youth Theatre wants to make sure every child has a positive experience when they walk through our doors,” said Cooper in a statement. “Our goal when we started, and what it continues to be to this day, is for children to learn what it means to take risks, manage their time, communicate, help build their self-esteem, ultimately inspiring them to be the best they can be.”
Founded in 1989, the mission of Valley Youth Theatre is to inspire young people to be the best they can be through a wide variety of performing arts opportunities. As of 2023, they had a budget of approximately $1.6 million.
