The curtain will rise for a final time in 2030 as the Valley Youth Theater looks to relocate because of a deal made with the Phoenix City Council in 2007 allowing Arizona State University to acquire the property. 

 

Moving from its first location in the Plaza Mall, the Valley Youth Theater switched to its current location on the corner of North First Street and East Fillmore Street in August 1998. A year later, the first show hit the stage. 

 

“My original vision when we were in the basement of the mall was to get us out of the basement and build an art center for youth that would help, that would give a place for young people, as musicians, as choral singers, as visual artists as actors and technicians, a place to call their own,” said Bobb Cooper, the Producing Artistic Director of the Valley Youth Theater (VYT).

 

Since its first show in 1999, the VYT has produced around 150 productions in what it assumed would be its permanent home. 

 

“In 2007 I got an email from someone from the city one day, that said ‘Hey, please let me know if there's anything I can do to help you all in your relocation. We really think Valley Youth Theater is special,’” Cooper said. 

 

In 2006 the mayor and council decided to bring ASU into Downtown Phoenix to help with the revitalization of the area. Within the deal made a year later, it was determined that the university would take over the property at the end of the VYT’s lease in 2030.

 

“So since 2007, we've been waiting for the other shoe to drop,” Cooper said.

 

It is still clear however, that the city is hoping to keep the VYT a part of the downtown area.

 

“We do have three or four sites that we think would be a great fit here in downtown,” said Christine Mackay, the Phoenix Director of Economic Development. “I think what we’d be looking for now is that permanent home … to find them that permanent home that does have expansion opportunity.”

 

While it has not yet been determined where exactly the relocation will be, the goal of the city and Cooper is to ensure it is still easily accessible to the public and youth.

 

“My impression is that whatever site that you select should be close, not only to the light rail, but to buses and I think that that's essential both for people who would attend but also for students who would uh possibly be going. there to work and stuff like that,” Dr. Donna Reiner, Arts and Culture Subcommittee member, said. 

 

It is undetermined what ASU’s involvement will be in the relocation. 

 

“We also have had discussions with ASU about ASU having some obligation into that ultimate capital campaign in the future,'' Mackay said. “We have no commitments from them, but we've had that discussion.”

 

Cooper made it clear that the relocation would not distract the theater from its original goal. 

 

“I believe that this is our time, and I'm praying that this will be the time because I don't know how much time I have left to make this happen,” Cooper said. “And I want to make sure that it does get done. Children are important, they are the future and we have got to do everything we can.”

 

At the time this article was written ASU was unavailable for comment and it is unknown what its plan for the property is.