The Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation announced today that J.R. Roberts, President of the Plaza Theatre Foundation, will step down from the Foundation’s Board of Directors and his position as president when the Foundation holds its annual meeting on October 14. At that meeting, the Board will elect new officers, after which the Foundation will announce its new executive leadership team. Roberts has led the Foundation since its earliest days, guiding the effort to raise the funds needed to restore the historic Plaza Theatre and return it to active use. He will remain in his current position through the October 14 meeting and has committed to staying closely involved with the Theatre and Foundation in the years ahead.
“A huge part of the Plaza Theatre’s successful fundraising and restoration is because of the unwavering dedication of J.R. Roberts,” said Kevin J. Corcoran, Vice President of the Plaza Theatre Foundation. “When the City acquired the building and determined that it should be restored, they turned to J.R. because of his lifelong passion for historic preservation and his commitment to Palm Springs. The City Council initially asked him to help raise the funds for the Theatre’s restoration and oversee the project. As the effort evolved, he was also asked to develop a management model that would allow the Foundation to operate the Theatre. J.R. tirelessly led the capital campaign, worked with the architects and contractors responsible for redesigning and restoring the building, helped establish the Foundation as a 501(c)(3) organization, brought Oak View Group on board to manage the Theatre, and guided the organization through its highly successful reopening and into its current phase of operations and ongoing fundraising. We all owe J.R. an immense debt of gratitude for his hard work, vision, and consistently optimistic leadership.”
Since opening in 1936, the Plaza Theatre has been an important part of Palm Springs’ cultural history. The Theatre hosted Hollywood film premieres, welcomed prominent performers to its stage, served as the original home of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, and later became synonymous with the long-running Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, which ended its run in 2014.
In 2019, Roberts launched the Theatre’s capital campaign and assembled an all-volunteer committee to begin the restoration effort. The project was temporarily put on hold during the pandemic and shutdown of 2020. Following that interruption, Roberts then created a charitable foundation and assembled a new Board to build what became the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation. Together, the Board and Foundation raised the funds and oversaw the Theatre’s $34 million restoration, while also assembling the team responsible for its operations and programming.
Extensive restoration work began in 2024 after the Foundation had secured sufficient funding. The Plaza Theatre reopened in December 2025, once again bringing a historic landmark and performing arts venue to the heart of Downtown Palm Springs. The Foundation’s work now continues with fundraising efforts focused on securing the Theatre’s long-term future and helping support diverse, high-quality programming for the community.
“I am humbled by the incredible success of the talented team we assembled to restore and operate this iconic landmark and ensure that it remains a vibrant hub for the arts, education, and culture in our Palm Springs community for years to come,” said Roberts. “Working on this project with this team is without a doubt the greatest accomplishment of my professional life. The Foundation’s one hundred percent all-volunteer Board is composed of a talented group of community leaders with a wide range of interests and experiences, reflecting the diversity and vibrancy of the audiences and artists we serve. I am honored to have had the opportunity to build and lead this team, and I leave knowing that the Theatre will continue to move forward and build on what we have accomplished together.”
Roberts said his departure from the Board will not mark an end to his involvement with the Theatre. “After my term on the Foundation Board expires in October, I will transition from my current role, but I am fully committed to remaining actively involved with the Plaza Theatre and continuing to support our Board as we move forward,” he continued. “Some of my closest friends serve on this Board, and I leave my leadership position knowing the organization is in exceptionally capable hands. As for what comes next for me personally, I haven’t made that decision yet. What I do know is that I want my next chapter to be every bit as meaningful and impactful as the last. Nothing can take the place of the joy and pride I have felt working with the Theatre’s Board to raise funds, oversee construction, and successfully launch this exciting new chapter for a historic Palm Springs landmark. I hope the new projects I choose to pursue provide even a fraction of the deep and meaningful pride I feel when I look back on all we have collectively accomplished over the last few years. I thank everyone involved in this project for their support, trust, hard work, and friendship and I am excited to see the Theatre and Foundation enter this next chapter.”
About J.R. Roberts
J.R. Roberts has a long history of public service and civic involvement. He has served as a Palm Springs Planning Commissioner and Vice Mayor, and previously served as Mayor of Sausalito. He also played a leadership role in the development and restoration of the historically significant Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center. Throughout his career, Roberts has focused on historic preservation, community development, and creating places that bring people together. His passion for preservation led him to take on the challenge of overseeing the Plaza Theatre restoration, with the goal of returning the historic landmark to the heart of downtown Palm Springs as a vibrant cultural and community resource.
J.R. Roberts has a long history of public service and civic involvement. He has served as a Palm Springs Planning Commissioner and Vice Mayor, and previously served as Mayor of Sausalito. He also played a leadership role in the development and restoration of the historically significant Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center. Throughout his career, Roberts has focused on historic preservation, community development, and creating places that bring people together. His passion for preservation led him to take on the challenge of overseeing the Plaza Theatre restoration, with the goal of returning the historic landmark to the heart of downtown Palm Springs as a vibrant cultural and community resource.
For more information about the Theatre and the Foundation, please visit PalmSpringsPlazaTheatre.com.
About Plaza Theatre Foundation
The Plaza Theatre is a historic 700-seat venue in downtown Palm Springs, California and is managed by Oak View Group (OVG). Originally opened in 1936, it underwent a comprehensive restoration after the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation raised significant funds to bring the iconic structure back to its original look while adding innovative new technology solutions. It re-opened in December of 2025 has provided a new home for many Coachella Valley arts and community organizations. For more information or to contribute, go to palmspringsplazatheatre.com/foundation.
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