David Green - Page 22

Desert's theater-lovers will get a special bonus this month when innovative performing arts company Dezart Performs adds a fourth full production to its season. The award-winning work to be presented is "The Outgoing Tide," written by Philadelphia playwright Bruce Graham. World premiered in Chicago in 2011 and performed in New York the following year, the deeply moving drama has not previously been seen in Los Angeles or the Coachella Valley. "The Outgoing Tide" opens Friday, April 22, 2016, and runs for three weekends, closing on Sunday, May 8.  

The desert's theater-lovers will get a special bonus this month when innovative performing arts company Dezart Performs adds a fourth full production to its season. The award-winning work to be presented is "The Outgoing Tide," written by Philadelphia playwright Bruce Graham. World premiered in Chicago in 2011 and performed in New York the following year, the deeply moving drama has not previously been seen in Los Angeles or the Coachella Valley.

The McCallum Theatre announced today its new lineup of world-class entertainment scheduled for the 2016-2017 season that includes Broadway hits Mamma Mia, The Sound Of Music and Chicago, concerts with Bernadette Peters and Kristin Chenoweth, family-friendly musicals and entertainment, holiday surprises, comedy legends and solid gold memories, all part of a very full and exciting roster.  Subscriptions go on sale on Tuesday, April 5th at 8am for the Broadway Blockbuster Series, Broadway and Beyond Series, Fitz's Jazz Cafe at the McCallum Series, Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel Series, as well as a Create-Your-Own Series which allows patrons to mix, match, and program one performance or a full season of entertainment tailored to their own individual tastes. 

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to Palm Desert. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at the McCallum Theatre on Friday March 25, at 8:00pm, Saturday, March 26 at 2:00pm and 8:00pm, and Sunday, March 27, 2:00pm and 7:00pm. Disney's Beauty and the Beast features the Academy Award®-winning score with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, with additional songs composed by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice. The book is written by Linda Woolverton. 

The McCallum Theatre welcomes the return of Shirley MacLaine on Monday, March 7, at 8:00pm. Academy Award-winning actress, dancer and author Shirley MacLaine will share with the audience a montage of memorable film moments and private revelations about her extraordinary life, career and spiritual journey. Shirley MacLaine's illustrious career comprises more than 50 feature films highlighted by an Academy Award® win and six nominations, six Emmy® Award nominations, seven Golden Globe® Awards - including the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award - and the title of international best-selling author.

Before I even begin my review of SUICIDE DOGS, which opened last Friday evening in Palm Springs for a limited two week run, I want to give Dezart Performs a standing ovation. Dezart Performs is dedicated to the development of new theatrical works, providing a safe haven for new plays and giving voice to burgeoning playwrights at all stages — from table readings to staged readings and, for some, full blown productions. And that effort and commitment is to be applauded and rewarded. Rewarded, how? By getting into the theatre and supporting this vibrant theatre company as they showcase these new works, and providing the authors the vital “next step” in their process — the critical eye of a live audience. I urge you to put Dezart Performs squarely on your radar — both their mission and the professional quality of their work deserve an audience!!

Coyote StageWorks, the award-winning Actors' Equity professional theater company, will present eleven performances of "Art" by French playwright Yasmina Reza at the Annenberg Theater beginning March 25, 2016. A 1998 Tony Award winner for Best Play that has been packing in audiences worldwide ever since, "Art" raises questions about art and friendship. In an ironic twist of casting, the comedy will bring together on stage for the first time three original founding members of Coyote StageWorks: Founding Artistic Director Chuck Yates, as well as Larry Raben and David Engel, who are company members and serve on the board of the organization. They have been friends for more than 25 years and the Desert Theatre League has bestowed numerous Desert Star Awards on each.

Singer/Actress Frenchie Davis brings her brash wit and iconic vocal style to The Copa in Palm Springs for two intimate performances, January 16 and 17 at 8:00 pm. Davis auditioned for the second season of the groundbreaking FOX show "American Idol" and her tremendous success on the show launched a career that has taken her to Broadway (Rent, Dreamgirls and eventually becoming a Grammy-nominated artist for the revival of Ain't Misbehavin') and, perhaps, her highest profile gig as one of the top four finalists in the first season of The Voice. Her cover of 'When Love Takes Over' landed at #3 on the iTunes Dance Chart. I had the chance to chat with French as she was preparing for her Palm Springs engagement. Here are a few excerpts from the conversation:

Dezart Performs presents the World Premiere of a new comedy. Suicide Dogs, for a limited run, January 22 through January 31, at The Pearl McManus Theater in Palm Springs. When then 22-year-old playwright Jess Honovich submitted her engaging drama-comedy, “Suicide Dogs” to Palm Springs-based performing arts company Dezart Performs for its 2015 Play Reading Festival, she had no idea whether it would be selected for a staged reading, but “Suicide Dogs” went on to win the Festival's top honor. As Audience Favorite, she learned, it would be fully produced during the 2015/2016 season.

The National Tour of PIPPIN is, hands down, the finest touring production to land at The McCallum Theatre during my tenure in the desert cities. Passionate. Polished. Near Perfection! It is a glorious spectacle of sight, sound and immaculate storytelling that, despite its mesmerizing visual feast of circus spectacle, remains honest and intimate and, at every turn, very human.

Pippin, Broadway's high-flying, death-defying hit musical drops in at The McCallum Theatre for a week long engagement, January 12-17. Full of extraordinary acrobatics, wondrous magical feats and soaring songs from the composer of Wicked, Pippin 'lifts you up and leaves you smiling', say press notes. Directed by Diane Paulus, the revival of Pippin won four 2013 Tony Awards® including 'Best Musical Revival' and has been hailed as 'an eye-popping, jaw-dropping extravaganza' (NY1). Erik Altemus originated the role of Lewis in the Broadway revival and is now on the road, reprising his role, in this national touring iteration. I had the opportunity to chat with Erik about the production and 'all things Erik'. Here are a few excerpts from that conversation.

The 28th Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational, February 18-20, 2016, will be a very special event honoring '100 Years of Sinatra' and the life of one of the most celebrated singers of this century.  Frank Sinatra is known as an iconic entertainer who comes along once in a lifetime and on December 12 this year he would've been 100 years old. This year's memorable two-day celebrity-amateur golf tournament will be held at Eagle Falls Golf Course at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California.  Barbara Sinatra is the gracious hostess along with Joe Mantegna, current star of the CBS hit drama Criminal Minds.  Barbara and Joe will be joined by celebrities such as: Tom Dreesen, Grant Fuhr, Beverly Johnson, William DeVane, Jim McMahon, Ann Meyers-Drysdale, Elke Sommer, Kevin Sorbo and many more to be announced at a later date.

Grammy Nominated Singer-Songwriter Lisa Loeb brings her signature vocal stylings to The Copa Palm Springs for one special performance, December 11 at 8:00 pm. Loeb is a touring artist, author and philanthropist who started her career with the platinum-selling Number 1 hit song "Stay (I Missed You)" from the film Reality Bites. A trailblazing independent artist, Lisa was the first pop musician to have a Number 1 single while not signed to a recording contract. She followed that remarkable feat with the hit singles 'Do You Sleep,' 'I Do' and 'Let's Forget about It " and the albums Cake and Pie and No Fairy Tale, among others. I had the chance to catch up with Lisa as she was preparing for her upcoming Copa Concert. Here are a few excerpts from that conversation; 

The Palm Springs Cultural Center and Musical Theatre University (MTU) are teaming up this year to create a brand new holiday show - White Christmas - A Palm Springs Holiday Spectacular. 'This is a perfect way to celebrate the holidays with the whole family,' said David Green, Founder of Musical Theatre University. 'We plan to screen the holiday classic, White Christmas, at the Camelot Theatres, and combine the screening with a live thirty minute fully staged holiday production featuring the kids from Musical Theatre University.' This is the first time any theatre in The Inland Empire has combined a live theatrical event with a motion picture screening. And as an added treat -- it will actually SNOW in the theatre!

For one 'wonderfully entertaining' night only, Coyote Stageworks brought to the stage an all-star cast in a tremendously engaging staged-reading of Oscar Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST -- with a twist! Helmed, and created, by Tony Winner David Zippel, this EARNEST was set in modern day Manhattan and The Hamptons and was a (mostly) very satisfying adaptation. This special benefit performance marked the start of Coyote Stageworks' seventh season in the desert and their highly anticipated return to their home at The Annemberg Theatre in Palm Springs. As my readers know, I have long hailed Coyote Stageworks as the benchmark for professional theatre in the Coachella Valley and this stellar production gave no exception to that rule.

The quintessential backstage musical comedy classic 42nd STREET comes to the McCallum Theatre with a sparkling new production for seven performances tonight, November 24, through Sunday, November 29.

The McCallum Theatre and Fitz's Jazz Cafe at the McCallum present Al Jarreau tonight, November 21, at 8:00pm.

The McCallum Theatre presents Jason Petty tonight, October 24, at 8:00pm. Jason, who wowed the McCallum audience with his portrayal of Hank Williams, is back with a new show Hank and My Honky Tonk Heroes. Hear the great songs of country music legends like Jimmie Rodgers, Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb, George Jones and, of course, Hank Williams in this energetic show!

The quintessential backstage musical comedy classic 42nd STREET comes to the McCallum Theatre with a sparkling new production for seven performances Tuesday, November 24, through Sunday, November 29.42nd STREET is the song and dance fable of Broadway, with an American Dream story and some of the greatest songs ever written, including "We're In The Money," "Lullaby of Broadway," "Shuffle Off to Buffalo," "Dames," "I Only Have Eyes For You," and, of course, "42nd Street." Based on a novel by Bradford Ropes and Busby Berkeley's 1933 movie, 42nd STREET tells the story of a starry-eyed young dancer named Peggy Sawyer who leaves her Allentown home and comes to New York to audition for the new Broadway musical Pretty Lady. When the leading lady breaks her ankle, Peggy takes over and becomes a star.

The 28th Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational, February 18-20, 2016, will be a very special event honoring "100 Years of Sinatra" and the life of one of the most celebrated singers of this century.  Frank Sinatra is known as an iconic entertainer who comes along once in a lifetime and on December 12 this year he would've been 100 years old. This year's memorable two-day celebrity-amateur golf tournament will be held at Eagle Falls Golf Course at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California.  Barbara Sinatra is the gracious hostess along with Joe Mantegna, current star of the CBS hit drama Criminal Minds.  Barbara and Joe will be joined by celebrities such as: Tom Dreesen, Grant Fuhr, Beverly Johnson, William DeVane, Jim McMahon, Ann Meyers-Drysdale, Elke Sommer, Kevin Sorbo and many more to be announced at a later date.