David Green - Page 27

The McCallum Theatre and the Rabobank Broadway Blockbuster Series present the national tour of Man of LaMancha for five performances, Friday, January 24, through Sunday, January 26. Man of La Mancha returns in an all-new production complete with the Tony Award winning score and book that has inspired theatregoers since the very first note of 'The Impossible Dream' was heard on opening night. Enter the mind and the world of Don Quixote as he pursues his quest for the impossible dream. Against all odds, a man sees good and innocence in a world filled with darkness and despair. This lyrical and amusing adventure is a classic tale of the triumph of man over his own follies. The original Broadway production ran for 2,328 and won five Tony Awards, including 'Best Musical' and Man of LaMancha remains one of the most enduring works of musical theatre.

The Coachella Valley's Coyote StageWorks will bring to the stage "The 39 Steps" at the Annenberg Theater in Palm Springs, February 28 through March 9, 2014. A two-time Tony® and Drama Desk Award-winner and recipient of the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, "The 39 Steps" is a fast-paced whodunit for everyone who loves the magic of theatre. Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have "The 39 Steps," packed with nonstop laughs, more than 150 zany characters, an on-stage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and some good old-fashioned romance.

Maureen McGovern has been called the singer with 'The Stradivarius Voice,' so tremendous is her talent. Her 40-year career has encompassed recording, song writing, concerts, radio, television, film and Broadway, and is about to begin her second show-stopping stint with The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, appearing tonight, January 7 through March 8, 2014. McGovern made her Broadway debut in The Pirates of Penzance in 1981.

Luis Bravo's internationally acclaimed Forever Tango has played to great acclaim in Europe, Canada and throughout the United States, and most recently, enjoyed its third run on Broadway. The McCallum Theatre Luis Bravo's Forever Tango for three performances -Saturday, January 11, at 8:00pm and Sunday, January 12, at 2:00pm and 7:00pm. Forever Tango opened on Broadway in June of 1997 for what was expected to be an eight-week engagement. It ran for 14 months and has since been back to Broadway on two separate occasions. I had the opportunit to chat with Mr. Bravo about his upcoming engagement at The McCallum Theatre and more. Here are a few excerpts ffrom thea conversation.

Coyote StageWorks' Play Dates Reading Series presents the Antaeus Theater Ensemble's staged reading of 'Hughie,' a short two character play by Eugene O'Neill, at the Annenberg Theater in Palm Springs, tonight, December 19, 2013 at 5:30 pm. The performance is free to the public. Coyote Stageworks was recently voted 'Best Live Theater' in The Desert Sun's Best of the Valley competition for the second year in a row.

The Desert Rose Playhouse, the Valley's live stage company serving the LGBT community, will present Miss Joey English in Dennis Deal's "mid-century modern" jazz musical Nite Club Confidential. The production will open January 10, 2014 for a six-week run closing on February 16, 2014. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 2 PM.

Coyote StageWorks announces the launch of its 2014 season with "The Andrews Brothers: A Madcap Musical Salute to the Swinging '40's" at the Annenberg Theater in Palm Springs, January 24 through February 16, 2014. Created by Roger Bean ('The Marvelous Wonderettes') and presented in association with the Annenberg Theater and Roger Bean Productions, this hilarious musical is packed with slapstick comedy, old-fashioned romance, and nostalgic tunes.

Broadway veteran Natalie Toro brings her infectious energy and powerhouse vocals to The Purple Room for a special appearance and CD release party tonight, December 13, 2013 at 7 pm. Toro's performance is free to the public but reservations are recommended. The Purple Room is located at 1900 East Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs.

Maureen McGovern has been called the singer with "The Stradivarius Voice," so tremendous is her talent. Her 40-year career has encompassed recording, song writing, concerts, radio, television, film and Broadway, and is about to begin her second show-stopping stint with The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, appearing January 7 through March 8, 2014. McGovern made her Broadway debut in The Pirates of Penzance in 1981. She later starred in Nine with Raul Julia and in 3 Penny Opera with Sting, and has appeared in many musicals and dramas throughout the country. In 2005, McGovern returned to Broadway, originating her Drama Desk-nominated role of Marmee in Little Women, The Musical. She continued in that role with the national touring company.

Coyote StageWorks' Play Dates Reading Series presents the Antaeus Theater Ensemble's staged reading of "Hughie," a short two character play by Eugene O'Neill, at the Annenberg Theater in Palm Springs, Thursday,December 19, 2013 at 5:30 pm. The performance is free to the public. Coyote Stageworks was recently voted 'Best Live Theater' in The Desert Sun's Best of the Valley competition for the second year in a row.

The American Foundation For Arts Education presented its annual National Arts Star Awards on November 20 in a Star-Studded Gala at The Helene Galen Performing Arts Center in Rancho Mirage. Among the honorees, James Nederlander was presented with The Legacy Award for creating The National High School Musical Theatre Awards and his ongoing commitment to arts education. The awards were presented by actor/writer Laurence Luckinbill. The National Arts Star Awards are presented to individuals and organizations that have made a significant impact on Arts Education in America's public schools. The AFAE, originally founded by Carol Channing and her late husband Harry Kullijian, works to restore the arts to our nation's public schools and insure an arts education for every child in America through advocacy and partnering with schools and communities to create specialized arts instructional opportunities for children.

The Desert Rose Playhouse, the Coachella Valley's live stage company serving the LGBT community, brings a little irreverant holiday merriment to Palm Springs as it presents Paul Rudnick's comedy The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told. The production opened November 15, 2013 for a five-week run closing on December 22, 2013. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told is the Paul Rudnick's re-imagination of the Old Testament - from a gay point of view.

The McCallum Theatre has given the Coachella Valley another reason to be thankful this holiday weekend by presenting the stellar national tour of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET through December 1. As anyone who has read my previous reviews knows, I am a big fan of Mitch Gershenfeld and The McCallum Theatre for its ever-marvelous slate of offerings to the desert theatre-going community, and this production is no exception. I wish I had a million superlatives to equal the high caliber production that opened last evening for a "too-limited engagement".

Coyote StageWorks, an Actors' Equity professional theater company, is pleased to announce it has been named "Best Live Theater 2014" in the 21st annual Desert Magazine 'Best of the Valley" contest. Winners of the popular poll, which is conducted among readers of the publication and mydesert.com, were announced yesterday.

Jack Jones celebrates his fiftieth anniversary in show business in a special one night only concert at The McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert tonight, November 23, at 8 p.m.

Dezart Performs opens its 2013-14 season with the West Coast Premiere of 'Exquisite Potential,' the award-winning comedy by Stephen Kaplan today, Nov. 22 to open the 2013-14 season of Dezart Performs. 'Exquisite Potential' will run for two weekends, November 22-24 and November 29-December 1, 2013 at Dezart Performs' theatrical home in downtown Palm Springs, the historic Palm Springs Woman's Club.

The Palm Springs Cultural Center announces a new addition to its annual line-up of cultural programs and special events -- The Stanley Kramer Film Festival will debut at Camelot Theatres today, November 15th and run through Sunday, November 17th. The 2013 event, which is designed to coincide with other Stanley Kramer Centennial events taking place this year, will include special screenings of six of Stanley Kramer's best-known films. It will also feature special events, and special appearances with actress Karen Sharpe Kramer, Stanley Kramer's widow, and his daughter, the actress and singer, Katharine 'Kat' Kramer.

The legendary choreographer Jacques d'Amboise, founder of the National Dance Institute, will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the McCallum Theatre's 16th Annual Choreography Festival tonight, November 9th at 7pm.

Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre's MASTER CLASS, playing through November 10, is the first MUST SEE production of the desert's 2013-2014 theatrical season! It is what you might call a "triple threat" production --- one of Terrance McNally's finest books, a superb (that is putting it mildly) leading lady, and a production that fits CV-Rep's intimate space like a glove. The only real disappointment in the evening was the half full theatre - a tragedy! This production DESERVES an audience and I place it squarely atop my list of "run - don't walk to get your tickets before the final curtain' evenings in the theatre.

The Fabulous Palms Springs Follies will bring the curtain down on a starried 23 year history in Palm Springs with the final edition of the much ballyhooed song and dance production- this final season, appropriately entitled 'The Last Hurrah!! - opening today, November 1, 2013 with final performances in May, 2014.