A new collaboration between the one-of-a-kind culinary event company PS Underground and Pete's Hideaway has unveiled a new addition to the Palm Springs entertainment scene: CLUB ROUGE, a secret, underground nightclub and showroom. The grand opening was last Saturday when PS UNDERGROUND presented the "Lost Cherry Cabaret," a late-night, sultry nightclub show patterned after the "Kit Kat Club" in the musical "Cabaret" and harkening back to the dark, provocative cabaret clubs of the 1920s and 30s. The room was full to capacity and the performers received a well-deserved standing ovation as they dazzled the audience with music of many genres, each performed with a twist on the expected.
"Lost Cherry Cabaret" continues weekly on Saturday nights at 10:30 pm and features a late-night cabaret show that begins at 11 pm and goes until 12:30 pm. The performers change characters and costumes before your eyes as they transport the audience back to the speakeasies of the 1920s and 1930s with selections of songs from chart-toppers, pop, jazz and Broadway all done with a theatrical flair.
Performers include veteran cabaret performer Francesca Amari, who has appeared in the top cabaret clubs from New York to Los Angeles, sings with big bands and symphonies and recently won a Desert Theatre League Award for Best Actress in her star turn as Reno Sweeney in "Anything Goes" at the Palm Canyon Theatre; Robbie Wayne, relatively new to the desert, has been singing and acting since his start as a production assistant on the David Letterman Show, Casting Director for "Christmas at Rockefeller Center" and numerous theme park shows, has appeared on cruise ships, as a backup singer for Glenn Campbell and here in the desert, in numerous theatrical productions on stage and back stage as lead performer, costumer and choreographer; and Siobhan Velarde, who grew up on the back lots of Hollywood and has been dazzling nightclub, cabaret and theater audiences all over Southern California with her quick wit, powerful vocals and eclectic mix of musical styles for more than 20 years. The trio is accompanied on the piano by Michigan transplant Mark Kahny, who has quickly made a name for himself in the desert, playing The Purple Room, AJ's on the Green Woody's and more. Kahny was voted West MI Jazz Musician of the year and has appeared with Ray Charles, Ann Hampton Calloway, Regis Philbin and Bobby Vinton.
In addition to these three uber-talented performers, "Lost Cherry Cabaret" may feature a guest performer now and then. You never know just who may saunter up to the mic.
The show was conceived and directed by PS Underground co-founder Michael Fietsam, who has a prolific background in theatre direction and production design and David Horgen whose talents in the kitchen has made him a star on the local culinary scene. The two decided to create something new to the Palm Springs entertainment scene. "We have a history of combining theatre and culinary experiences through PS Underground," says Fietsam, "and we wanted to offer something not seen before in Palm Springs. We've completely renovated the back room of Pete's Hideaway and now can offer our audiences a late-night speakeasy experience and a highly entertaining show. We're so proud of what we've created and look forward to growing and evolving the experience."
The show plays every Saturday at 11 pm, with doors opening at 10:30 pm. Audience members are encouraged to dress flamboyantly and leave their inhibitions at the door. Tickets are $47 and include not only the show but also gourmet appetizers and sinful desserts. There is also a full bar with specialty drinks and craft cocktails, each with a PS UNDERGROUND twist. available online at www.rougepalmsprings.com. For more info, call 760-636-8442
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