The Award Winning Coyote Stageworks Brings THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN To The Palm Springs Cultural Center To Round Out Its' Eleventh Acclaimed Season

Coyote StageWorks, the Coachella Valley-based award-winning Actors' Equity professional theater company, will conclude its eleventh season with a full production of "The Velocity of Autumn" by Eric Coble, which will run from March 13 through 22 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, located at 2300 East Baristo Road in Palm Springs. Directed by Chuck Yates, The Velocity of Autumn swirls around Alexandra, an 80-year-old artist in a showdown with her family over where she'll spend her remaining years. In Alexandra's corner are her wit, her volcanic passion, and the fact that she's barricaded herself in her Brooklyn brownstone with enough Molotov cocktails to take out the block.

But her children have their own secret weapon: estranged son Chris, who returns after20 years, crawls through Alexandra's second-floor window and becomes the family's unlikely mediator. No sooner are the words "Hi, Mom" uttered than the emotional bombs start detonating. The Velocity of Autumn is a wickedly funny and wonderfully touching discovery of the fragility and ferocity of life.

The cast is comprised of David Youse in the role of Chris, and Barbara Gruen portraying Alexandra. The production will run nine times including three matinees. A Q&A session with cast members will follow the Thursday matinees.

All of Coyote's award-winning programming are now under one roof at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, made possible through the generosity of Season Sponsors Patti & Jack Grundhofer, Production Sponsors Steve Tobin and The Grace Helen Spearman Charitable Foundation, Dr. Ron & Carol Fragen, Dorothy & Mel Lefkowitz, and The Western Wind Foundation.

Also this season, Coyote StageWorks is continuing its free staged reading series called The Barbara Keller Play Date Series, named in memory of stalwart champion and cherished friend Barbara Keller. This program is generously supported by John P. Monahan, The Palm Springs Cultural Center, and The Monkey Tree Hotel. The next performance is "Gruesome Playground Injuries" by Rajiv Joseph and directed by Desiree Clarke. It will be held Sunday, February 23 at 2 PM at The Palm Springs Cultural Center. A full list of the remaining Play Dates can be found at coyotestageworks.org.

Coyote's Palm Springs Young Playwright's Festival (PSYPF) will return in May. This festival is designed to help discover and nurture the next generation of writers from local middle and high school students. Coyote StageWorks partnered with The Riverside County Office of Education to expand its outreach to young playwrights to include not just the Coachella Valley, but all of Riverside County. Funded by The Western Wind Foundation with Jeremy Hobbs, the festival presents unique stories of student playwrights between the ages of 8 to 18. More information can be found at psypf.com.

Coyote StageWorks benefits from the expert leadership of its Board of Directors, comprised of Don Amendolia, Julie Balbini, Harriet Baron, Dennis Flaig-Moore, Kathy Friedle, Tony Marchese, Larry Raben, and David Youse. It also benefits from the insights and advice from its Advisory Board, comprised of Carol Fragen, Dorothy Lefkowitz, John Monahan, Ann Sheffer, Martin Wiviott, and Barbara Keller (Emeritus)

Coyote StageWorks is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 company dedicated to advancing theatre as a vital art form in the desert communities of the Coachella Valley. It is their mission to provide a forum for thought-provoking, entertaining, and culturally significant works in an environment that nurtures the creativity of the individual and the enrichment of the community.

Tickets for THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN are $50 for matinees and $50 - $60 for evening performances. To purchase individual tickets, call 760-318-0024 or visit coyotestageworks.org. For group sales, call 760-318-0024.

For more information visit www.coyotestageworks.org.

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