Palm Springs Theatre Newsroom

The California Arts Council has announced a grant award of $17,499 to Desert Ensemble Theatre (DET) as part of its General Operating Support program during its 2024-25 fiscal year grant cycle.

DIETRICH, written by Willard Manus, starring Cindy Marinangel, Chicago Second City Conservatory graduate, directed by Glenda Morgan Brown and produced by Sea Angel Productions., LLC is based on a true story. Set in May 1960, the play takes place when the actress returned to the Berlin stage for the first time since fleeing the Hitler regime in the 1930’s. Inside her dressing room at the Tatania-Palast Theater, Dietrich weighs whether to go through with the live performance despite threats on her life by Nazi sympathizers who resented her for having spent much of World War II entertaining American soldiers on the front lines. To them, Dietrich is a turncoat; a traitor who deserves to be shot and killed on stage.

Registration is still open for Jazz Girls Day at Idyllwild Arts Academy -taking place from 9am to 4pm on Sunday, March 2, 2025 - a traveling masterclass that was founded by Dr. Colleen Clark. Learn how to attend.

What did our critic think of AVENUE Q at Revolutiion Stage Company?

Revolution Stage Company proudly presents Christopher Durang’s Tony Award-winning comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike for six performances only, running February 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26 at 7 PM. This production is directed by Trevor Biship-Gillespie, fresh off his acclaimed staging of Spring Awakening at Revolution Stage Company.

Sometimes I get to see a very good production of a very good play, and I go home feeling satisfied. As a reviewer, I sometimes have to see that same play again at another theatre with an entirely different cast and an entirely different directorial approach. It’s a bit like the remake of a classic. At first you wonder why it needs to be remade, and then having already seen what you consider the gold star, the outcome is less satisfactory. 

Experience the charm, wit, and music of one of Broadway’s most celebrated musicals as My Fair Lady graces the stage at Palm Canyon Theatre from February 7 through March 2, 2025.

Honky Tonk Angels is a high-energy jukebox musical review set at the iconic Grand Ole Opry, where the fictional country girl group, the Honky Tonk Angels, reunites for an unforgettable concert. Featuring a live band in true Grand Ole Opry style, this heartwarming and hilarious show celebrates the power of friendship, dreams, and country music’s greatest hits.

Dezart Performs will present the profound and gripping play GRAND CONCOURSE directed by Michael Shaw,February 28 - March 9 2025 at the Pearl McManus Theater.

Although Desert Theatricals announced a smaller season of specials at the Rancho Mirage Library, they're coming back strong with three crowd favorites, OLIVER!, HAIRSPRAY, and ADDAMS FAMILY.

What did our critic think of TRU at Desert Ensemble Theatre?Since I missed Chuck Yates’s award-winning performance of Jay Presson Allen’s TRU the first time around, I was thrilled to review the reprise of his solo show, playing through February 2, 2025, Desert Ensemble Theatre at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. From curtain to curtain the only character on that stage was Truman Capote—TRU—with all his idiosyncrasies, peccadillos, and charm.

What did our critic think of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA at Coachella Valley Repetory Theatre?Take it from the top: another charming and effective Jimmy Cuomo set that embraces the style and provides the backdrop for The Light in the Piazza. From the piano, Music Director Stephen Hulsey conducts the orchestra. We are transported to Florence, Italy, as statues come to life in Karen Sieber’s lovely, almost seductive choreography, performed by a remarkable Ensemble--leading into Adam Kersten’s lyrical production. His direction was a work of art.

Desert Theatricals has cast Oliver! and Hairspray at the Rancho Mirage Amphitheatre featuring local actors and others from LA, Orange, and Riverside County as well as Fort Lauderdale, FL.

What did our critic think of LEGALLY BLONDE, THE MUSICAL at Desert Theatreworks?

What did our critic think of A VERY SORDID WEDDING at Palm Canyon Theatre?

This spring Theatre 29 is set to stage a production of the Pulitzer prize winning “A Streetcar Named Desire”. Learn more about the cast here!

ArtsWorks is a program by and for seniors--whether they come with a lifetime of experience or a renewed interest in creative expression--to engage in the performing arts without the pressures of memorization and rigorous rehearsals. But it’s so much more than reading plays. It’s music. It’s movement. It’s an opportunity to expand social connections within the community and to keep those juices flowing—the ones that boost and maintain cognitive skills. It’s joyous.

Go see it. ​​​​​​​If you check out the history of the musical, Spring Awakening, you will find that it is origins are in a German play titled The Awakening of Spring; underneath that, “A Tragedy of Childhood.” It was so controversial, it make it to stage for 15 years after it was written in 1891.

I will start off straight away by saying you have to see FAT HAM. And I hope you are lucky enough to see it at Dezart Performs. This cast, in the hands of Michael Shaw, and AD Chuma Gault, form a very realistic, very dysfunctional family coming together at a backyard barbecue in North Carolina resulting in awkward situations and non-stop laughter in the James Ijames play aptly described as “Hamlet at a Southern BBQ”.

Winners have been announced for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Palm Springs Awards! The 2024 Regional Awards honor regional productions, touring shows, and more which had their first performance between October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

Legendary musical comedy duo Phil Ford and Mimi Hines will be honored with the 473rd star on the Palm Springs Walk of the Stars in the category of Entertainment. Learn more!

Tickets are now available for Desert Ensemble Theatre’s (DET)  production of Tru by Jay Presson Allen. Learn more about the show and find out how to get tickets here!

Palm Canyon Theatre is headed back to Winters, Texas – this time for A Very Sordid Wedding. Del Shores wrote the sequel, originally as a movie, to his highly successful Sordid Lives.

Theatre 29 will hold auditions for their Spring show, 'A Streetcar Named Desire', on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 6:00pm. Learn more about how to audition for the production here!

A very eclectic weekend of fun and creative energy and original music is in store at Theatre 29 when Kurt Schauppner and his friends take the stage at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11 and 2:30p.m. Sunday, January 12.