Palm Springs Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 10

BWW Review: GYPSY at Palm Canyon Theatre
by Stan Jenson - May 14, 2018

Since its Broadway debut in 1959, Gypsy has been revered as one of the finest American musicals ever written. The touching - and sometimes horrifying - story of the quintessential stage mother bulldozing her two daughters into Vaudeville is based on Gypsy Rose Lee's autobiography, but focuses on Ros...

BWW Review: IN THE HEIGHTS at College Of The Desert
by Stan Jenson - May 04, 2018

Who says lightning can't strike twice? Last summer, Palm Canyon Theatre staged In the Heights, the first Broadway smash hit by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton). Their houses were filled, their audiences thrilled, and young viewers arrived in droves to hear music that actually spoke to them. College of ...

BWW Review: 2 ACROSS at Coachella Valley Repertory
by Stan Jenson - April 30, 2018

Coachella Valley Repertory's 2017-2018 season theme is "Romance: Real or Imagined." As with a fine meal, they are wrapping up their season with a frothy dessert, 2 Across. This charming comedy about two people who meet on a train is as light as a souffle, and just as delicious. Like any fine dish, i...

BWW Review: JEWTOPIA at Desert Theatreworks
by Stan Jenson - April 22, 2018

Desert Theatreworks is finishing their season with a bang - a top-notch production of the truly smart and hilarious comedy, Jewtopia. Two friends, one Jewish and one Gentile, are looking for girls to date. The Gentile wants a Jewish girl so he will never have to make another decision in his life, th...

BWW Review: DARE at Desert Rose Playhouse
by Stan Jenson - April 22, 2018

'Message Plays' are a difficult breed. When they hammer you with their themes, they are more painful than an over-long sermon on a hot Sunday morning. However, when they click, as Desert Rose's production of Dare does on all cylinders, they deliver one of the highest functions of theatre: entertainm...

BWW Review: DAMN YANKEES Scores at Palm Canyon Theatre
by Audrey Liebross - April 08, 2018

DAMN YANKEES is one of those fun, classic musical comedies with no message and familiar tunes. The show is a bit too long, and many of the lyrics are dated. Still, in the hands of a company such as Palm Canyon Theatre, a community theatre with the expertise to present large-cast musicals, the feel-g...

BWW Review: SISTER ACT at Palm Canyon Theatre
by Stan Jenson - March 13, 2018

Sisters are doing it for themselves at the Palm Canyon Theatre (PCT). Although Whoopi Goldberg's two Sister Act movies are well known, the Broadway musical that they spawned is a bit less familiar to most folks. That will not be the case from this point forward as PCT is filling houses with the vall...

BWW Review: Catch The Moon - One Handed Catch! West Side Story In Concert Reached For The Stars And Soared At The McCallum
by David Green - March 12, 2018

Leonard Bernstein would have been 100 years old this year, on August 25th to be precise, and there are literally thousands of commemorative events around the globe including performances of symphonies, operas and ballets, lectures, exhibits, and film and music festivals. Last Friday I attended the M...

BWW Review: CVRep Presents a Fine Production of Albee's Disturbing THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA?
by Audrey Liebross - March 12, 2018

CVRep's production of Albee's THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA? is worth seeing for those who don't mind weirdness. However, theatregoers need to be aware that this is a disturbing play....

BWW Review: Desert Rose Presents a Not-to-be-Missed Production of Tennessee Williams' SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER
by Audrey Liebross - March 12, 2018

Desert Rose Playhouse's current production of Tennessee Williams' SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER is a must-see for all audiences, thanks to the fine acting, directing, and design work. ...

BWW Review: GREASE at Desert Theatreworks
by Stan Jenson - March 11, 2018

Grease is still the word! Since its first appearance in 1971, Grease has become an indelible element of American culture. Indio's Desert Theatreworks has assembled a dozen of the valley's top young actors who have brought such an amazing level of talent, hard work, and enthusiasm to the show that it...

BWW Review: Desert Theatreworks' Production of ON GOLDEN POND is Golden, and Not to be Missed.
by Audrey Liebross - February 19, 2018

Desert Theatreworks' (DTW's) production will make you reevaluate everything you thought you knew about ON GOLDEN POND -- it has many comedic moments. Here, the play is expertly performed and directed....

BWW Review: DETC's Production of ELECTION DAY is a Winner
by Audrey Liebross - February 19, 2018

Desert Ensemble Theatre's production of Josh Tobiessen's off-Broadway comedy, ELECTION DAY, is a winner. All five actors deliver howlingly funny performances, full of mostly impeccable timing and seemingly effortless physical comedy....

BWW Review: DIRTY BLONDE at Coyote Stageworks
by Stan Jenson - February 09, 2018

Coyote Stageworks is an unusual and wonderful inclusion in the desert's theatre scene; unusual because it only produces two shows per year, but wonderful because both of those shows continually turn out to be excellent. Their current production, Dirty Blonde, adds another jewel to their crown....

BWW Review: DINNER AT FIVE at Indian Wells Theatre
by Stan Jenson - February 01, 2018

Writer Lloyd J. Schwarz, a veteran of such television comedies as The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island, has scribed a new stage comedy called Dinner at Five which has just commenced a five-week run in Palm Desert. Starring four familiar faces from 70's and 80's television, experiencing the play is ...

BWW Review: HELLO, DOLLY at Palm Canyon Theatre
by Stan Jenson - January 30, 2018

Palm Canyon Theatre has pulled off quite a coup by acquiring rights to Hello, Dolly, one of America's favorite musicals, while the revival is still packing houses on Broadway. In one year, we have had Bette Midler, Bernadette Peters (Bette's replacement), and now Se Layne all giving their take on th...

BWW Review: CVRep's ROMANCE ROMANCE is a Sweet, Feel-Good Winner
by Audrey Liebross - January 21, 2018

Coachella Valley Repertory (CVRep) has a winner in ROMANCE ROMANCE, two one-act musicals by Keith Herrmann (music) and Barry Harman (book and lyrics). The superb cast makes the most of the material; it is a pleasure watching these four Equity performers own the stage....

BWW Review: RABBIT HOLE at Dezart Performs
by Stan Jenson - January 16, 2018

Dezart Performs has always aspired to quality rather than quantity in their productions, staging just three mainstage plays each season. I have never been disappointed with one of their shows, and it somehow seems that each new show tops all the ones that have preceded it. Rabbit Hole, the second pr...

BWW Review: Desert Rose Presents a Fine Production of FIFTH OF JULY.
by Audrey Liebross - January 16, 2018

Desert Rose Playhouse's 2017-18 'gay heritage production' is Lanford Wilson's FIFTH OF JULY, which the company pulls off admirably except for some pacing problems....

BWW Review: DTW Skewers the Armadillo Acres Trailer Park in a Terrific Holiday Send-up
by Audrey Liebross - December 12, 2017

Desert Theatreworks has mounted a high-quality production of THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK CHRISTMAS MUSICAL, with a superb cast and excellent design. If you're looking for laughs, toe-tapping melodies, corny albeit raunchy jokes, and great performances, you won't want to miss this show....

BWW Review: Desert Rose's TIME SQUARE ANGEL is Moving and Excellently Presented
by Audrey Liebross - December 05, 2017

Desert Rose Playhouse's director, Jim Strait, and musical director, Joel Baker, have added popular numbers and Christmas songs to Charles Busch's TIMES SQUARE ANGEL to create what the playbill calls a musical pastiche. Their fine work, along with the terrific acting and singing, result in a producti...

BWW Review: A Lovely Night! Rodgers And Hammerstein's CINDERELLA Is Must-See Musical Magic At The McCallum!
by David Green - November 25, 2017

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella is sumptuous and fanciful and bursting with all of the ingredients necessary to make up the perfect family musical . The score is timeless and emotionally stirring. The costumes and scenic elements are candy for the eyes. The dancing ensemble is impeccable and t...

BWW Review: HERE'S TO THE LADIES at Desert Ensemble Theatre
by Stan Jenson - November 19, 2017

Once again, Desert Ensemble Theatre has kicked off its new season with an Opening Gala, and once again, it was an unabated delight! I found myself smiling broadly throughout the 75-minute revue, and those around me were tapping toes, clapping, hooting, and occasionally singing along....

BWW Review: LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS at Desert Theatreworks
by Stan Jenson - November 05, 2017

Desert Theatreworks continues their tradition of a Neil Simon comedy every season with Last of the Red Hot Lovers. Written in 1969, it is Simon's nod to the Swinging Sixties, with a nebbish middle aged man making three attempts at having a sexual fling outside of his 22-year marriage. Although fir...

BWW Review: CVRep Presents an Excellent Production of a Disturbing Play
by Audrey Liebross - October 31, 2017

Coachella Valley Repertory's (CV Rep's) first offering of its 2017-18 season is David Ives' Tony-nominated VENUS IN FUR. Primarily a drama, the play hooks the audience with comedy in the early minutes. Later, as things get more serious and more disturbing the script introduces a mystery, and eve...