Dezart Performs is preparing to open Phase ONE of its new Dezart Playhouse this November, marking a significant milestone for the performing arts in Palm Springs. Located at the former First Church of Christ, Scientist building at 605 Riverside Drive, the project is being led by a distinguished design team including Architect Susan Secoy Jensen, Landscape Architect JC Miller, and TheatreDNA consultant Michael Ferguson. Michael Shaw, Founding Artistic Director, expressed excitement about the opening, grateful for the community’s support in bringing this dream to fruition.
Season 18 will launch with Phase ONE of the new playhouse opening in November, featuring a fully-functional, state-of-the-art theater designed by Susan Secoy Jensen and Michael Ferguson. This initial phase will include 131 seats, a versatile rehearsal hall/green room/event room, an event prep area, and individual cast dressing rooms. Beverages and snacks will be available, as is customary at Dezart Performs productions. Phase TWO, slated for Season 19, will encompass a complete remodel by Susan Secoy Jensen, introducing new theater seating, indoor and outdoor bars, a box office, and upgraded restrooms. JC Miller will enhance the historical property’s visual appeal using native desert flora and original landscape designs.
The Dezart Playhouse Planning Committee is collaborating with the City of Palm Springs’ Offices of Economic Development and Planning & Historic Preservation to maintain the mid-century modern aesthetic of the 1957 Robson Chambers and Albert Frey designed building, while also seeking Class 1 Historical Landmark status. This adaptive re-use project aims to merge historic design with modern theatrical needs. The purchase of the former church building in December has garnered widespread support from the community, the City, and various historical preservation groups, including ModCom Board and Staff, Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, Palm Springs Architectural Alliance, and Modernism Week.
Be Part of History: The ‘Have a Seat Campaign’
To involve the community in this legacy, Dezart Performs has launched the “Have a Seat Campaign,” offering custom-designed theater chairs for purchase. This initiative allows individuals to become part of Palm Springs history and honor the architectural movement. Platinum seats are available for $2,500, Premium seats for $1,000, and Preferred seats at $500. Each purchase includes an engraved plaque and an invitation to the launch of Dezart Performs Season 18. For more information, contact Gailya Brown at gailya.brown@dezartperforms.org.
Meet the Visionary Design Team
- Architect Susan Secoy Jensen, with Secoy Architects, specializes in preserving mid-century modern structures and adaptive re-use projects, ensuring the integrity of original designs. She is an advisor for the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, with notable projects including Kaptur Plaza and the American Legion Post 519 building.
- Landscape Architect JC Miller is a recognized expert in postwar mid-century California gardens and a historic preservationist. His work includes schools, parks, civic spaces, and residential projects like the Kaufmann Desert House.
- Michael Ferguson, co-founder of TheatreDNA, brings decades of experience in lighting and creative design for performance venues worldwide, having contributed to hundreds of theaters.
Dezart Performs, Palm Springs’ only Equity theatre and a preeminent Coachella Valley company, enriches local culture by offering an artistic home for bold and cutting-edge plays. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, it fosters artistic growth and contributes to the diverse theatrical environment of the Coachella Valley. For additional information about Dezart Performs’ upcoming season, visit dezartperforms.org.