Gay Desert Guide Weekend: Nov 15–17, 2019 - Gay Desert Guide Palm Springs

Desert Hot Springs Pride, “Murder on the Orient Express,” Leslie Jordan, Mandy Patinkin, Black Market Trust, Todd Murray, Bow Wow Film Fest, Coachella Valley Symphony, Melissa Etheridge, Jason Stuart, “Rainbow Relatives,” and more, plus HOT DEALS and Happy Hours!

Desert Hot Springs Pride Festival

Desert Hot Springs celebrates Pride on Saturday, November 16 from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. at Cabot’s Pueblo Museum. Explore booths representing community services, retail, art, local business, and information organizations. Live entertainment and food vendors, face painting, and arts & crafts for the kids round out this family-friendly event. Admission is free. Gay Desert Guide will be there, stop by and say hi! More info

“Murder on the Orient Express” presented by Desert Theatreworks

Desert Theatreworks is one of the first theatres in California to present a brand-new adaptation of Agatha Christie’s most popular tale, Murder on the Orient Express, by Ken Ludwig, through November 24 at the Indio Performing Arts Center. Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, detective Hercule Poirot must identify the murderer – in case he or she decides to strike again. Get tickets

Leslie Jordan brings “Overexposed” Show to Outlandish Performance Series

Leslie Jordan returns to Outlandish for two shows: Saturday, November 16 at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday November 17 at 8:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, as part of the Outlandish Palm Springs performance series. Leslie invites his audiences behind-the-scenes of his childhood and career, offering a charming & hilarious look-back at his life experience as a flamboyant youth raised as a Southern Baptist, as well as the “unbelievable real-life stories” and treasured anecdotes from his renowned stage and television performances. Get tickets

Next Up: Nov 23 & 24, Outlandish brings us Randy Rainbow Live.

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“Hand to God” Final Weekend at Dezart Performs

Dezart Performs presents Hand to God, The Broadway Smash Hit Comedy by Robert Askins, running through Sunday, November 17. Think of it as “The Exorcist” meets “Sesame Street.” After the death of his father, meek Jason finds an outlet for his anxiety at the Christian Puppet Ministry in the devoutly religious, relatively quiet small town of Cypress, Texas. Jason’s complicated relationships with the town pastor, the school bully, the girl next door, and most especially his mother are thrown into upheaval when Jason’s puppet, Tyrone, takes on a shocking and dangerously irreverent personality all its own. Get tickets

Our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh says Hand to God is “fascinating and funny,” and a “first class production…tightly paced allowing the laughs to roll one right after the other while not letting the dramatic moments get lost… one of the strongest casts I have seen in some time.” Read his full review here.

“Priscilla” Final Weekend at Palm Canyon Theatre

Palm Canyon Theatre presents Priscilla Queen of the Desert through Sunday, November 17. This musical is based on the hit movie, telling the heartwarming adventure story of three friends who agree to take their show to the middle of the Australian outback. Songs include “It’s Raining Men,” “I Will Survive,” “Hot Stuff,” “Finally,” “Boogie Wonderland,” “Go West,” “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” “I Love The Nightlife,” and many more. Get tickets

Next up from Palm Canyon Theatre: The King and I, opens November 29.

“Dinner” is Served at CVRep

CVRep presents “Dinner with Friends,” by Donald Margulies, running through November 24. Two married couples have been friends for many years. As both couples struggle with questions of loyalty, individuality, and commitment in this deliciously funny, sharply observed drama, the ultimate question is posed – If Gabe and Karen didn’t really know Beth and Tom as well as they assumed…do they really know each other? Get tickets

Dinner with Friends is about “How our lives change and the fallout that occurs from that change,” writes our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh, “It’s how we deal with the surprises life throws us that determines our character and defines who we are.” Read his full review here.

Bow Wow Film Festival

Bow Wow Film Festival, Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter and the Palm Springs Cultural Center are teaming up for a fun evening of short films featuring our lovable canine companions on Friday, November 15 from 6:00–9:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. There will be a 6:00 p.m. reception followed by a 7:00 p.m. screening of dog-centric short films. Proceeds support the Palm Springs Cultural Center and Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter equally. Get tickets

Mandy Patinkin in Concert at the McCallum Theatre

Mandy Patinkin performs In Concert: DIARIES with Adam Ben-David on piano on Saturday, November 16 at 8:00 p.m. at the McCallum Theatre. See the acclaimed actor/singer/storyteller in his most electrifying role: concert performer. “Mandy Patinkin is in the business of showstopping,” raves The New Yorker, and that’s exactly what he does in this powerful, passionate evening of song. DIARIES is a marriage of many of Mandy’s favorite Broadway and classic American tunes, along with selections from his newest recordings. Get tickets

This Weekend at The Purple Room: Black Market Trust and Todd Murray

Black Market Trust: Sinatra, the Rat Pack, and Beyond are appearing on Friday, November 15 at 6:00 p.m. at The Purple Room Supper Club. The Black Market Trust combine the sounds of the legendary American crooners and vocal groups with the fire and energy of Gypsy Jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt for a high energy, crowd pleasing performance filled with some of the best songs ever written. With intricate vocal harmonies, and a dash of Rat Pack-style comedy they meld two distinctly different vibes- one of a gypsy campfire, the other a slick metropolitan nightclub- into a cohesive, stylish sound. Dinner at 6:00, show at 8:00. Get tickets

Todd Murray brings his latest show “Croon” to The Purple Room on Saturday, November 16 at 6:00 p.m. Declared “the real deal,” and “impeccable,” by Stephen Holden of the New York Times, and hailed the best male vocalist living today by Paul Richards of WHLI, NEW YORK Radios The Morning Show, Todd Murray’s smooth bass baritone has been heard from Japan to Switzerland and in clubs and artist series all over the USA. He has two new Christmas songs that he wrote and performed to be released nationally this year! Watch for “I’m Gettin Into The Swing of Christmas” and “Let’s Hear It For Santa Claus.” Get tickets

“Rainbow Relatives” Author Lecture

Author Sudi (Rick) Karatas will present a lecture on his book, “Rainbow Relatives,” on Saturday, November 16 from 2:30–4:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Public Library. Karatas’ book shares real world stories and advice on how to talk to kids about LGBTQ family and friends. The book will be available for sale following the presentation. More info

Jason Stuart Book Signing

Meet actor/comedian Jason Stuart at Just Fabulous on Sunday, November 17 from 12:00-2:00 p.m. and get your copy of his new book, “Shut Up, I’m Talking!” which chronicles his life and career. It’s the funny, poignant story of a gay Jewish boy whose life changed after seeing Funny Girl at a second-run movie theatre in Hollywood. More info

Coachella Valley Symphony: “Falling in Love”

The 27th season of Coachella Valley Symphony opens with music for “Falling in Love” on Sunday November 17 at 3:00 p.m. The musicians, under the baton of John Mario, will perform “Danza Ritual del Fuego (Ritual Fire Dance)” from El amor brujo (The Bewitched Love) by Manuel de Falla, “Cinderella’s Waltz” from Cinderella by Sergei Prokofiev, “Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Henry Mancini, and music from the 1997 film Titanic by James Horner. Get tickets

The World According to LGBTQ

A series of workshops, “The World, According to LGBTQ,” is presented by the reconciling United Methodist Church of Palm Springs on Thursday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m. The topic for the night is “Gender Identity and Pronouns.” There will be Q&A at each event. Next week: Female Impersonators with Ginger Snap on November 21. More info

UPCOMING: An Evening with Ryan Cassata

The Transgender Health and Wellness Center presents An Evening with Ryan Cassata & Silent Auction on Tuesday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the Transgender Day of Remembrance Resource Fair and Vigil, to be held on November 20 at Palm Springs City Hall. Ryan Cassata is a singer, songwriter, actor and activist who has appeared on Larry King Live and The Tyra Banks Show. He has performed at LGBT music festivals and at popular music venues such as Whisky a Go Go, The Saint, The Bitter End, SideWalk Cafe, Turf Club and Bowery Poetry Club. He will speak on his journey to be accepted by family and loved ones, and the need to support Transgender Equality. Get tickets

UPCOMING: Cookies, Cocktails, and Crazy Sweaters

Fresh on the high heels of the very popular Cat City Drag Race, a new contest is taking place at six bars in Cathedral City: Cookies, Cocktails and Ugly Sweaters will feature an “Ugliest Sweater Contest” with celebrity and audience judges, with prizes each week leading up to a Golden Pass prize valued at $600. The evening is hosted by Cat City Drag Race Winner Angelique VaGorgeous, with music by DJ Galaxy. Week 1 takes places at Trunks Bar on Monday, November 18 at 6:00 p.m. See our link for the full schedule of locations, running through December 23. More info

At Trunks Bar in Cathedral City, Happy Hour is 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. with well drinks for $4, domestic beer for $4, imported beer for $3, wines $1 off. It’s the kind of place “where everybody knows your name,” and their Sunday Funday Beer Bust features DJ Robb spinning the best videos of the decades from 5:00–9:00 p.m. Get Happy at Trunks

At the RetroRoom Lounge, Happy Hour is available every day until 7:00 p.m. with specials like Wine Down Wednesday and Top Shelf Tuesday. On Friday nights, come for Singles Karaoke from 9:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m. and meet other like minded individuals. Green beverage napkins mean single, white ones mean taken. Sing a duet!!! Get Happy at RetroRoom

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