March comes in like a lion, and will go out like a Goat (or Who Is Sylvia?) This sure is a week packed with theatre openings across the valley, so if it's been a while since you called a babysitter, gathered the ball and chain for a dinner out and a live show, this would be a good time. Also there are a few events longer down the road that have just begun selling tickets, so snap those up too.
The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? at CV Repertory
CVRep's third show is The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? by Edward Albee. Martin—a hugely successful architect who has just turned fifty—leads an ostensibly ideal life with his loving wife and gay teenage son. But when he confides to his best friend that he is also in love with a goat (named Sylvia), he sets in motion events that will destroy his family and leave his life in tatters.
Runs March 7-April 1, 7:30pm Wed-Sat, 2pm Sat & Sun, also Tues Mar 20 and Mar 27 at 7:30pm (dark Mondays). $48-53.
Desert Theatreworks presents Grease
The Broadway mega-hit Grease follows the '50s romance of innocent ingenue Sandy and bad-boy greaser Danny Zuko in their senior year at Rydell High. Danny believes their hot summer fling is over …until Sandy unexpectedly enrolls at Rydell. This inventive Desert Theatreworks production pays homage to the original 1972 Broadway musical phenomenon with catchy sing-along tunes like "Summer Nights," "Beauty School Dropout," "We Go Together" and "Greased Lightning." Join Sandy, Danny, Rizzo, Kenickie and the rest of the gang, and discover why Grease is still one of the world’s most popular musicals.
Recommended age 13 and up. Contains mild language and adult situations. Runs March 8-25, Thurs-Sat 7:30pm, Sun Matinees (also Sat March 17) 2pm.
On the Air! Fifth Edition
Now in its fifth year, this one night only event transports the audience back to an imaginary radio studio in the late 1940s, complete with a cast of celebrity performers, live on-stage music and thrilling sound effects. It is a benefit for Dezart Performs. Each year is a completely new production, and this year features all new shows including THE LONE RANGER, RICHARD DIAMOND-PRIVATE DETECTIVE and MY FAVORITE HUSBAND.
With 25 celebrities, singers and performers, and directed by Gregg Oppenheimer, ON THE AIR!, an unforgettable evening of stars (including Tony Award-winner and Emmy-nominated Hal Linden and Tony Award-winner Gary Beach) live music and sound effects, is “the must-see event” of the season! Thursday March 8 at 7pm at the Palm Springs Cultural Center.
Jazzville Palm Springs Live at Oscar's
The first Jazzville Palm Springs begins Wed March 7, live at Oscar's downtown. DJ Baz is promoting a live jazz scene with a nostalgia for the vibe and swank of the historic Chi Chi club in Palm Springs that was world-famous in the 50s and 60s. Come hear the Will Lyle Trio from L.A., and enjoy good wine and food from Oscar's Café.
DJ Baz will be spinning great jazz before the live band, during breaks, and after the show. Bring your favorite jazz vinyl and he'll pick a song to play!
If you love classic, straight-ahead, West Coast, be-bop, Latin jazz and swing, save the date and join us. We hope to make this a monthly, and eventually weekly night of great live jazz in PS. If you've never experienced live jazz in a great setting, come treat yourself and see what you've been missing.
We'll be in the cabaret room. There's a $10 cover to support the musicians, who will also have a guest vocalist on a few numbers.
Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast – Coachella Valley 2018
The Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast will honor the memory of Harvey Milk, an American hero, and strengthen coalitions among the many diverse community organizations that support justice and equality for all individuals. On May 18, join more than 900 diverse Coachella Valley residents and celebrate the memory of this influential civil rights activist. The morning will feature a keynote speaker and this year’s recipient of the Harvey B. Milk Leadership Award of the Coachella Valley, activist Cleve Jones.
Tables of 10 start at $650 and sponsor recognition is available. For more information visit click here or contact Ron deHarte at ron@pspride.org.
Cathedral City LGBT Days Approaches
Cathedral City's LGBT Days, the first Pride festival of the year, is scheduled for Easter Weekend, Mar 30 – Apr 1, to honor the LGBT community and celebrate the diversity of Cathedral City. The free weekend festival includes an opening night evening of drag, drama and cabaret, the 4th annual community LGBT Days Bed Race, live musical performances, outdoor dancing, food, beverages, community booths, and pool parties.
Featured entertainment includes, legendary pop, dance music diva Thea Austin (formerly of SNAP), New York City drag legend Lady Bunny, and Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles, the world's first LGBTQ mariachi band! Also performing are the all-girl band Corday; Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus; Jeremiah Clark; Keisha D; and David Hernandez, finalist from American Idol. The lineup also features RuPaul’s Drag Race alumna Delta Work, and nightlife icon Aurora Sexton, Winner Miss Gay USofA 2016 and a nationally celebrated female illusionist. All performances are free and will be at the main stage in front of city hall.
A highlight of the weekend will be Sordid Lives creator Del Shores performing his one-man show “Six Characters In Search Of A Play" on Saturday, March 31 at the Mary Pickford Theatre. Shores is inspired by Pirandello’s classic play to bring you six characters inspired by his real-life encounters that haven’t quite made it into one of Shores’ plays, films or TV shows.
Leonard Bernstein Centennial: West Side Story in Concert
More than fifty years ago one musical changed theater forever. Now it's back to mesmerize audiences once again, as the McCallum Theatre proudly presents West Side Story: In Concert. In this very special concert version, running Mar 9-11 and conducted by Richard Kaufman and produced and directed by Chad Hilligus, this poignant, provocative and emotionally powerful masterpiece takes us back to the mid-1950’s and New York’s Upper West Side, where racial and social tensions run high. Hear many of Bernstein’s most beloved songs: “Maria,” “America,” “Somewhere” and “Tonight.”
Headlined by Matthew Hydzik as Tony (Broadway’s West Side Story, Side Show and Grease) and Ali Ewoldt as Maria (currently starring in Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera), this McCallum Exclusive will feature a 40-piece orchestra comprised of LA’s finest musicians and an all-star cast direct from the Broadway and National Tour companies of this iconic musical.
Matinees Sat & Sun are at 2:00 PM. Sunday evening the show is at 7:00 PM.
Tickets here.
Suddenly Last Summer at Desert Rose Playhouse
The Desert Rose Playhouse, the Coachella Valley’s LGBTQ+ Stage Company, will present Tennessee Williams' drama Suddenly Last Summer, opening Friday, March 9, 2018, for a four-week run. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, through April 1, 2018.
Tennessee Williams’ classic horror story is the tale of Sebastian Venable’s life and death, and his mother Violet’s diabolical plan to stifle the truth about Sebastian by cutting the memories out of her niece Catherine’s brain. Can money really change the truth? Suddenly Last Summer continues Desert Rose Productions’ mission to produce and present literate, relevant and entertaining plays and musicals for LGBTQ and Gay-Friendly theatregoers in the Coachella Valley.
Tickets are $37 for evening performances and $34 for matinees, which includes a $2 per ticket Facility Fee. Go online or call 760-202-3000 to order tickets.
NCLR 2018 Palm Springs Garden Party Tickets On Sale
Tickets are now available for the National Center for Lesbian Rights' 2018 Palm Springs Garden Party on March 31st! Join event Co-Chairs Gary D. Soto and DeeAnn McCoy, along with NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell for a wonderful evening at the The Pond Estate in Palm Springs!
We will be honoring plaintiffs in Stockman v. Trump, one of the lawsuits challenging the administration’s attempt to ban transgender people from serving in the military. Our Executive Director Kate Kendell will describe NCLR’s ongoing fight to defend the LGBTQ community and protect the historic legal gains we have achieved together in recent years. Our beloved friends in Palm Springs have been standing shoulder to shoulder with us through the unprecedented challenges of this past year and we can’t wait to be back with you!
5:00 p.m. | VIP Champagne Reception *for sponsors at VIP level and above
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Garden Party
Individual tickets are $75 in advance and $100 at the door. For questions, contact Events@NCLRights.org or 415.365.1314.