Audrey Liebross retired in 2014 from writing legal briefs for a federal agency in DC. She now works as a writer in Palm Desert, California, where she can visit Disneyland to her heart's content. Audrey has an obsession with "The Phantom of the Opera," and has written a musical for community theatre based on the Leroux novel. She is currently working on a Phantom novel. Audrey has been writing for Broadway World on and off for well over a decade. She has noticed that almost all the shows put on in the Coachella Valley are highly professional, even from community theatres. We are very lucky to have such great theatre in such a non-urban area!
Favorite Stories:
- BWW Interview: Colin Cloud, of THE ILLUSIONISTS - LIVE FROM BROADWAY, Coming to Riverside's Fox Performing Arts Center. -
- BWW Reviews: FLASHDANCE -- THE MUSICAL Has Plenty to Enjoy, but Something is Missing -
- BWW Feature: North Star Theatre, a new Coachella Valley Company, Begins Operations. -
- BWW Review: Desert Rose's THOSE MUSCLEBOUND COWBOYS FROM SNAKE PIT GULCH is a Rip-Roaring Yee-Haw! -
- BWW Review: MURDER AT THE HOWARD JOHNSON'S at Desert Theatreworks is Funny and Imaginative. -
May 22, 2017
The national tour of PIPPIN is coming to the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside, for two shows only, on Saturday, June 3, 2017, at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, June 4, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. Naysh Fox plays the title character, and Housso Semon showcases her powerful voice as the 'Leading Player.' Broadway World interviewed Tyler Jacobson, who is one of the show's acrobats.
May 8, 2017
Director Jim Strait's wit shines in Desert Rose's CLARK GABLE SLEPT HERE. The script needs pruning, but the dialogue flies most of the time, as do the audience's guffaws. The two women in the cast have the juicy roles, and make the most of them. The audience will have fun at this raunchy play.
May 2, 2017
CVRep is currently presenting an engaging production of A.R. Gurney's one-act dramedy, LATER LIFE, directed by theatre veteran Luke Yankee, making his CVRep debut. All four cast members, each of whom has an impressive list of credits, are a pleasure to watch, as they expertly use their voices, bodies, and faces to pull us into their characters' stories.
April 25, 2017
Desert Theatreworks' (now resident in the Indio Performing Arts Center) production of the musical tearjerker NEXT TO NORMAL is a must-see. The uniformly superb cast performs their roles with spirit and empathy, and they all display lovely singing voices.
March 30, 2017
The Sun City Palm Desert Performing Arts Club has done a wonderful job with its annual musical for 2017, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Although the production ran for only one weekend, the club has other offerings coming up.
March 24, 2017
On Saturday, March 25, 2017, Snow White and her princess friends will tell Riverside audiences what REALLY happened in their not-so-fairy-tale lives. DISENCHANTED!, the hit satirical musical suitable for adults only, will play two performances at the Fox Performing Arts Center, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
March 20, 2017
Prolific screenwriter and playwright Del Shores is perhaps best known for his series of plays about growing up gay in the South. In the semi-autobiographical SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES, now playing at the Desert Rose Playhouse in an excellent production, he describes the clash between his identities as a devout Baptist and a gay child.
March 20, 2017
Coachella Valley Repertory's DISGRACED examines identity and prejudice. It is expertly performed, timely, and searing and will almost definitely leave a lasting impression on theatregoers.
March 20, 2017
Desert Ensemble Theatre Company (DETC) is presenting LOVESPORT, a world premiere play by Tony Padilla, DETC's founder and producing artistic director. He produced and directed LOVESPORT as well as writing the script. I recommend the show because the acting is excellent, and the script exhibits dramatic tension and unexpected developments, especially in the second act.Desert Ensemble Theatre Company (DETC) is presenting LOVESPORT, a world premiere play by Tony Padilla, DETC's founder and producing artistic director. He produced and directed LOVESPORT as well as writing the script. I recommend the show because the acting is excellent, and the script exhibits dramatic tension and unexpected developments, especially in the second act.
March 16, 2017
Desert Theatreworks (DTW) is currently presenting a howlingly funny, expert production of the musical farce THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, featuring brilliant performances and direction, and nonstop lunacy.
February 20, 2017
On Friday, February 24, 2017 and Saturday, February 25th, Riverside's Fox Performing Art Center (Fox PAC) will present Theatre Royale's production of MARY POPPINS. David Reuther, known to Inland Empire audiences for his fabulous portrayal of Jean Valjean in Theatre Royale's 2015 production of LES MISERABLES, will play George Banks. Broadway World interviewed Mr. Reuther by email about the show in general and his character in particular.
February 7, 2017
Loretta Swit, who played Hot Lips Houlihan on television's MASH, is appearing in Coyote Stageworks' SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS at the Annenberg Theater, in Palm Springs. Ms. Swit and her co-star, David Engel, make up the cast of this two-person comedy. Their emotionally honest interaction and Larry Raben's top-notch direction help make this production a winner.
February 1, 2017
Desert Theatreworks' (DTW's) production of 45 SECONDS FROM BROADWAY is a hoot. Thanks to Lance Phillips-Martinez's imaginative direction and the Broadway-quality lead performances (backed by an able supporting cast), theatregoers are almost guaranteed to laugh their heads off.
January 23, 2017
Charles Busch's SLEEPING BEAUTY OR COMA and VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF SODOM are difficult plays to produce, but Desert Rose's director (Jim Strait) and its performers are up to the task. The double bill is the company's annual Gay Heritage presentation, which succeeds spectacularly.
January 23, 2017
BABY, now playing at Coachella Valley Repertory is a sweet, sentimental musical about a universal topic - pregnancy. Despite what I consider to be flaws in the book (by Sybille Pearson) and lyrics (by Richard Maltby, Jr.), the show is well worth seeing; David Shire's music is engaging and CVRep has mounted an excellent production.
January 11, 2017
THE ILLUSIONISTS - LIVE FROM BROADWAY, featuring seven performers, will play the Fox Performing Arts Center (Fox PAC) in Riverside, California, for two shows on Thursday, January 26 and Friday, January 27, 2017. Broadway World Interviewed the 'Deductionist,' Colin Cloud.
December 12, 2016
Desert Theatreworks (DTW), Palm Desert's 501(c)(3) community theatre, has chosen something different for its 2016 Christmas production. SINATRA: CHRISTMAS MY WAY is a sweet, light, feel-good cabaret simulation featuring Frank Sinatra's holiday music and a few silly jokes. Even though I'm not a Sinatra fan, I enjoyed the show.
November 22, 2016
THE SANTALAND DIARIES, Joe Mantello's stage adaptation of David Sedaris's memoir of his experience working as Crumpet the Elf, is playing in Rancho Mirage, at the Desert Rose Playhouse.
November 9, 2016
Part concert and part biography, LENNON - THROUGH A GLASS ONION celebrates the genius of John Lennon. The show, starring Daniel Taylor and Stewart D'Arrietta, features 31 of John Lennon's iconic hits. The show will appear at the Fox Performing Arts Center, in Riverside, for two performances, on Saturday, November 19, 2016, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
November 8, 2016
Desert Theatreworks' (DTW's) A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED, adapted by Leslie Darbon from the Agatha Christie novel, isn't exactly Noel Coward or Oscar Wilde, but the production's excellence provides a rollicking good time, and more than makes up for any weaknesses in the script.
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