David Green

Michael Orland and David Green's Musical Theatre University Team Up With PS Art Museum to bring A Very Broadway Christmas to Palm Springs in the Museum's beautiful Annenberg Theatre for two special nights in December -- December 16 and 17 at 7:00 pm. Joining the talented students and alumni of Musical Theatre University (MTU) are Broadway powerhouses Tony Winner Marissa Jaret Winokur, Kevin Chamberlin, James Snyder and Rachel York in a ninety-minute holiday celebration featuring favorite songs of the season, old and new, and fully-staged and choreographed production numbers by the MTU singers, under the musical direction of Michael Orland.

Fans of Rocky Horror, Halloween-y entertainment, and those looking for memorable nighttime entertainment with friends should run, not walk, to Revolution Stage Company for their very fun production of Evil Dead- The Musical. But beware— you may be seated in the blood pack splash zone. 

Matthew Lopez’s The Inheritance Part Two opened the 2025–26 season at The Bent in Palm Springs on Friday, October 17. This follows The Inheritance Part One, which closed the 2024–25 season.

The legendary sex symbol Marlene Dietrich, celebrated for her groundbreaking performances in film and on stage, comes to life in DIETRICH, a one-woman play-with-music starring Cindy Marinangel. This production will take center stage at the Revolution Stage Company in Palm Springs for two nights only, April 4 and 5, 2025.

What did our critic think of AVENUE Q at Revolutiion Stage Company?

What did our critic think of TRU at Desert Ensemble Theatre?Since I missed Chuck Yates’s award-winning performance of Jay Presson Allen’s TRU the first time around, I was thrilled to review the reprise of his solo show, playing through February 2, 2025, Desert Ensemble Theatre at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. From curtain to curtain the only character on that stage was Truman Capote—TRU—with all his idiosyncrasies, peccadillos, and charm.

What did our critic think of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA at Coachella Valley Repetory Theatre?Take it from the top: another charming and effective Jimmy Cuomo set that embraces the style and provides the backdrop for The Light in the Piazza. From the piano, Music Director Stephen Hulsey conducts the orchestra. We are transported to Florence, Italy, as statues come to life in Karen Sieber’s lovely, almost seductive choreography, performed by a remarkable Ensemble--leading into Adam Kersten’s lyrical production. His direction was a work of art.

This is a first! During the 31 years since the founding of the Performing Arts Club in Sun City Palm Desert, there has never been a review of any of the 100+ shows produced, performed and directed by the members. I am glad to report that the current show--a lively, engaging, colorful revue titled Guilty Pleasures—received a well-deserved standing ovation from the audience.

Steve Young, star of the acclaimed documentary Bathtubs Over Broadway, has pulled back the curtain on one of the strangest, most improbable realms of show business—musicals written for corporate events. Now he’s coming to the McCallum Theatre to share a cornucopia of these unlikely gems at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 8.

A Palm Springs favorite is back… and already selling out fast! Palm Canyon Theatre (PCT) will present Del Shores’ Sordid Lives, January 19-28, 2024. In the tradition of a good “cult classic,” PCT is encouraging audience participation with cues to sing along and get involved in the action (from the comfort of a seat).

Palm Canyon Theatres “Elf” will definitely get you in the holiday spirit! Santa (David Brooks) brought Christmas cheer for all to hear! With his charming smile and stage presence, I almost believed in Santa again!  If you’ve seen the movie “Elf”, you can expect this production to be just as hilariously charming!

Based on the beloved holiday film, this hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity. After being raised as an elf at the North Pole, Buddy Hobbs discovers, as a young man, that he is actually human. With Santa’s encouragement, Buddy embarks on an eventful journey through New York City in search of his biological family. Elf, The Musical runs at Palm Canyon Theatre December 1-17.

What a stellar performance PCT put on with their stunning direction by Luke Rainey and Rent’s incredible cast. The lighting (J.W. Layne) was stunning and lifted the shows emotion and took us swiftly from scene to scene. The choreography (Se Layne) brought laughs and the beautiful visual of community that “Rent” requires. I have SEVERAL “oh WOW” moments in my mind so please enjoy while I immersive myself in all of them as I write this review.  

KINKY BOOTS is running strong for another two weeks and I highly encourage you to sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful piece of theater! They will “Raise you up” and “Celebrate you to ELEVATE you!” Don’t walk… RUN in those boots BABY- to Kinky Boots!

Palm Canyon Theatre’s “Steel Magnolias” was the first dramatic work in their primarlily musical season and, wow,  it was the perfect artistic choice! The story revolves around Shelby (no, NOT me) played by  Erin Shull, and her life in the small town of Natchitoches Louisiana where love, sass and hairdressers fill the air. If you’ve seen the film, you know what an absolutely briilliant and engaging  piece of theatre this is. Timeless!

Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken are thrilled to reunite 20 years after captivating audiences during their historic run on the second season of Fox’s American Idol in 2003—and the duo will be performing at the McCallum Theatre at 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 18. Both plucked from the relative obscurity of their hometowns in the South, the unlikely pair quickly became audience favorites, instrumental in propelling Idol to the top of the Nielsen ratings, nearly tripling the viewership of the previous season, and securing its place as one of the most consequential TV series in American history.

Palm Canyon Theatre presents the heartfelt Southern Classic Steel Magnolias. The 1987 play, which became a hit movie in 1989, takes audiences into the lives of the strong and endearing women who frequent Truvy’s Salon for hairdos, laughter and sage advice. Like many small close-knit communities, Chinquapin, Louisiana includes an entertaining cast of characters such as a town curmudgeon, an eccentric millionaire and a local social leader. A sudden realization of their mortality affects each of them, as they discover their underlying love for one another in this touching comedy.

Palm Canyon Theatre opened their season last weekend with “Brigadoon”! This magical, classic story by Lerner and Loewe takes us on an unexpected, mystical journey back in time- or so we think. Two New Yorkers: Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas travel to the Scottish Highlands for vacation. On their trip, they get lost and stumble upon a town seemingly living in the past called Brigadoon. The people of Brigadoon are living hundreds of years ago and they know no such thing as modern life. 

The Sixteenth edition of Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival will soon be underway. The schedule is set and tickets and passes are now on sale. The festival, which includes forty nine feature films and over 100 short films this year, runs for two long weekends at the Palm Springs Cultural Center: September 21-24 and September 28-October 1. Films will be screening in all three of the Camelot theatres.