Stan Jenson - Page 2

Fun and personal triumph take center stage in Desert Rose Playhouse’s current production of Mid-Century Moderns.  Great writing, incredible voices, terrific acting and beloved songs combine to make this one of the most enjoyable visits to the theatre that I have had in a very long time.  I saw the world premiere last night and I’m already anticipating my next visit during the show’s brief five-week run!

Mid Century Moderns is a jukebox musical set in 1966.  Maryann Popecke’s husband has died in their Middle-American hometown so she follows her dream of moving to Santa Monica and becoming a secretary.  However, her car breaks down in Palm Springs.  She soon meets some locals who set out to change her from frumpy to fabulous.  They do so while singing songs made famous by the likes of Tom Jones, Petula Clark, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Lesley Gore, Frank & Nancy Sinatra, The Association, The Monkees and many more!  

Conservativism and religious hypocrisy take it on the chin in the newest play coming up this month from Script2Stage2Screen.  S2S2S is a company in Rancho Mirage which presents previously unproduced scripts as staged readings with blocking and suggested sets and costumes, but with scripts in hand.  For several years, their season finale has been a comedy written and directed by Jason Hull, a Palm Springs local.  His plays have developed a strong following of fans who love the situation comedies of the 70’s and 80’s.  They know they will have a good time with plenty of belly laughs.  The play runs for two nights only, April 22 and 23, and seating is limited.

Palm Canyon Theatre (PCT) is presenting Cyrano de Bergerac, the classic French story of “unrequited” love.  Under the guidance of PCT founder Dr. William Layne, the nineteenth century work is presented with a modern translation with lots of comedy, sword play, and of course the heart-wrenching drama of a man whose looks prohibit him from pursuing the woman his heart longs for.

 “This is a romance for all ages and orientations,” said Steve Fisher, Script2Stage2Screen’s artistic director.  “Set in Italy, it’s a sensual and sweet love story. Hal O’Connell, a member of Script2Stage2Screen’s executive committee and active in numerous Valley theaters, will be directing.”

When I learned that Terry Ray's play Electricity was making a curtain call this weekend at the Desert Rose Playhouse, I felt like a beloved friend was coming to town for a visit. Electricity played in Palm Springs for two years at a hotel, accommodating just 20 guests per performance in an actual hotel room. Most of 2021, it played every Tuesday at Oscar's. I reviewed it early in the year and then came back a month later. It was a 'feel good' theatrical experience - the sort of show I would see every couple of months if it had an extended run. And its three years in Palm Springs were indeed in preparation for an extended run Off Broadway.

Just in time for Modernism Week and our peak tourist season, Palm Canyon Theatre presents a world premiere preview of an original musical, Palm Springs Getaway.  Described as “A nostalgic romp through Palm Springs,” vignettes of the contributions of such settlers as John McCallum, Nellie Coffman and Miss Cornelia, the mid-century design luminaries, and of course a parade of Hollywood celebrities.  You’ll spot Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, Sonny and Cher, Keely Smith, Shirley Temple, Marilyn Monroe, and even The King, Elvis himself!

Desert Ensemble Theatre’s current production, Artificial Morality, examines the practice and ramifications of altering the truth (among many other observations).  A tight 80-minute script, a strong quartet of actors and a capable director keep us completely entertained, at the same time asking ourselves “At what point does exaggeration or bending of the rules stop being okay?”

In the past two decades I have had several opportunities to see Always, Patsy Cline and I always avoided the show, thinking 'A two-woman show can't be entertaining and besides, I don't like country music.' Please, please do not make the mistake I did. This show has only a few more performances in the Coachella Valley, and it is an incredibly entertaining and moving experience. Part celebrity concert, part Hallmark heart-warming tale, Desert Theatreworks' current production is a must-see!

It’s hard to imagine a more perfect holiday show than Sound of Music, and Palm Canyon Theatre’s current production of the Rogers and Hammerstein musical should come complete with a large gift bow!

Script2Stage2Screen is presenting their second production of the season, Crying on Trains by David Hansen. This beautifully written play tells the story of an evolving friendship between a patient and her nurse. It's truly a tender, touching story of courage, friendship, and love.

A very magical combination of excellence has just occurred in Palm Springs theatre, and even though it's only for one weekend, I wanted to tip you off to it. The show is Del Shores' newest play, This Side of Crazy. The magic occurs when this smart script is delivered by four of the Coachella Valley's finest actresses under the helm of one of the valley's top directors, Richard Marlow.

The show by actor/playwright Terry Ray is set in a motel room, and the first two years were actually performed at INNDulge in a motel room with an audience of 20 serving as flies on the wall, watching the action.  Fortunately, the show has transferred to Oscar’s dinner theatre in the middle of town which enables about triple the audience, comfortable tables and chairs, and some really terrific food!

The only problem with staging as big a hit as Desert Rose Playhouse had with their recent production of The Rocky Horror Show is that you have to follow it up with something. Wisely, Artistic Director Robbie Wayne lined up a killer artistic triumvirate in actors Nicholas Sloan and Jamie Leigh Walker, and the seasoned Chuck Yates as director. The show, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, is a beloved title not only in the gay community, but for eccentrics and misfits of all shapes and sizes. It recently had a successful run on Broadway, and I certainly enjoyed the Desert Rose production much more than I did the touring company of the Broadway production, helmed by Darren Criss, which I walked out on about halfway through.

Playwright Del Shores and Palm Canyon Theatre (PCT) have a long-lasting love affair with each other. The theatre recently presented their eighth production of Sordid Lives, and for the first time, ran the popular comedy for two weekends instead of one. There are two plaques for Palm Springs' Walk of Fame in the sidewalk in front of PCT. One is for the Layne Family, founders of the theatre company, and the other is for Del Shores!

If the creativity and excitement of live theatre have been dammed up these past two years, the dam has broken center stage with Palm Canyon Theatre’s current production of Shrek the Musical.  Rarely have I seen such energy, excitement, color and talent in a local production

In a normal year, Palm Canyon Theatre (PCT) kicks their season off in September with a big, splashy musical - but 2021 has been anything but a normal year. They started off with The Boys, a 2-person play which paid homage to the 9/11 Heroes. Next up was a reprise the of cult hit Sordid Lives with a cast of around a dozen. Both shows were extremely well produced, but I suspect that the smaller casts were selected because no one knew for sure if audiences would be allowed indoors, or if so, they would have to allow for empty seats between parties, etc.

Script2Stage2Screen (S2S2S) kicks off their 2021-22 season with a staged reading of Auntie October 22 and 23.  The dramedy centers around Patrick Dennis’s Auntie Marion who claims that she was the inspiration for his most famous work, Auntie Mame, even though he consistently denies it.

Palm Canyon Theatre (PCT) continues their gala 25th Anniversary Season with Del Shores’ beloved Sordid Lives.  I say “beloved” because this is the eighth time PCT has presented the outrageous comedy and audiences are snatching up tickets like they’re going to a long awaited family reunion.