THE DESERT OF LOVE Captures The Heart Of Desert Theatregoers

The Writers Studio at the Coachella Valley Repertory Conservatory presented its first-ever Twilight Showcase this weekend, a staged reading of "The Desert of Love," a new full-length play by Writers Studio member Bruce Bonafede. The play was directed by Andy Harmon and starred Domingo Winstead, Richard Marlow, Phylicia Mason, Dan Graff, Sean Timothy Brown and Lisa Hammert. The stage manager was Roy Boucher.

With a sold-out house on Saturday night and a nearly sold-out matinee on Sunday, a mostly local audience responded enthusiastically to the play, which is set in Palm Springs and offers both humorous and not-so-humorous perspectives on various forms of love.

Audiences have spoken:

"I've not seen a better produced staged reading in more than a decade of living in the Coachella Valley," said Barry Cutler. "Director Andy Harmon did a wonderful job of staging an excellent cast...While often spiked with wonderful wit, it's a serious and moving piece...our desert could do with a lot more of such fine theatre and, hopefully, this funny, moving, and eloquent examination of love will soon be fully produced for a much longer run."

"I thought the play was brilliant and the casting, perfect. I loved the balance of drama and comedy in this work that covered several timely topics. Simply superb," said Carol Davis.

"It was a moving play about relationships good and bad! This play should go places!" said NeliaSue McFann Earl Neal.

"You think you can breathe a sigh of relief once your heart has returned to its normal place, beating as it should, when - rrrrriippppp! It's ripped right back out of your chest yet again with another moment of anguish," said Lynda Kerney.

The Writers Studio is part of the CVRep Conservatory program to advance the theatrical arts in the Coachella Valley.

Bruce Bonafede has been a produced, published playwright for more than 30 years. He is a long-time member of the Dramatists Guild and lives in Palm Springs. Andy Harmon is a director, actor, and playwright who has been teaching actors and business professionals for over four decades. He started the Writers Studio (formerly the Writers Group) at the CVRep Conservatory in 2012 where he also teaches Acting and Improv. He lives in Rancho Mirage.

Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre is located at the Atrium, 69-930 Hwy 111 in Rancho Mirage. 760-296-2966. www.cvrep.org.