Lance Phillips News

Desert Theatreworks' THE SOUND OF MUSIC is a must-see, with great acting, singing, staging, and technical production.

Indio's Desert Theatreworks continues their strong 2018/19 season with a stylish production of Agatha Christie's MURDER ON THE NILE. Smartly dressed characters with distinct, larger-than-life personalities, come together in the early 1940's onboard an Egyptian riverboat. One of them gets shot through the head, and the remainder of the show deals with the characters figuring out whodunnit.

Desert Theatreworks has mounted a must-see production of Stephen Sondheim's and James Lapine's INTO THE WOODS. The acting, singing, and choreography are superb.

Desert Theatreworks has opened its 2018-19 season with a hilariously funny production of SOUTHERN FRIED FUNERAL. A clever script, great acting by the ensemble cast, great direction, and great set and costume designs ensure that audiences will have a great deal of fun at the dysfunctional Frye family's send-off for their husband and father.

Summer in the Coachella Valley certainly has a dearth of theatrical choices. However, the companies that do produce shows recognize that hot summer nights call for big, brash comedies. Desert Theatreworks' current offering, The 39 Steps, more than qualifies. The company's Artistic Director, Lance Phillips-Martinez, is the valley's best director of physical comedy, and The 39 Steps is physical comedy on steroids!

Hitchcock has never been funnier! This summer, Desert Theatreworks is presenting a stage adaptation of Hitchcock's film classic, The 39 Steps, but the suspenseful drama becomes a side-splitting comedy when the entire story involving dozens of characters is presented with only four actors, a handful of chairs, and couple of boxes. The mix of melodrama, action and lots of quick-change costuming all takes place in just 100 minutes. The results are hilarious!

Desert Theatreworks is finishing their season with a bang - a top-notch production of the truly smart and hilarious comedy, Jewtopia. Two friends, one Jewish and one Gentile, are looking for girls to date. The Gentile wants a Jewish girl so he will never have to make another decision in his life, the Jew wants a Gentile girl who can cook, join him in sports, and take care of repairs around the house. Their search pokes gentle fun at stereotypes, particularly those assigned to Jews, but the writing is extremely funny, and DTW's delivery under director Lance Phillips-Martinez is top notch!

Grease is still the word! Since its first appearance in 1971, Grease has become an indelible element of American culture. Indio's Desert Theatreworks has assembled a dozen of the valley's top young actors who have brought such an amazing level of talent, hard work, and enthusiasm to the show that it feels as if it had been written last week. I dare you to keep your toes from tapping!

Desert Theatreworks' (DTW's) production will make you reevaluate everything you thought you knew about ON GOLDEN POND -- it has many comedic moments. Here, the play is expertly performed and directed.

Nunsense, with book music and lyrics by Dan Goggin, has become quite a cottage industry since its debut off-Broadway in 1985. The original production ran for 3,672 performances, making it the second-longest-running off-Broadway show in history (behind Fantasticks). Since that successful opening, the playwright has concocted six sequels and three spinoffs. A couple of years ago, Desert Theatreworks presented Nunsense: The Mega Musical, one of the spinoffs, which was basically the original five-nun musical expanded to a cast of 17, with a couple of new songs added. They are currently presenting Nunsensations, the fifth of the six sequels.

Desert Theatreworks continues their tradition of a Neil Simon comedy every season with Last of the Red Hot Lovers. Written in 1969, it is Simon's nod to the Swinging Sixties, with a nebbish middle aged man making three attempts at having a sexual fling outside of his 22-year marriage. Although firmly set in the Sixties, DTW's production is fast, frisky, and very, very funny!

There's nothing like a creepy tale told well for these cool October nights, and Desert Theatreworks delivers with The Woman in Black. This two-hander is the second-longest running non-musical in London, and still scaring British audiences today.

Desert Theatreworks' (DTW's) rip-roaring production of the Broadway musical, ANNIE, is a winner. The cast (both grown-ups and children), perform their roles with heart and expertise, resulting in a fabulous, feel-good presentation that all ages can enjoy.

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.

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.

Votes are cast; polls are closed; and results have been tabulated! This was our biggest year yet! After a record number of voters in more than 75 regions worldwide, BroadwayWorld is very excited to announce the 2016 Palm Springs winners! Thanks to all who voted, and huge congratulations to all the winners!

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.

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.

Desert Theatreworks presented SHOW WRECK, a musical parody revue, as a fundraiser. Arnie Kleban, Adina Lawson, Lance Phillips-Martinez, Luke Rainey, and Karen Schmitt presented numbers originated by FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, all of which made fun of theatergoers' favorite New York street. Desert Theatreworks is beginning several new project that require funding to continue.

Desert Theatreworks (DTW), Palm Desert's 501(c)(3) community theatre, is presenting Will Eno's esoteric play, THE REALISTIC JONESES. This top-notch production is a must-see for theatergoers interested in well-acted, absorbing, unsettling plays. However, the meaning of the play is difficult to discern.