David Green - Page 33

I've said it before, but it is hard to find a more perfect venue than The McCallum Theatre for just about any theatrical production of any genre. And it was great to be back, as The McCallum kicks off it's 25th Anniversary Season - a season that promises to feature something for everyone - from Howie Mandell to Jackie Evancho, from Rock of Ages to Beauty And The Beast to West Side Story, and from Barbara Cook and Michael Feinstein to Yo Yo Ma and Chris Botti. Last night The McCallum played host to a multi-media touring production called THIS IS THE 60's and it was a great "warm up act" for everything that will follow. For those who came back for the second half, after a somewhat "underwhelming" first Act (there was a minor exodus in the parking lot at intermission), it turned out to be a rousing evening or musical nostalgia that brought the crowd to their feet dancing in the aisles - literally.

Broadway is alive and well and living in Las Vegas. The influence of the Great White Way on the Las Vegas Strip is more evident than ever and the word of the day is "QUALITY!" For theatre goers visiting Las Vegas who have digested just about "one Cirque too many" - Caesars Entertainment offers the antidote, producing the finest theatrical experiences in town ranging from a first rate production of JERSEY BOYS to Jerry Mitchell's tantalizing PEEPSHOW to the always surprising PENN AND TELLER, and more. On a recent trip to Sin City I attended five of Caesar's great theatrical offerings and was treated to a feast for the senses at every turn.

The Desert Theatre League presented Coyote StageWorks a total of twelve Desert Star Awards at the Desert Theatre League's annual celebration and awards ceremony on October 14. The Desert Star Awards are presented each year by the Desert Theatre League to recognize excellence in the local theatre community. Almost thirty local theatre companies compete for the awards, which are given in the categories of Ballet, Youth Theatre, Drama, Musical/Opera/Pageant, Revue/Cabaret, Comedy, Staged Reading, One Acts, and Technical Awards. Founded in 1987, the Desert Theatre League has been representing the interests of the Coachella Valley's theatre community for twenty five years. The Annual Desert Star Awards celebration and awards ceremony first took place in 1988.

The 20th Century's most compelling decade will come roaring back to life as This Is The 60's lands at The McCallum Theatre for one performance, tonight, October 18 at 8:00 pm. More than a stage show, and much more than a concert, This is the ‘60s takes the audience on a cultural journey celebrating the 50th anniversary of so many milestones in news, pop culture, and music history in a unique multimedia blend of live music, historical film clips, dance, fashion, and animation.

Coyote StageWorks launches its fourth season on November 23 with the Tony-nominated comedy "Souvenir" and follows up with a season that consists of "a little something for everyone". For the second season in a row, all productions will be staged at the Annenberg Theatre which is located at The Palm Springs Museum Of Art in downtown Palm Springs. CSW's mission is to bring affordable, entertaining, and thought-provoking theatre to Palm Springs and the surrounding communities of the Coachella Valley and to create an Actors' Equity Theater of local, regional, and national influence.

Renowned, powerhouse vocalist and entertainer Lorna Luft will headline the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies newest incarnation, DANCE TO THE MUSIC, when it opens on November 1 in the historic Plaza Theatre in downtown Palm Springs. Born to legendary entertainer Judy Garland and producer Sid Luft, Lorna's acclaimed career has encompassed virtually every arena of entertainment. A celebrated live performer, stage, film and television actress, best selling author, recording artist and Emmy nominated producer - she continues to triumph in every medium with critics labeling her one of the most vibrant, versatile and exciting artists on stage today.

The Palm Springs Art Museum was awarded with the Community Enrichment Award on Saturday by the Palm Springs Modernism Committee at its annual awards ceremony. The award was bestowed on the Palm Springs Art Museum for its efforts to rehabilitate a historic bank building in downtown Palm Springs as it transforms the building into the new Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion.

To quote Jeff Marx and Bobby Lopez - "There's A Fine, Fine Line". Between what's funny and what's not. Between what's tasteful and what's not. Let's just say that DIRTY LITTLE SHOWTUNES crossed the line on both accounts on multiple occasions throughout the evening. The premise - the Broadway "show tune" melodies we can all sing by heart accompanied by very clever lyrics that lampoon the unique idiosyncrasies of the gay lifestyle. The problem - it ends up being a one joke show that wears out its welcome - better served if it was condensed to a one act revue that didn't keep repeating itself and trying to top itself. I would have a similar complaint about a show that is quite similar in formula- Forbidden Broadway - that starts out with great comic momentum but has trouble finding its way back after intermission.

The 20th Century's most compelling decade will come roaring back to life as This Is The 60's lands at The McCallum Theatre for one performance, Thursday, October 18 at 8:00 pm. More than a stage show, and much more than a concert, This is the ‘60s takes the audience on a cultural journey celebrating the 50th anniversary of so many milestones in news, pop culture, and music history in a unique multimedia blend of live music, historical film clips, dance, fashion, and animation.

The internationally acclaimed musical sensation PINK MARTINI will bring their unique and highly praised vocal stylings to The McCallum Theatre for a 'one night only' concert tonight, September 8 at 8:00 pm. Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world - crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop - Pink Martini's diverse repertoire is a blend influenced by Cole Porter and Duke Ellington, Tito Puente and Xavier Cugat, as well as Argentine tango, Brazilian samba, Italian folk, Asian and romantic Hollywood musicals of the 1940s and '50s.

Shoshana Bean joins the cast of 'A Magical Night On Broadway' at The Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage on Saturday, September 8 at 8:00 pm. 'A Magical Night On Broadway" is a fully-staged and costumed tribute to the American musical theatre starring stage, film and television personality JoAnne Worley and featuring music from some of Broadway's most celebrated musicals including "Chicago," "Wicked," "Hairspray," "A Chorus Line," "The Lion King" and more. Joining Worley are Bean and Broadway and television star Rex Smith, Tony-nominated actress Jonelle Allen, Terron Brooks and Carol Channing's American Glee Club - a young song and dance group representing America's public schools, along with a few surprise guests. The show is directed by David Green with musical direction by Stephen Smith.

The internationally acclaimed musical sensation PINK MARTINI will bring their unique and highly praised vocal stylings to The McCallum Theatre for a 'one night only' concert on Saturday, September 8 at 8:00 pm. Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world - crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop - Pink Martini's diverse repertoire is a blend influenced by Cole Porter and Duke Ellington, Tito Puente and Xavier Cugat, as well as Argentine tango, Brazilian samba, Italian folk, Asian and romantic Hollywood musicals of the 1940s and '50s.

roadway leading man Eric Kunze will kick off the all new "Broadway At The Cascade" Cabaret Series at the Spa Resort and Casino in downtown Palm Springs with a one night only concert on August 11 at 8:00 pm. Kunze will reminisce and perform sings from his many Broadway, touring and regional shows including Les Miserables, Miss Siagon and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Whistle Down The Wind. The Cabaret Series is produced by The Dr. Carol Channing - Harry Kullijian Foundation For The Arts and all proceeds benefit the Foundation's mission to restore the arts to Americas public schools.

The McCallum Theatre and singer kd Lang are a match made in heaven. The McCallum theatre has proven, once again, that there is no better venue in Southern California for an intimate, acoustically "pitch perfect" concert --- and kd Lang's impeccable and unrivaled vocal quality fits every corner of the venue like a glove, as if it were designed and built solely to show off her incredible vocal prowess. There are rare times when you sit in the theatre and have to pinch yourself and think "Memorize this moment - it is something very special". Last night, I spent the evening with kd Lang and it was truly one of those rare and special moments.

If the California desert wasn't hot enough this time of year, Grammy Award winning singer k.d. lang & the Siss Boom Bang promise to 'heat up the summer night' when they bring their eclectic, signature musical style to The McCallum Theatre tonight, June 26 at 8:00 pm as part of the Fitz's Jazz Cafe Series. Lang launched her career 25 years ago with a blend of country-rock and a playfully punk-like attitude. With her 1992 Platinum-selling Ingenue, she had fashioned a unique sound and an elegant and impassioned adult contemporary approach that yielded her a Grammy Award, her second, and her biggest career hit, 'Constant Craving.'

If the California desert wasn't hot enough this time of year, Grammy Award winning singer k.d. lang & the Siss Boom Bang promise to 'heat up the summer night' when they bring their eclectic, signature musical style to The McCallum Theatre on Tuesday, June 26 at 8:00 pm as part of the Fitz's Jazz Cafe Series. Lang launched her career 25 years ago with a blend of country-rock and a playfully punk-like attitude. With her 1992 Platinum-selling Ingenue, she had fashioned a unique sound and an elegant and impassioned adult contemporary approach that yielded her a Grammy Award, her second, and her biggest career hit, 'Constant Craving.'

nternationally renowned singer/performer Debby Boone returns 'by popular demand' to Vicki's of Santa Fe in Indian Wells on Sunday, June 3 from 2:00 -5:00 pm to bring down the curtain on another highly acclaimed season of The Sunday Jazz Series. This is Ms. Boone's fourth sell-out appearance at Vicki's of Santa Fe. For this performance she will be backed by an all star band of Andy Langham on Piano, Allen Goodman on Drums, Jeff Jarvis on Trumpet, Gene "Cip" Cipriano on Saxophone, Woodwinds and Flute, Les Benedict on Trombone and Larry Holloway on Bass. Debby Boone earned instant fame when her first single, "You Light Up My Life", was an overnight hit. The tune claimed the #1 spot on the Billboard charts for 10 straight weeks and sold in excess of four million copies. "You Light Up My Life" ranks # 7 in Billboard Magazine's The Hot 100's All-Time Top-Charting Songs of the last five decades.

The McCallum Theatre Institute, the Education Division of the McCallum Theatre, has announced the winners of the 14th Annual Open Call Talent Competition held on Thursday, April 26th - Saturday, April 28th. This year's twenty-two finalists were selected from one hundred eighty-one submissions. The cast of eighty-nine local artists were provided the opportunity to work with and receive guidance from a professional artistic and production team and perform on the McCallum Theatre stage in four performances for over 4,000 audience members.

The McCallum Theatre, the Coachella Valley's premiere theatrical venue, celebrates its 25th Anniversary Season with a star-studded lineup of Classical Music, Jazz, Cabaret, Comedy and a Broadway Blockbuster Series which includes Rock of Ages, Dreamgirls and West Side Story. The McCallum Theatre opened its doors on January 2, 1988 with a gala performance honoring Bob Hope that was nationally televised. Since then The McCallum has been the Coachella Valley's mecca for world-class entertainment including an extensive array of Broadway and Cabaret offerings. The man behind the tremendous success of the McCallum's eclectic performance calendar for the past thirteen years is Mitch Gershenfeld, Director of Presentations and Theatre Operations, who will take the helm as the theatre's President and CEO beginning June 1. I had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Gershenfeld as he begins preparations for The McCallum's exciting Silver Anniversary Season. Gershenfeld is warm, passionate, highly astute, a performing arts afficionado and a genuinely kind man. Here are a few highlights from that conversation.

The McCallum Theatre, the Coachella Valley's premiere theatrical venue, will celebrate its 25th Anniversary Season with a star-studded lineup of Classical Music, Jazz, Cabaret, Comedy and a Broadway Blockbuster Series which includes Rock of Ages, Dreamgirls and West Side Story. The season kicks off on August 31 with comedy legend Steve Martin joined by the Grammy nominated Steep Canyon Rangers. This wonderfully eclectic season also includes Pink Martini, Howie Mandell, Barbara Cook, Michael Feinstein, Elaine Page and Yo-Yo Ma, to name a few.