Coachella Valley Theatre Season Has Plenty to Offer

More choices, celebrated talent, award-winning stories, and inspiring directors show growth on stage

Michelle Roe Arts & Entertainment

 

Theatre buffs have more reason to cheer as the 2014-2015 season takes the stage at venues across the Coachella Valley.

Theater is coming of age in the desert by attracting celebrated talent, award-winning stories, critically acclaimed playwrights, and inspiring directors to share their visions.

“Theatre here in the desert has changed since I moved here 16 years ago,” agees Ron Celona, Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre’s (CVREP) founding artistic director.

“I’ve seen several new companies pop up that include professional acting, and this precedent has stepped up the game by elevating the quality of theatre in the desert,” Celona says. “Professional union houses, of which CVREP is one of them, have the ability to hire talented actors and performers who make a living in the theatre, and this translates to world class performances.”  

CVREP has grown leaps and bounds since opening six years ago, outselling the previous year’s pre-season tickets sales prior to opening night.

In keeping with its charter to entertain and educate, CVREP has picked a series of plays under the moniker The American Melting Pot. The next in the series is Having Our Say, which runs Jan. 21 to Feb. 8.

“I feel it is important that as we grow as a valley, we evolve creatively to explore topics and ideas,” Celona says. “The whole concept of our season is to share different cultural/ethnic backgrounds of the American Melting Pot. All of the plays are family stories that tell a history through human experience.”

Photo courtesy of desert rose playhouse

(From left) Timm McBride as “Charlie Schmaltz”, Ryan Dominquez as “Vesta Virile”, and Alexander Todd as “Miss Lottie Obbligato” star in Desert Rose Playhouse's "Scrooge Rouge."

Take in a play this season at one of these venues:

Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre
At The Atrium in Rancho Mirage
69930 Highway 111, Suite 116, Rancho Mirage
760-296-2966; www.cvrep.org

Coyote Stageworks
Theater location to be announced.
 760-318-0024; www.coyotestageworks.org

Desert Rose Playhouse
69-620 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage
760-202-3000; www.desertroseplayhouse.org/

Desert Theater Works
At the Arthur Newman Theatre
73-750 Catalina Way, Palm Desert
760-980-1455; www.dtworks.org

Dezart Peforms
At the Pearl McManus Theater at the Palm Springs Woman’s Club
314 S Cahuilla Road, Palm Springs
760) 322-0179; www.dezartperforms.org/

Palm Canyon Theater
538 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
760-323-5123; www.palmcanyontheatre.org

Palm Desert Stage Company
At the Indio Performing Arts Center (IPAC)
45-175 Fargo St., Indio, CA 92201
760-636-9682; www.pdstage.com

 

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