mccallum-theatre

Entertainment Upgrade

McCallum Theatre makeover is 
ready for its close-up.

Kay Kudukis Arts & Entertainment

mccallum-theatre
Find your seat this season at the McCallum Theatre. The Palm Desert venue unveils an impressive lineup, 15 new shows, and a list of upgrades for theater lovers.
PHOTO BY SCOTT CAMPBELL

While the rest of us were trying to beat the heat this 
summer, the McCallum Theatre construction wizards were hard at work on improvements to enhance your entertainment experience.

The lighting, audio, video, and ventilation systems have all been upgraded, the parking lot is being resurfaced, and the stage has been set to provide the 
performers more spring in their step courtesy of a special floor. Layered, the base is concrete, the middle is made from neoprene “shock absorbers,” and the topper is a lumber frame, smooth-surfaced deck that the audience actually sees.

So the experience of watching Balletboyz, Rhythmic Circus, and The Nutcracker is better by leaps and bounds for performers and audiences alike.

And 15 — count ’em, 15 — new shows have been added to the 2016-2017 lineup: Aida Cuevas and Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, See Jane Sing with Jane Lynch, Tango Estampas Porteñas, George Takei, Jake Shimabukuro, Daniel Belle, DRUMLine Live, The Illusionists, Cole starring Michael Griffiths, Simply Three, John Cleese, The Summit: The Manhattan Transfer Meets Take 6, Malandain Ballet Biarritz, Max Raabe & Palast Orchester; and Family Fun Day is back with an uplifting show called B — The Underwater Bubble Show (also known as The Unexpected Journey of Mr. B in the Colorful Underwater World of Bubblelandia).

That’s a lot of new!

Don’t worry, some of your favorites are returning this season. No matter what your thing happens to be — rock or classical, show tunes, Broadway, dance, comedy, spoken word, magic, swing, jazz, or musical reviews — 
McCallum has you covered. Returning favorites include Olivia Newton-John, Joshua Bell, The Sound of Music, Chicago, Mamma Mia!, It’s Magic!, Kristin Chenoweth, Rita Rudner, Jay Leno, Garrison Keillor, Chris Botti, 
Bernadette Peters, Itzhak Perlman, Neil Diamond, Suzanne Somers, Foreigner, The Beach Boys, our beloved Follies, and a knock-out holiday lineup.

Visit www.mccallumtheatre.com for information, 
complete show listings, and pricing.

Keyboards and Choreography

Two fan favorites highlight November events.

Choreography Festival
If you happen to know the names Mia Michaels, Shane Sparks, Wade Robson, and Nappytabs, you’re probably already hip to the Choreography Festival now in its 19th year at the McCallum.

For those of you who have never seen So You Think You Can Dance (what??), it’s time to step out and experience the joy of watching emerging and established choreographers from all over the country bring their talents to the McCallum stage as part of the theater’s education program. And we get to watch!

Division 1 choreographers, who work with professional dancers with seasoned artistry, put their best feet forward Nov. 12, vying for the grand prize of $10,000. Nov. 13 is reserved for choreographers working with inventive preprofessional dancers from aspiring and emerging companies, colleges, and studios, with a $3,000 grand prize.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCCALLUM THEATRE
Talented dancers from across the nation vie for top prizes in the annual choreography 
competition.

Your cost runs from $14 to $32. But the experience? Priceless.

Three Pianos, Six Hands, One Performance
Speaking of competitions, don’t miss fan-favorite Three Pianos, Six Hands, One Performance at 7 p.m. 
Nov. 17. Three Virginia Waring International Competition winners perform solo and ensemble on three Steinway concert grand pianos. Virtuoso pianists Scott Cueller, Evan Lin, and Vijay Venkatesh appear with special guest soprano Lisa-Ann Hackett.


Ticket prices range from $17-$67 for a night filled with magnificent piano classics played to perfection.