For one night only, Marilyn Monroe was still a headliner here in the Coachella Valley. On Wednesday, November 19th, MM&M Productions brought the hit play, “Marilyn, Madness & Me,” with the original cast, as a reading to the Rancho Mirage Library. Presented as a fundraiser, the reading played to an over-capacity crowd of more than 300, who demonstrated their enthusiasm for the presentation with extended applause at its conclusion.
“We were delighted,” said Didier Bloch, whose original idea was the spark for the play that premiered at the historic El Portal Theatre in Los Angeles last season. Written by Frank V. Furino and directed by Joe Leonardo, the play presents a very believable interpretation of the last months of Marilyn Monroe’s life as it intertwined with two legendary political figures of the 1960’s.
Discussions have begun regarding a potential full production of the play here in the desert next season.
Rancho Mirage Public Library
71100 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760-341-7323
www.ranchomiragelibrary.org
Photography by Gregg Felsen
