While Broadway is famous for its spectacular theatre district, you don’t need to travel to New York to catch a quality show. From national tours to regional theatre, find a variety of amazing productions right here in the Coachella Valley. Plus, many are budget friendly. Read on for a list of upcoming live theatre in Palm Springs and the surrounding desert communities.
The McCallum Presents a Season of Diverse Live Theatre
The McCallum Theatre is a beautiful 1127-seat venue. It consistently ranks as one of the top 50 theatres in the world based on ticket sales. Their 2022-2023 season is full of Broadway shows and more.
Upcoming musicals include the award-winning Come From Away. Based on a true story, this uplifting New York Times Critics’ Pick focuses on 7,000 strangers stranded in a small town because of 9/11. Get your tickets today. Only a few seats remain. It plays from April 4 through April 9.
From May 5 to May 7, the Man of La Mancha makes a stop at the McCallum Theatre. All about the legendary Don Quixote, the original 1965 production won five Tony awards including Best Musical. Sing along to The Impossible Dream, Dulcinea and I Really Like Him.
Find Community Productions at Palm Canyon Theatre
One of my favorite establishments for live theatre in Palm Springs is the Palm Canyon Theatre. Their mission is to educate and enrich the greater Palm Springs community through live stage productions. They offer fun and entertaining shows at reasonable ticket prices.
Next up is Little Women, the Musical. Putting the classic story based on the life of Louisa May Alcott to music, it follows the adventures of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March. Beginning Friday April 7, the show runs through April 23.
She Loves Me finishes out the 26th Season at Palm Canyon Theatre from May 5 through May 14. Inspired by the romcom, You’ve Got Mail, this hilarious love story is full of twists and turns.
Desert Theatreworks Offers Live Theatre on the East Side of the Valley
Desert Theatreworks in Indio is community-inspired theatre offering both plays and musicals with local performers. Another playhouse I am fond of, I find their shows to be delightful. Ticket prices are affordable at $40 and under.
Coming to the stage in April is The Play That Goes Wrong. This play within a play is a laugh-out-loud romp featuring actors who cannot remember their lines, dead people still alive and everything else that could go wrong. It runs from from April 14 through April 30. Grab your tickets now.
Ending Desert Theatreworks’ 2022-2023 season is The Last Five Years. This modern musical navigates through the ups and downs of marriage with powerful and funny songs. This two-member cast performs May 5 through May 21.
Desert Theatreworks brings exposure to cultural experiences to the community. They also provide education through programs such as KidsWorks. In the last 6 seasons, they have put on more than 50 plays and musicals plus numerous children’s productions.
Coachella Valley Repertory Provides Innovative Live Theatre
Coachella Valley Repertory’s mission is to give a voice to a wide range of artists and visions. They accomplish this by providing productions and outreach programs that enhance and impact the quality of life for those in the Coachella Valley. This not-for-profit theatre company has Small Professional Theatre (SPT) status with the Actors’ Equity Association.
Their final production for the season is Hand to God playing from March 29 through April 9. Although a puppet is involved, this dark comedy is for adults with its raunchy humor. With five Tony nominations, the story tackles the nature of good and evil as a unhappy teenage boy tries to please his mother. Let’s just say things do not go as planned.
Dezart Performs Brings Thought-Provoking Theatre to the Desert
Started in 2008, one of the founding principles of Dezart Performs is to produce contemporary plays that those in the desert would not normally see unless they traveled to a larger city. Utilizing both local actors and more seasoned professionals, they continue to push the bar with bold and thought-provoking work.
Rounding out their 15th season is The Garbologists, running from April 14-23. This play centers around the relationship between two people working in the cab of a trash truck for the N.Y. City Sanitation Department. He is a White conservative. She is a Black Ivy-educated single mother. Together they find common ground in uncommon times.
Tell me about your favorite live theatre performance in the comment section below.
If you prefer music over theatre, click here to discover Jazzville.