Cinema is in the klieg light this week as the Palm Springs International Film Festival continues. Its awards show was a precursor to Sunday’s Golden Globes – and frankly should be televised as well! Think of how that would put Palm Springs on the map.
Monday marks the screening of Forked, the film about restauranteur Susan Feniger. Her new restaurant, Alice B. has opened to rave reviews inside Living Out on Tahquitz Canyon Way. Susan and Liz Lachman, her producing partner on the film, portray a much different experience when Susan tried her hand at opening a restaurant solo in LA. KGAY’s John Taylor sat down with the duo in a wonderful interview that you can access on KGAY1065’s Facebook page.
Thursday brings another LA story to the screen, Studio One Forever. Following that screening will be a tamer after-party, Gayla!, at Reforma. No snorting coke in the bathroom stalls or other debaucherous behavior allowed.
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide on KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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Rock the Park: The Tina Turner Tribute by Debby Holiday
Postponed from last week due to weather, Palm Springs’ popular outdoor concert series, Rock the Park, is back this week with Season 3. These free, monthly tribute band concerts will again be at the new Palm Springs Downtown Park at 7 pm on the first Wednesday of each month through May. On Wednesday, January 10, Rock the Park features Debby Holiday with her Tina Turner Tribute. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and/or folding chairs. More info
Avenue Q
Revolution Stage Company (RSC) presents Avenue Q, starting with previews this week on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 9 & 10, with an official run from January 11–25. A smash hit on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in the West End, this Tony Award-winning adult musical comedy features the cheekiest puppets in town, skillfully brought to life by the Coachella Valley’s top musical theater performers. Take a delightful journey through the challenges of growing up, the pursuit of grand dreams, and the quest to discover life’s true purpose. Get tickets
Palm Springs International Film Festival 2024
The 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) continues all this week, and through Monday, January 15. One of the largest film festivals in North America, the Festival welcomes over 136,000 attendees each year for its lineup of new and celebrated international features and documentaries. Produced by the Palm Springs International Film Society, all 12 days are packed with events and film screenings, featuring over 180 films from 70+ countries at various venues in Palm Springs and Cathedral City. This year, the line-up includes award-season front-runners, international Oscar submissions, a spotlight on South Korea, family screenings, LGBTQ+ stories, and much more. Check out a list of recommendations here. See you at the movies! The festival will wrap up with Best of the Fest screenings taking place Monday, January 15. More info
Modern Men Open Rehearsal & Auditions
Audition to join Modern Men Coachella Valley Men’s Chorus to participate in their Spring Concert, titled “Greatest Hits.” Attend their open rehearsal on Monday, January 8 from 6:30–8:30 pm at the Palm Springs United Methodist Church for an introduction to the show and a quick read-through of some of the music. New member auditions start at 8:30 pm, with another chance to audition the following Saturday, January 13 from 11 am–noon. See our event listing for a link to their online audition form. More info
UCR Osher Open House
Embark on a lifelong journey of curiosity and discovery at the UCR Osher Open House on Monday, January 8 from 3–5 pm at the UC Riverside campus in Palm Desert. This special event created for lifelong learners caters to history enthusiasts, art aficionados, and science buffs; Osher courses offer something for everyone to explore. Meet the instructors and others who share your passion for growth, discovery, and the joy of learning! More info
Desert Modernism 101: Alexander Homes
Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS ModCom) in partnership with University of California, Riverside (UCR) Palm Desert and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute present Desert Modernism 101, a series of lectures sponsored by Eisenhower Health and held at UC Riverside – Palm Desert. This free adult program has been developed by PS ModCom’s Education Committee Leaders Joan Gand and Mimi Fisher, both avid architecture preservationists from the Midwest. On Tuesday, January 9 at 6 pm, the lecture will be The Alexander Homes Bring High Style to the Coachella Valley, presented by Chris Menrad. Registration required. More info
Rat Pack Tribute
Commemorate the era of Frank, Sammy, Dean, and Marilyn when the Rat Pack Tribute comes to The Show at Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage on Friday, January 12 at 8 pm. Travel back in time to the glamorous and dazzling nights of early 1960s Las Vegas when three of the world’s most beloved performers and the enchanting Marilyn Monroe were the talk of the town. Las Vegas served as the playground for their boundless energy, wild shenanigans and their timeless music that is as popular today as it was then. Add a touch of platinum-blonde glamour with the alluring charm of Marilyn Monroe, and you’ve got the recipe for a Vegas-style evening filled with excitement and charm. Get tickets.
THIS WEEKEND
Divas in the Dust: Varla Jean’s Kasserole Kiki
Divas in the Dust presents Varla Jean Merman’s Kasserole Kiki on Thursday, Friday & Saturday, January 11, 12, and 13 at 7 pm at The Sonoran. After a holiday season of entertaining family, friends, and strangers, international comedy chanteuse Varla Jean hauls open her talent cupboards to see what she can whip up for Palm Springs with a giddy goulash of tasty new songs, spicy leftovers, and a splash of well-brand liquor. Served up with a side of glamorous gowns and wash-and-wear wigs, this piping-hot dish will have you popping Tums and begging for a second helping. Get tickets
Ten Minute Play Festival
The Revolution Stage Company presents the Ten Minute Play Festival on Saturday and Sunday, January 13 & 14, with two different parts each day playing at 2 pm and 7 pm (Saturday) and 5 pm (Sunday). Each play is 10 minutes in length. The RSC is dedicated to showcasing emerging playwrights, making their stage available for full productions of their work in 2024 during this, their very first play festival. Tickets are just $15 to come and show your support for writers and their new work! Get tickets
Gilligan’s Island – The Musical
Desert Theatreworks presents Gilligan’s Island – The Musical, playing through January 28. America’s most iconic sitcom from the 1960s comes to the stage reincarnated as a fun family musical. Written by the original TV show’s creator, Sherwood Schwartz, all the show’s beloved characters seem to have leaped straight from the TV screen to the big stage, bringing their hilarious adventures along with them. The skipper and his hapless first mate, Gillian; millionaire Thurston Howell and his wife, Lovey; film starlet Ginger Grant; farm girl Mary Ann Summers; and the professor battle hurricanes, quicksand and even an alien with their usual fierce determination. Will they finally make it off the island? Get tickets
Theresa Caputo Live
On Saturday, January 13 at 8 pm the Long Island Medium, Theresa Caputo, is back on stage at The Show at Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage to share personal stories about her life and explain how her gift works. She will deliver healing messages to audience members and give people comfort knowing that their loved ones who passed are still with them, just in a different way. Get tickets
Albert Frey: Inventive Modernist
The Palm Springs Art Museum’s Architecture and Design Center Edwards Harris Pavilion presents Albert Frey: Inventive Modernist, opening this Saturday, January 13 and running through June 3. This is a comprehensive exhibition and publication on the architect’s life and work. Born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1903, Frey had early career successes in Paris and New York before moving to Palm Springs where he realized his unique “simple but severe” style of Desert Modernism, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential architects, not only in the Coachella Valley, but also in the United States and the world. This large-scale retrospective, curated and designed by Brad Dunning, will present rare and many previously unexhibited architectural models, drawings, films, photographs, and furniture. Get tickets.
