Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is an insipid holiday “classic” much like “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ was to my generation. The Wall Street Journal reports that retail workers especially revolt against hearing the song – even claiming it damages their psyche each season. There’s even a bar in Texas with a sign that warns “ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS WILL BE SKIPPED IF PLAYED BEFORE DEC. 1. AFTER DEC. 1, THE SONG IS ONLY ALLOWED ONCE PER NIGHT”.
Now we at KGAY 106.5 have resisted most holiday music to this point with the exception of the Retro Lunch and Sunday Retro Brunch. That’s going to change next weekend when Chris Shebel will turn KGAY into a Winter Wonderland for a mere 24 hours. We’ll start with the Ross Mathews Show on Saturday, Dec. 24th and end following the John Taylor broadcast from Oscar’s annual community breakfast the morning of the 25th. You’ve been ‘notified’ no matter what your take on Christmas music is. I for one will be listening to those tunes that bring back a flood of memories – until Mariah starts screeching. Then it’s a “silent night” for me.
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Musical
Desert Theatreworks presents Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, The Musical now through Friday, December 23, a musical stage adaptation of the beloved 1954 holiday film. Veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge. With a dazzling score featuring well-known standards including “Blue Skies,” I Love a Piano,” How Deep Is the Ocean,” “Snow,” and the perennial title song, White Christmas is a family-friendly holiday show bursting with cheerful dancing, treasured tunes and a generous helping of yuletide cheer. Get tickets
Holiday Singin’ & Swingin’ with California Desert Chorale
The California Desert Chorale celebrates the holiday season with its 30th annual Winter Concert, “Holiday Singin’ & Swingin’,” led by Artistic Director Tim Bruneau and performed by 32 choristers accompanied by a chamber orchestra. Presented in two acts, the festive concert is performed on Sunday, December 18 at 3 pm at the Hope Lutheran Church in Palm Desert. More info
Idyllwild Master Chorale: I Remember Christmas
The Idyllwild Master Chorale presents “I Remember Christmas” on Saturday, December 17 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 18 at 1:30 pm. After a two-year hiatus from concert presentations due to Covid, the Idyllwild Master Chorale returns to Lowman Hall at Idyllwild Arts with marvelous songs of the holiday season. Get tickets
Naughty or Nice? Holiday Concert
The Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus presents their annual (SOLD OUT) holiday concert, Naughty or Nice? on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, December 16, 17 and 18 at the Annenberg Theatre (7 pm Fri/Sat, 3 pm Sun). Get on board the Polar Express with all 100 singers as they perform traditional and non-traditional holiday favorites including “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas” and “O Holy Night,” music from Elf the Musical and Polar Express and songs by David Bowie, Bing Crosby, Meredith Wilson, and Giuseppe Verdi. Broadway diva Michele McConnell returns for this holiday extravaganza, and Nickerson-Rossi Dance Studio is doing the choreography. Get tickets
Fun Home – Final Weekend
CVRep presents Fun Home now through Sunday, December 18. Winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Fun Home is a musical adapted from Alison Bechdel’s 2006 graphic memoir of the same name. Follow Alison as she uncovers the secrets through three different ages in her life. Fun Home isn’t just a coming-of-age or coming out story, but one that sets out to unravel the many mysteries of childhood through which we can all identify. Get tickets
Our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh says of this production of Fun Home: “Under the excellent direction of Adam Karsten, the play is in constant motion with scene changes taking on an almost cinematic feel. His cast delivers uniformly strong, powerful performances.” Read his full review [here].
Palm Springs International Film Fest 2023 Lineup + Giveaway
The Palm Springs International Film Festival has released the lineup and schedule for the 2023 festival, which runs January 5–16. Plan ahead and get ready for individual ticket sales to open. The American Express Pre-Sale is on now through Monday, December 19 and Member Days begin on Tuesday, December 20 [More info]. Passes are on sale now, and KGAY 106.5 has your chance to WIN a 4-pack of passes! This is one of the largest film festivals in North America featuring twelve extraordinary days of screenings and special events with celebrity appearances and post screening discussions. Enter to win on the KGAY 106.5 Contest Page
Jeff Dunham at The Show
The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage presents Jeff Dunham on Friday, December 16 at 8 pm. Hailed as “America’s favorite comedian” by Slate Magazine, for over two decades comedian/ventriloquist/actor Jeff Dunham has sold-out arenas around the globe, cementing him as a comedy powerhouse. His accomplishments have led to record-breaking viewership of his standup specials on NBC, Netflix and Comedy Central. Dunham was recently nominated by Pollstar for “Comedy Tour of The Year,” based on box office sales as well as being awarded “Billboard’s Top Comedy Tour,” for three years. Get tickets
Pied Piper: A Twisted Holiday Tale
The CV Philharmonic, Youth Training Orchestras of America, the Palm Springs Cultural Center, and the Palm Springs Dance Project present Pied Piper: A Twisted Holiday Tale on Saturday, December 17 from 5:30–7 pm at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. This is an all-new retelling of the Pied Piper of Hamelin through an innovative combination of live music, creative storytelling, and interpretive contemporary dance (featuring the InMovement Dance Company). Don’t miss this whimsical, adventurous and emotional tale! Get tickets
Karen Williams Live
Robin Tyler Productions presents Karen Williams Live at the Palm Springs Cultural Center for two shows on Sunday, December 18, at 4 pm and 6:30 pm. Williams graduated summa cum laude from Cleveland State University with a personally-designed major in “Humor and Healing,” and she earned a Master of Education degree from CSU’s Adult Learning & Development program. She is also the creator and facilitator of the Humor-at-Large Workshop Series and founder of the National Women’s Comedy Conference. Get tickets
Willie’s Big Fat Holiday Bash
The talented performers of Musical Theatre University present the Desert’s Brightest Holiday Bash at 4 pm on Sunday, December 18. MTU’s singing servers serve up a fully-staged holiday revue accompanied by a three-course holiday feast from Willie’s Award Winning kitchen. Broadway veteran Teri Ralston (Company, A Little Night Music) will be the headliner. More info
December at The McCallum
Merri-Achi Christmas returns to the McCallum Theatre in a colorful and traditional Mexican holiday celebration full of seasonal songs, dance, and festive merriment on Sunday, December 18 at 7 pm. Headlining the exciting extravaganza is one of the nation’s premier ensembles, Mariachi Sol de Mexico de José Hernàndez. Also coming up at the McCallum, it’s Dave Koz & Friends 25th Anniversary Christmas Tour (Dec. 19). Get tickets
