The second half of RSC’s 2023-2024 Season (Amended)
By Audrey Liebross
The holidays are over, and it’s time to get back to our normal activities, which means theatre, theatre, theatre! Revolution Stage Company (RSC) has announced the second half of its 2023-24 season, which contains some very intriguing productions.
During January and February, the delightful Mid-Century Moderns, which wowed audiences during the first half of the season, will return for another extended engagement. When I reviewed the show, I described the jukebox musical as “sweet yet hilarious, well-written, and well-performed.” The review continued, “This feel-good, enjoyable show, featuring hits of the 1960’s, is exactly what I needed to raise my spirits after news about the latest carnage in the world.”
Avenue Q, the beloved Broadway musical that uses Muppet-like puppets to discuss serious topics such as racism, pornography, and problems that arise from being LGBTQ+, will begin its run on Thursday, January 11th. Please be aware that despite the puppets, this is absolutely not a musical for children; it is very much R-rated.
Tim Mulligan’s Witchland, a terrifying combination of play and scripted haunted house, will cast its spell on Palm Springs in February. It is described as “moving and funny,” and is intended to scare the audience out of its collective mind.
Alessandra Assaf brings Ava Gardner to life in a critically acclaimed, one-actor show co-written with Michael Lorre. Twelve O'Clock Tales with Ava Gardner, which will run for six performances in late January and early February, takes place in Gardner’s movie set dressing room, where she is angry at everyone and everything, and does battle with her past.
The Woman in the Mirror is a dark, but uplifting comedy about Alzheimer's, adapted from Dayna Steele's best-selling book, “Surviving Alzheimer’s with Friends, Facebook, and a Really Big Glass of Wine." Steele chronicled her mother's journey with Alzheimer's through a series of posts on Facebook for over two years. The play will run in March.
During April, in BILLIE! Backstage with Lady Day, actor-singer-playwright Synthia L. Hardy will bring the story of Billie Holiday to life. This musical features a jazz quartet and Hardy’s performances of Holiday’s hits.
There are other offerings as well. On January 13th and 14th, RSC will present two ten-minute play festivals. Part One is presented Saturday at 2 pm and Sunday at 5 pm and will showcase Roy Boucher’s Barry, Where Are You?, Laura Scruggs’ Emissary, Jurgen Wolff’s Frank and Harry, Lorenz Qatava’s The Rustin Arrest, and Kimberly Ferse’s When Life Gives You Melons. Part Two is performed Saturday at 7 pm and Sunday at 2 pm. Part Two will showcase Bruce Sisler’s Rising Polls, Nicholas Bompart’s The Owl Maker, Grey Forge LeFey’s Scott and Joan, Moss Magill’s A Dark and Welcomed Guest, and Steph Prizhitomsky’s Divine Hotline.
On January 15th, RSC will run a fundraiser consisting of two plays by Ronnie Sanlo, together entitled Queer Duet. Ms. Sanlo has previously written about her experiences as a lesbian who lost custody of her children because of her sexual orientation. In addition to its theatrical offerings, RSC also has a full schedule planned, consisting of cabarets and other musical entertainment.
The specific schedule is:
MID-CENTURY MODERNS returns January 19, playing weekends thru April 7.
AVENUE Q begins January 9 and runs through Jan. 25.
QUEER DUET plays January 15th.
WITCHLAND plays February 7 thru March 2.
THE WOMAN IN THE MIRROR plays March 8 thru 31.
MONDAY MONDAY, Joe Croyle's one-man musical about working with MAMA CASS ELLIOT, plays Monday, Jan. 22 @ 7 PM.
TRUMAN TALKS TENNESSEE, a one-man play by Broadway veteran JOEL VIG, plays on Mardi Gras 'Fat Tuesday,' Feb. 13 @ 7 PM
PIANO RIOT, a Broadway Sing-Along, alternately featuring musicians JEFF LESSER, JASON WEBER & RON PASS, every Saturday at 5 PM.
BILLIE! BACKSTAGE WITH LADY DAY plays weekends, April 12-21.
RSC is a 501(c)(3) entity dedicated to bringing revolutionary offerings to discerning Palm Springs audiences. For more information or to purchase tickets to Revolution’s plays or other events, go to the Web site, at www.RevolutionStageCompany.com. The theater is located at 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, in the same shopping center as the Palm Springs Revivals store.