Lance Phillips News

Desert Theatreworks is finishing their season with a bang - a top-notch production of the truly smart and hilarious comedy, Jewtopia. Two friends, one Jewish and one Gentile, are looking for girls to date. The Gentile wants a Jewish girl so he will never have to make another decision in his life, the Jew wants a Gentile girl who can cook, join him in sports, and take care of repairs around the house. Their search pokes gentle fun at stereotypes, particularly those assigned to Jews, but the writing is extremely funny, and DTW's delivery under director Lance Phillips-Martinez is top notch!

Grease is still the word! Since its first appearance in 1971, Grease has become an indelible element of American culture. Indio's Desert Theatreworks has assembled a dozen of the valley's top young actors who have brought such an amazing level of talent, hard work, and enthusiasm to the show that it feels as if it had been written last week. I dare you to keep your toes from tapping!

Desert Theatreworks' (DTW's) production will make you reevaluate everything you thought you knew about ON GOLDEN POND -- it has many comedic moments. Here, the play is expertly performed and directed.

Nunsense, with book music and lyrics by Dan Goggin, has become quite a cottage industry since its debut off-Broadway in 1985. The original production ran for 3,672 performances, making it the second-longest-running off-Broadway show in history (behind Fantasticks). Since that successful opening, the playwright has concocted six sequels and three spinoffs. A couple of years ago, Desert Theatreworks presented Nunsense: The Mega Musical, one of the spinoffs, which was basically the original five-nun musical expanded to a cast of 17, with a couple of new songs added. They are currently presenting Nunsensations, the fifth of the six sequels.

Desert Theatreworks continues their tradition of a Neil Simon comedy every season with Last of the Red Hot Lovers. Written in 1969, it is Simon's nod to the Swinging Sixties, with a nebbish middle aged man making three attempts at having a sexual fling outside of his 22-year marriage. Although firmly set in the Sixties, DTW's production is fast, frisky, and very, very funny!

There's nothing like a creepy tale told well for these cool October nights, and Desert Theatreworks delivers with The Woman in Black. This two-hander is the second-longest running non-musical in London, and still scaring British audiences today.

Desert Theatreworks' (DTW's) rip-roaring production of the Broadway musical, ANNIE, is a winner. The cast (both grown-ups and children), perform their roles with heart and expertise, resulting in a fabulous, feel-good presentation that all ages can enjoy.

Desert Theatreworks' (now resident in the Indio Performing Arts Center) production of the musical tearjerker NEXT TO NORMAL is a must-see. The uniformly superb cast performs their roles with spirit and empathy, and they all display lovely singing voices.

Desert Theatreworks' (DTW's) production of 45 SECONDS FROM BROADWAY is a hoot. Thanks to Lance Phillips-Martinez's imaginative direction and the Broadway-quality lead performances (backed by an able supporting cast), theatregoers are almost guaranteed to laugh their heads off.

Votes are cast; polls are closed; and results have been tabulated! This was our biggest year yet! After a record number of voters in more than 75 regions worldwide, BroadwayWorld is very excited to announce the 2016 Palm Springs winners! Thanks to all who voted, and huge congratulations to all the winners!

Desert Theatreworks (DTW), Palm Desert's 501(c)(3) community theatre, has chosen something different for its 2016 Christmas production. SINATRA: CHRISTMAS MY WAY is a sweet, light, feel-good cabaret simulation featuring Frank Sinatra's holiday music and a few silly jokes. Even though I'm not a Sinatra fan, I enjoyed the show.

Desert Theatreworks' (DTW's) A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED, adapted by Leslie Darbon from the Agatha Christie novel, isn't exactly Noel Coward or Oscar Wilde, but the production's excellence provides a rollicking good time, and more than makes up for any weaknesses in the script.

Desert Theatreworks presented SHOW WRECK, a musical parody revue, as a fundraiser. Arnie Kleban, Adina Lawson, Lance Phillips-Martinez, Luke Rainey, and Karen Schmitt presented numbers originated by FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, all of which made fun of theatergoers' favorite New York street. Desert Theatreworks is beginning several new project that require funding to continue.

Desert Theatreworks (DTW), Palm Desert's 501(c)(3) community theatre, is presenting Will Eno's esoteric play, THE REALISTIC JONESES. This top-notch production is a must-see for theatergoers interested in well-acted, absorbing, unsettling plays. However, the meaning of the play is difficult to discern.

Audiences that attend some of Desert Theatreworks' (DTW's) productions this season will get an added treat - a pre-show in the form of a musical revue put on by the participants in DTW's new, tuition-free training program, KidsWorks. The program, which will meet every Saturday, will teach approximately twenty students from ages eight to sixteen how to act, sing, perform comedy, and tap dance. Each fifteen-minute revue will complement the subject matter of the main production.

Desert Theatreworks (DTW), Palm Desert's community theatre, will present the zany LOVE, SEX, AND THE IRS, from June 17th-25th. Playwrights Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore pay homage to television comedies in the play, which takes place in the 1970's, when sitcoms ruled the airwaves.

Desert Theatreworks, Palm Desert's community theatre, hits the mark with Its current production, Jon Robin Baitz's OTHER DESERT CITIES, a must-see. The acting, directing, set design, and lighting are all top-notch.

CLUE THE MUSICAL, as interpreted by director Lance Phillips-Martinez and music director Joel Baker, Desert Theatreworks' production is a great deal of family-friendly fun. Mr. Phillips-Martinez and Ashley Hernandez (who also plays the multiply-widowed Mrs. Peacock) have provided superb choreography. Add an excellent cast, a terrific musician (Brian Alec Thom), and the twist of giving the audience the opportunity to solve the murder, the result is a highly enjoyable 95 minutes.

Neil Simon's autobiographical play, LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR, as presented by Desert Theatreworks (DTW), provides a side-splitting few hours of theatre. The play is based on the mayhem in the writers' room of Sid Caesar's YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS. Director Lance Phillips-Martinez does a fine job of directing an excellent cast.

Desert Theatreworks's new version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL is touching and funny. Director Lance Phillips-Martinez adapted the Charles Dickens novella by using Dickens' words for narration and dialog. He also selected period Christmas carols, sung primarily by the chorus,The clever staging, the use of a combination musical chorus and Greek chorus (the latter narrates early parts of the story), the costumes, the make-up, the imaginative sound and lighting, the elements of humor, and, of course, the acting all contribute to the success of this top-notch production.