McCallum Theatre is a Jewel in the Desert

Most of our GED readers make at least one visit to the Palm Springs area each year, but some of you might not be familiar with the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert. This little jewel box of a venue seats around 1,100 guests and presents many shows each year which are presented in theatres twice or even triple the size when they visit larger cities. The benefit of The McCallum is that you can see the same touring shows in a much more intimate surrounding, and quite often at lower prices.

The McCallum has traditionally presented four musicals per year, with each production playing a five-show weekend. However, new management is now helming the theatre and they have doubled the number of touring musicals. It’s enough to make this theatre queen’s heart beat out of his chest!

Knowing that most of you will visit the desert sometime during the coming year, why not schedule your trip to coincide with one (or more) of the following shows that the McCallum is presenting:

BOOK OF MORMON:  November 18-20 – This irreverent show has been filling houses on Broadway since 2011 and admittedly has toured the west coast quite a few times, but the mixture of outrageously vulgar humor and adorable tap-dancing nerdy twinks is somehow intoxicating. The best production of the show I have seen was a tour Los Angeles a few years ago, so it can do well outside of New York. Put this one high on your list.

RAIN, A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES:  November 25-27—This show started in the 70’s as a Laguna Beach band which played Beatles covers. Much like George Martin produced the Beatles, producers took this band and built a complete evening’s production around them, specializing in Beatles songs which the original boys never performed live. Characterized as musical theatre since 1980, the original band members have been replaced but the theatricality of the piece has given it a definite niche. I have never seen it but look forward to the experience.

THE SIMON & GARFUNKLE STORY:  January 20-21 – This one is on the border between tribute show and musical theatre. It tells the story of the legendary duo from boyhood through success and then separation, using a live band and performers, plus extensive videos.

MY FAIR LADY:  February 17-19 – This warhorse has been kicking around since 1956 when Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews played the leads, both on Broadway and London’s West End. The current tour is the revival directed by Broadway darling Bartlett Sher. I’ve have to be honest with you – that it is not one of my favorite musicals, but I am going to see it just to find out if Mr. Sher has made it a little less creaky. The number that they did on the Tony Awards a few years ago featured some humorously cross-dressed ensemble members, and hopefully that will be an example of new life being breathed into a basically solid show.

ON YOUR FEET:  February 24-26 – This is a jukebox musical (all the songs already existed) which tells the story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan. The score is built around the Cuban-fusion pop music made famous by Gloria Estefan. The songs featured include “Get on Your Feet,” “Conga,” “1-2-3,” and “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You.”  The extensive dancing is choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, and the energy should be infectious.

WAITRESS:  March 10-12 – This 2016 musical enjoyed a four-year run-on Broadway.  With music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson, it is a bit of a “chick flick,” but Bareilles’ songs, several of them recognizable, give the production a solid grounding.  Will the young waitress stay with the abusive gorilla who got her pregnant, or the handsome single young doctor who comes to her rescue? And what pop ballad will help her make the decision?

COME FROM AWAY:  April 6-8 – Currently in its fifth year on Broadway, this musical tells the true story of some 7,000 air passengers who were trapped in the small town of Gander, Canada, following the flight embargo caused by 9/11. A core cast portrays numerous travelers and locals, often using the actual names of the people who were involved. This story of a triumph of human kindness has been filling theatres for five years now, in large measure due to its creative staging.

RIVERDANCE:  April 14-16 – Okay, you know what this one is about – a group of lads and lassies doing all sorts of variations of Irish step dancing. This show has never been out of production since it originated in 1995. So far, I have never stayed for the second act, but I am in the minority. The audiences whoop and cheer, and there is certainly something about the energy that has filled houses for 27 years!

Tickets and further information are at www.McCallumTheatre.com. And as always, make sure you are booking your tickets directly with the theatre. Ticket scalpers work hard to make you think they are the genuine source, and then triple the prices of seats.