Desert Ensemble Theatre to end 15-year run, citing economic challenges

Desert Ensemble Theatre has announced that its upcoming 15th anniversary season will be its last. Leaders of the Palm Springs-based company cited ongoing economic challenges as the primary reason for ending the organization’s run in the Coachella Valley.

The farewell season will include four mainstage productions from November 2025 through April 2026, beginning with a musical fundraising gala in October.

In an interview with The Coachella Valley Independent, Executive Director Shawn Abramowitz and Artistic Director Jerome Elliott Moskowitz said shrinking entertainment budgets, declining government arts funding, and a drop in seasonal Canadian visitors have made it increasingly difficult to sustain operations.

“We’ve seen that because of the way the economy is going, people are cutting back on their entertainment spending,” Moskowitz told The Independent’s Jeffrey Norman. “Government funding for the arts is also in jeopardy — and a large portion of our audience is Canadian, and we know that many of them are not coming back next season.”

Founded in 2011 by playwright and director Tony Padilla, DET quickly became known as a creative hub for original works and emerging voices in the desert arts scene.

Reflecting on Padilla’s impact, Abramowitz said, “He not only gave his time and money; he also gave his love. We would not have been where we are without his vision and talent.”

One of the company’s most enduring contributions is its Technical Theatre Internship Program, which has helped train a new generation of designers, stagehands, and technicians. The program is considered a cornerstone of the company’s legacy.

“Thanks to the support of generous community partners and donors, we have trained a lot of students not only to be great workers and designers in technical fields, but also to be great citizens,” Abramowitz said.

Since its inception, the program has awarded nearly $40,000 in scholarships, with a final round scheduled for the upcoming season.

The theater’s final season will feature a mix of contemporary and original works, including The Roommate by Jen Silverman, Dispersion of Light by Rich Rubin, Meteor Shower by Steve Martin, and Knife to the Heart by Stan Zimmerman and Christian McLaughlin.

Despite the closure, both Abramowitz and Moskowitz said they intend to stay active in the arts community. Moskowitz plans to return to his cabaret roots, while Abramowitz will continue mentoring students and performing.

“There is no way I’m not going back on those boards,” Abramowitz said “Theater is my artistic way to express myself.”

Since its founding, DET has earned 66 Desert Theatre League Awards and has been in residence at the Palm Springs Cultural Center since 2021.

“We are ending both on our terms and on top,” Abramowitz said. “This has been a fantastic chapter in my life.”

Season subscriptions will open to renewing subscribers on June 1 and to the general public on July 1. Individual show tickets will go on sale in September. For more information, call 760-565-2476, or visit www.desertensembletheatre.org.

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