Dezart Performs to convert historic Palm Springs church into theater

Dezart Performs is set to purchase and transform the First Church of Christ, Scientist into a state-of-the-art professional theater. The 1957 Albert Frey-designed building, located at 605 South Riverside Dr., will become the Dezart Playhouse, a 6,000-square-foot cultural hub for the Coachella Valley.

The theater company has entered into a contract to buy the church, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The renovation plans include creating a 150-seat fully-equipped theater, dressing rooms, a rehearsal hall, meeting rooms, and a lobby with a box office and bar.

Michael Shaw, Founder and artistic director of Dezart Performs, expresses his enthusiasm for the project.

“The transformation of this stunning Albert Frey-designed church into a state-of-the-art professional theater is not just a dream come true; it’s a profound honor,” said Michael Shaw, founder and artistic director of Dezart Performs, in a statement released Sunday.

The company aims to open the new Dezart Playhouse for the 2025/26 season. The project architect has not yet been selected.

Writer/producer and Palm Springs resident David C. Lee has pledged $500,000 to support the theater conversion project. This includes a $200,000 matching donor challenge to help cover the cost of a down payment on the building. Lee’s $5 million pledge to the Plaza Theatre Foundation in 2021 helped kickstart the refurbishment of that historic downtown building.

“I am very excited about this project,” Lee said. “Dezart Performs has been producing professional theater in Palm Springs for 16 years. Owning their own theater here will mean that the city and the entire Coachella Valley will permanently benefit from their exceptional productions.”

The project’s total cost is estimated at $2 million. To date, Dezart Performs’ Next Stage Campaign has raised $1.4 million in gifts and pledges. The company continues to seek matching funds for the down payment, which must be secured by the closing date of Nov. 29. Major donors will receive permanent recognition as Founders and have a choice of naming opportunities within the new theater.

Preserving the building’s architectural integrity is a key focus of the renovation plans. Eric Chiel, a Dezart Performs board member and preservationist, emphasizes the company’s commitment to maintaining the structure’s Modernist aesthetic.

“We intend to maintain its integrity as much as practical, consistent with the needs of a professional theater company,” Chiel said. “The visual statement the building makes complements the quality of our stage work. Its materials, motifs, and color reflect Modernist principles and speak to the period during which it was created.”

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