Oct. 10 Daily Briefing: New theater company in city, new acts for Pride Festival, and more

Happy Tuesday, everyone. We’ve been getting a few emails wanting us to do a story on the fact the local casino is once again allowing smoking. We hate to disappoint you, but there’s really not much we can write because there’s not much that the tribe would like to say. As a sovereign nation, it has the right to decide what happens inside its boundaries and buildings, even if those decisions go against rules established by the surrounding communities. If such things interest you, the tribe’s complete list of ordinances can be found here.

🎶 Setting the mood: “I Put A Spell On You” by Nina Simone

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LEADING OFF

New act joins Palm Springs’ theater scene

Gary Powers hopes his effort to transform a former playhouse in South Palm Springs will pay off in a revolution.

Driving the news: Powers, in partnership with James Owens, took over the lease of the former Desert Rose Playhouse — in the space where Zelda’s Nightclub used to operate — launching the Revolution Stage Company earlier this year. They were inspired by the level of talent found here.

• “We both thought that there seem to be so many talented people out here, but the level of theater just doesn’t match that talent,” Powers said. 

Bigger picture: Powers said he hopes the city can become a powerhouse of local theater on par with vacation towns like Provincetown, Mass., That city has a host of comedy, improv, cabaret, and other variety shows to choose from. 

Zoom in: The co-founders want Revolution Stage Company to welcome the whole community seven days a week, not just on the weekend when there’s a show. They plan to hold acting courses, monologue workshops, and courses on playwriting. 

State of play: The Revolution Stage Company thinks the Palm Springs audience is ready for something new.

• “Some people think that the audience here only wants what they already know, like ‘Sound of Music,’” said Powers. “But I don’t believe that. I think they want to be inspired and challenged by new work.”

Zoom out: In addition, Powers wants to broaden the theater audience by bringing down prices for students and people on a fixed income. 

What to watch for: This Thursday, they are holding a preview of the upcoming debut one-person musical, “Not in Front of the Children.” This weekend, there will be performances of “Mid-Century Moderns.”

Bottom line: Theater-goers can look forward to cabarets and festivals in the upcoming months. Tickets can be found online here.

Dive deeper with our complete story online here.

BRIEFLY

🏳️‍🌈 Pride Festival adds 10,000 Maniacs, Lisa Lisa to lineup

Palm Springs Pride Festival has added some more star power to an already impressive lineup, announcing Monday that two new musical acts, 10,000 Maniacs and Lisa Lisa, will join headliner Idina Menzel.

• Lisa Lisa, known for hits such as “I Wonder If I Take You Home” and “All Cried Out,” will perform on Nov. 4 and the 10,000 Maniacs on Nov. 5.
  
  
• The festival is free to attend and will take place on November 2-5, with a parade and a variety of exhibitors. Latin Pride Fiesta on Arenas Road will be held on November 2, along with DJs on the KGAY 106.5 and Gay Desert Guide.
  
  
• Bottom line: Ron deHarte, president and CEO of Greater Palm Springs Pride said the performers’ “incredible talent and dedication to the spirit of Pride make them perfect additions to our lineup.” 

🎭 Young Playwrights Festival accepting submissions

Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival (PSYPF) is now accepting submissions for its 6th annual event, offering young playwrights in Riverside County the chance to win mentorship, a public staged reading, and a $500 scholarship.

• The submission window for the festival is open until March 31, 2024, with winners announced by April 15. The selection committee will review all submissions and choose the most outstanding plays from students enrolled in any Riverside County school.
  
  
• The festival, which will be held in June 2024, has also named its two annual scholarships after long-time donors Western Wind Foundation and Cherry Lane Alternative.
  
  
• Details: More information is available at https://psypf.org.

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TODAY’S EVENTS

Human Rights Commission
2:30 p.m. | City Hall 
The monthly meeting of this city commission is held in the large conference room at City Hall. An agenda for this meeting is available here. 

HIV/AIDS Survivors Roundtable
4 p.m. | Zoom
Led by peer facilitators, Roundtable meetings offer a space to make authentic connections and build community through conversation.

ONE-PS Monthly meeting
4:30 p.m. | PSPD training center
The Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs (ONE-PS) holds its monthly meeting on the second Tuesday of every month.

PSUSD Board of Education
6 p.m. | District Headquarters
The regular meeting of the Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Education begins at 6 p.m. It is preceded by a study session at 4 p.m. and a closed session at 4:40 p.m.

Terror Tuesdays
7 p.m. | Cultural Center
Experience your favorite scary movies as they were meant to be seen on the Camelot Theatre big screen. Tonight’s showing is “The Shining.”

SAVE THE DATE

• Lesley Zerebny Memorial Softball Game at Big League Dreams on Oct. 14.
  
  
• Battle in the Desert boxing event featuring PSPD Sgt. Mike Torres on Oct. 14. ($40)
  
  
• Modernism Week October from Oct. 19-22.
  
  
• Coachella Valley Garden Day on Oct. 21 at UCR Palm Desert.
  
  
• Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walk on Nov. 4 ($40 registration through Nov. 1)
  

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AND FINALLY …

Today is World Mental Health Day, and we thought we’d check in to ensure you’re OK and tell you that sometimes we’re not (and that’s OK).

Driving the news: This year, global event organizers are focusing on the theme “Mental health is a universal human right.” 

• “Everyone, whoever and wherever they are, has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health,” they wrote.

Why it matters: Mental health is not just a fundamental right. It is also a critical component of your overall health. Untreated mental health struggles can lead to not only depression and anxiety but also chronic physical health issues.

💭 Our take: Recently, we’ve noticed an uptick in the volume of emails sent to us that go beyond the regular dialogue we would expect with our audience. Some readers have chosen to hurl personal insults at both of us that we’d rather not repeat here. 

• We understand that “media bashing” is a national pastime and that we’re supposed to take it all with a grain of salt, but something seems different these days. And while these emails have taken their toll on our mental health, we’re also concerned about yours.
  
  
• We like to think we’re not part of the larger media scene. We’re just two of your neighbors who put out a decent newsletter. So, as your neighbors, please know that we love and care about you and are here to talk whenever you need us, as long as you can keep things civil.