Palm Springs board approves historic designation for Albert Frey-designed church turned theater
Dezart Performs purchased the modernist First Church of Christ Scientist in December 2024 to use as its new playhouse; the City Council must grant final approval.
The Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board on Tuesday approved a request from Dezart Performs to designate the First Church of Christ Scientist as a Class 1 site.
Modernist architect Albert Frey designed the church at 605 South Riverside Drive, which held its first service on March 17, 1957. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. Dezart Performs purchased the church in December 2024 to use as their new Dezart Playhouse, and the theater company held their debut show at the venue last November.
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Class 1 is the city’s highest designation level for historic sites, and comes with certain requirements for any requests to alter or demolish the structure.
Designating a Class 1 site requires the city to determine that the building meets at least one of five separate criteria showing “exceptional historic significance,” according to a city staff presentation, which included a full nomination application prepared by Peter Moruzzi of the Palm Springs Modern Committee.
The First Church of Christ Scientist met two of these criteria, reflecting both a particular period of local history and the work of a master architect of the era.
City staff described the church as an “excellent example of midcentury modern design,” by showcasing both elegant lines and utilitarian building materials. The church’s character-defining features include a shed roof over the auditorium, a flat roof over the foyer and boardroom, and sandblasted terracotta-colored concrete blocks, along with other design features.
Dezart Performs requested the historic designation in part so that any future changes or renovations to the building will be evaluated under the city’s historic preservation ordinance, according to city staff. Historic Site Preservation boardmembers praised the theater company’s plans to adapt the church into a theater venue.
“The idea of the adaptive reuse for this particular space by this particular production company is I think serendipitous and this building couldn’t find a better steward,” said one boardmember.
The Palm Springs City Council will consider the historic designation for a final approval at a later date.
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