A FINAL BOW WITH
HUMOR AND HEART

DET closes its run with a sharp, funny
family comedy about tradition and change

Ricky Luna. Jonathan Brett

There is a bittersweet irony in Desert Ensemble Theatre choosing Knife to the Heart for its final bow. For fifteen seasons, DET has been a home for sharp, thoughtful theater in the Coachella Valley, and as they prepare to close their doors for good, they’ve picked a play that looks at the very thing that holds a family together: tradition. Opening at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, this production is a high-note finale for a company that has spent years taking creative risks.

Ricky Luna

Playwrights Stan Zimmerman and Christian McLaughlin have written a script with the kind of fast-paced wit you’d expect from a classic sitcom. The story follows Marshall and Julie Ann, a young couple in Dallas expecting twin boys, whose joy turns into a family battle when Marshall’s mother, Rhonda, insists on a traditional bris. Zimmerman also directs the show, keeping the energy high and the timing tight. He finds the humor in the absurdity of the situation without losing the real heart of the story.

Ricky Luna, Jessica Lenz, Bonnie Gilgallon

The world of the play is brought to life by Jason Reale’s set, which looks both polished and lived-in. It perfectly captures the feel of a middle-class home and provides the right backdrop for the chaotic family dynamics.

Ricky Luna, Bonnie Gilgallon

The cast is excellent across the board. Jonathan Brett is strong as Marshall, playing the stressed-out man caught between his mother and his wife with charm. Jessica Lenz is the perfect balance to the madness, playing Julie Ann with a grounded, modern sensibility that keeps the play feeling real. Bonnie Gilgallon is a force of nature as Rhonda, the overbearing but loving “Glam-ma” who defends her traditions with incredible comedic timing. Ricky Luna nearly steals every scene as the gay bestie, Deacon, providing blunt and hilarious commentary on the family drama.

Ricky Luna, Bonnie Gilgallon, Jonathan Brett, Jessica Lenz

Beyond the work on stage, this final production serves as a reminder of DET’s lasting impact on the local community and beyond. For years, their high school technical internship program has been a critical tool in developing local talent, providing students with hands-on experience and awarding nearly $40,000 in scholarships to date. While the company is closing, it was heartening to hear in the curtain speech that this vital program isn’t ending; it will transfer to Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre (CVRep), ensuring that the next generation of theater technicians continues to have a pathway into the industry right here in the Coachella Valley.

Jonathan Brett, Bonnie Gilgallon

As the curtain falls on this production on April 19, it also falls on a significant era for theater in Palm Springs. Executive Director Shawn Abramowitz and Artistic Director Jerome Elliott Moskowitz wanted to go out on a high note, and they certainly have. Knife to the Heart is funny, heartfelt, and a wonderful way to say goodbye to a local institution.

Bonnie Gilgallon

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photos by Tara Howard

Knife to the Heart
Desert Ensemble Theatre
Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 East Baristo Road
Fri & Sat at 7:30; Sat & Sun at 2
ends on April 19, 2026
for tickets ($40), call 760.565.2476 or visit DET

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