Stan Jenson

AMAZING AND EPIC Palm Springs’ queer theatre company, The Bent, is justifiably proud that they are the first non-professional company on the West Coast to be granted the rights to Matthew Lopez’s The Inheritance, Part One, a play that The Telegraph described as “The most important American play of the century.” Almost every actor in…

A HILARIOUS DRIVE DOWN MEMORY LANE Of course I love a big musical with choruses singing and dancing, but on reflection, several of my favorite shows have intimate casts such as Nunsense, The Fantasticks and the original You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Firmly holding a place on that list is the four-hander Forever Plaid,…

THE INMATES ARE EASY TO LIKE IN PALM CANYON’S CUCKOO’S NEST Upon entering Palm Canyon Theatre, one first sees the onstage set for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Designer J. W. Layne has created a very naturalistic dayroom of a mental hospital. Especially effective are ceiling beams which extend almost to the front row…

TRY TO FIND A HAIRSPRAY WITH BETTER HOLD; THIS ONE WORKS FROM HEAD TO NECK! As I was driving to the Rancho Mirage Amphitheatre I noticed that the regular Friday Night Stress was lifting from my shoulders. I already loved Hairspray and Desert Theatricals can be quite stylish and classy, but I soon discovered that…

HOW TO SUCCEED SUCCEEDS AND HOW! Reams can and have been written about the glories of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock & Willie Gilbert, the 1961 musical satire that landed virtually unanimous raves would go on to run…

VA-VA-VOOM TO VICTOR/VICTORIA The story of Victoria who becomes Victor impersonating Victoria has been around for a while.  It started as a 1933 German film.  Then writer/director Blake Edwards (Pink Panther) made a hit movie of it in 1982 starring his wife, Julie Andrews. It featured several songs by Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse. It…

TOOT-TOOT-TOOTSIE, HELLO! I was worried about attending a local production of Tootsie. I had seen the national tour and enjoyed it immensely. I worried that I might be so spoiled that I couldn’t enjoy any other production. My worries were unfounded. Desert Theatreworks’ (DTW’s) production of Tootsie was one of the most consistently enjoyable musicals…

At the end of last season, Desert Theatricals warned audiences that, due to renovations at the Rancho Mirage Amphitheatre, they would have to skip the 2025 season. Then, somehow, the construction work got postponed, allowing this delightful theatre company to schedule two musicals before the jackhammers begin. The first, Oliver!, was mostly a delight—like visiting…

GUARANTEED HAPPINESS AWAITS It was just slightly over a year ago that the newcomer Revolution Stage Company staked its claim as one of The Valley’s top production companies with their presentation of Avenue Q (see Stage and Cinema‘s review) There was a bit of concern when the company announced that it would be restaged for this…

THIS CLASSIC MUSICAL STILL SPARKLES By and large, I don’t understand why people are so eager to return to familiar musicals. We know that Curly and Laurie are going to get hitched and that Annie is going to enjoy a plush life with Daddy Warbucks. For that reason, I have avoided My Fair Lady for…

PERFECT, INDEED: TERRIFIC—AND TIMELY The Bent Theatre, Palm Springs’ queer theatre company now in its third season, continues to prove its significance not only for the LGBTQ+ community but for the greater theatre scene as well. Their current production of Perfect Arrangement —which opened last night—exemplifies this beautifully. Topher Payne’s script is a work of genius….

CHUCK YATES IS A TOUR DE FORCE AS TRUMAN CAPOTE Based on photos and video clips I’ve seen of Truman Capote, Chuck Yates has truly captured the successful-but-troubled author in Desert Ensemble Theatre’s production of Tru, a two-act monologue which proves that the proudly gay author was even more interesting than the characters he created for…

A TON OF LEGAL FUN If you’re seeking a deep, soul-searching drama that challenges your intellect and reshapes your worldview, Legally Blonde The Musical at Indio’s Desert Theatreworks may not be the ticket. However, if you’re looking for an effervescent evening of laughter, music, and toe-tapping delight, this production promises to be the perfect antidote…

TEEN ANGST HAS NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD The first time I saw Spring Awakening was at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre and I hated it. This chamber musical–so dependent on facial expressions–was awful in that 2,700-seat venue (though I love it for big musicals). The intimate production which opened last night at Palm Springs’ Revolution Stage…

MORIARTY MARVELOUSLY MIMICS MENGERS Virtually every Hollywood star has an agent but one of the only agents who was known by name is Sue Mengers, the Dragon Lady of movie casting in the 60s, 70s and early 80s. She was legendary for the lengths to which she would go to get her actors in major…

YOU’RE NOT JUST IN GOOD COMPANY; THIS IS GREAT COMPANY Mention the name Stephen Sondheim to a musical theatre devotee and first they will bow their head for a moment of reverence, and then assure you that except for Into the Woods and Forum, his works are definitely not to be attempted by community theatres….