As castmates in 2022, Gary Powers and James Owens spent hours fielding dreams and comparing notes.
“We were doing the show Mid-Century Moderns,” said Powers. “Sitting in the dressing room many nights, we talked about how we just couldn’t understand why Palm Springs wasn’t a bigger (theater) town with all the talent that’s out here.”
After three decades of working in shows from Boston to Broadway, Powers knew he’d never shake the theater bug. In James Owens, he found a kindred spirit who had worked on nearly every stage in town, both in front of the house and in back. Their ideas jelled—and they agreed they wanted to have a big impact in the region.
The Revolution Stage Company was born. After a fundraiser on Thursday, Sept. 28, featuring The Dreamboats (as well as a full bar and an ice cream station), the first full production to grace the Revolution stage, fittingly enough, will be Mid-Century Moderns, beginning an eight-week run on Friday, Oct. 6. The jukebox musical, written by Mark Christopher, debuted at the Desert Rose Playhouse in April 2022, and moved to Oscar’s Palm Springs earlier this year. It is set in 1960s Palm Springs and features songs by ’60s favorites Lesley Gore, Tom Jones, Petula Clark and others.
Owens and Powers described a dizzying year that saw their vision move from conception to opening-night jitters. Powers took over the lease of former Desert Rose Playhouse, at 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs—a space that previously housed Zelda’s Nightclub—last December. He renovated the 150-seat space and planned a full fall season, often with shows overlapping. On the ambitious schedule is a coming-out, coming-of-age, one-man musical written by and starring Powers; a world premiere ensemble piece exploring homelessness in song; and an adaptation of the holiday perennial A Christmas Carol.
“Pulling the trigger and planning this started back in spring this year,” said Owens. “Obviously, it’s exciting. It’s going to be nice to see the fruits of your labor, because it’s been a lot of work—a lot of time working in the summer in this building, without AC, literally sweating, just to get this place ready.”
Powers and Owens share the title of co-producing partner. With more than 50 years of experience between them, they believe they can elevate theater in Palm Springs, and avoid some of the struggles many companies have experienced post-pandemic.
“We’re just going to use all these techniques that I’ve been around for the past 35 years,” said Powers.
Revolution is also slated to offer day-time classes in theater crafts.
“We’ll teach playwriting,” said Powers, who has been writing for 30 years and can boast three full musicals and three full plays under his authorship. “We’re going to teach acting, and we’re going to teach people how to be better audition actors.”
Cabaret shows are also on the boards.
“Destination cities like P-town and Fire Island, they have this atmosphere where you spend a day at the beach; you go to dinner; and then you go see a show. Gary and I want to build that into the community in Palm Springs.”
James Owens
“We’re opening up what we call the Rise Up Cabaret, where performers from around the country come here and perform. It can be a place for local people to come and sing when shows are not up and running,” Powers said.
Powers wants live theater going “five, six, seven nights a week, (with) two different shows running in time,” he said.
Owens mentioned legendary vacation enclaves synonymous with theater. “Destination cities like P-town (Provincetown, Mass.) and Fire Island, they have this atmosphere where you spend a day at the beach; you go to dinner; and then you go see a show. Gary and I want to build that into the community in Palm Springs.”
Key to cultivating that culture will be growing the audience, Owens said. “There’s a big community here of people who want to see good theater, but there are also vacationers and visitors looking for something to do on the weekends.”
Powers hopes to find creative ways to market the shows, perhaps partnering with the city to install a ticketing kiosk for the various theaters around town, and offering same-day discounts.
Powers has big plans to go international in 2024: Revolution has partnered with a British company to take their productions across the pond. “We’re doing similar kinds of work, so they’ll have a stage in California that’s close to Los Angeles, and we’ll have a stage in London,” he said.
Ultimately, Owens and Powers say they’re inspired to add to the theater culture right here in Palm Springs. “There’s so much talent here, so much creativity,” said Powers. “We’re really excited about collaboration and about developing new work.”
Powers hopes Revolution will be a place for writers and directors to get their original works seen.
“One of the problems with playwrights out here in Palm Springs is there’s no real place to get your work (produced),” said Powers. “And I thought, not only for myself, but all my friends who are also aspiring playwrights, let’s give them an opportunity.”
A festival of short, all-original works is planned for January. For next season, Powers has his sights set on an international fringe festival with performers coming to Revolution from all over the world.
The local community seems to be responding to the call. “When we tell people what we’re doing,” said Powers, “they’re like, ‘Oh my god, Palm Springs really needs this.’ We’ve assembled just an incredible team right now, people who are dedicated to making this one of the best theaters not only in the Coachella Valley, but in Southern California and, yes, in the country.”
It’s an ambitious vision. But Powers, who spent 15 years on Broadway, takes his cues from some of the greats whose paths he crossed, like Carol Channing, Robert Morris, Vanessa Redgrave and John Kander (of Cabaret fame).
“If you do really good work in this space, and the shows are engaging and make people think, people are going to keep showing up and coming back,” Powers said.
For more information, visit www.revolutionstagecompany.com.
