Summers in the Coachella Valley can be slow. It takes a lot to get people to leave their air-conditioned homes to bear the triple-digit heat—but CVRep is pulling out all the stops to get people out of the house and into the theater.
Since May 25, CVRep’s Summer Cabaret Series has hosted a number of artists—some local, and some not—for entertainment experiences that combine show-stopping performances with an inviting, casual setting, and the series will continue through July 25. During a recent phone interview with CVRep executive artistic director Adam Karsten, he explained what makes the series so special.
“We’re bringing in artists from around the country—from New York, from Northern California, from Los Angeles. There are Tony (Award) winners, Tony nominees, lots of Broadway veterans, and some local celebrities who are just performing at such a high level in such a nice, intimate, comfortable setting,” Karsten said. “You really get to know who they are from the stories they tell about the past, how they came to be, who they are—and it feels like you get a little window into their lives that you wouldn’t normally have.
“We open the doors an hour before the shows start so people can come in, have a glass of wine and something to eat, and have a night out of the heat. It’s a nice experience, and I’m glad that we’re continuing it—and we’re doubling down. We’re doing two cabaret shows per week, whereas last year, we only did one. We’ve increased it 100% in that regard, and it’s been doing really well. We also like it because we make it affordable. The ticket prices are really affordable for the quality of the entertainment that you’re getting.”
Summer attendance can be a challenge for any business owner in the desert. However, Karsten said attendees are showing their support in a big way.
“It’s a challenge in the summertime, because there are definitely fewer residents—but (a number of people have purchased tickets for) the whole season and recognize that it’s here and are grateful for it,” he said. “We’ve also had quite a few over the summer who have come in who said, ‘I’ve never been here before; what else do you do?’ I say, ‘We actually have an entire season of shows that we produce throughout the year in addition to our summer cabaret acts.’ That’s been beneficial. It’s nice to bring in a new audience. Some come depending on the artist, and some come just because they’re looking for an evening of something to do during the summer.”
June’s remaining offerings include Leslie Tinnaro (June 19), Jason Graae (June 20), Philip Chaffin (June 26) and Ken Page (June 27).
As for the July shows:
Wednesday, July 10: Deven Green and Handsome Ned—Deven Green and Handsome Ned are desert locals who make cabaret pop with their adventurous journey through music history—with nonstop comedic momentum.
Thursday, July 11: Broadway Barbara—Songs, stories, dancing, comedy and more are part of each performance by social media star Broadway Barbara.
Wednesday, July 17: Glenn Rosenblum’s “Broadway Showstoppers” Part III—Rosenblum’s beautiful tenor voice is combined with his insider info from a career of acting and singing, leading to a show that is half Broadway musical and half theater history lesson.
Thursday, July 18: Brent Barrett & Bernie Blanks—Barrett and Blanks will team up to provide a variety evening of songs from myriad productions, as the two combined have been part of more than 30 musicals.
Wednesday, July 24: Julie and Janna Cardia—Identical twin sisters Julie and Janna share more than just looks, as both of their résumés include Broadway and other fun performances; they’re perfect for a night of intimate entertainment.
Thursday, July 25: David Burnham— David Burnham will tackle movie songs, American Songbook tunes, and selections from productions he’s been in like Wicked, The Light in the Piazza and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
An expanded 2024-2025 season
CVRep’s new season will kick off in November with Next to Normal. The 39 Steps follows in December, with 2024 bringing The Light in the Piazza, Jesus Christ Superstar and Other Desert Cities.
“We’ve announced the shows for the season, and we’re excited about that to come,” Karsten said. “Something that hasn’t been publicly announced is that we’re going to be expanding the season to a sixth show—and the sixth show will be a world premiere of a completely new work that we discover through the Origins program.”
Origins is a “page to stage” program that allows playwrights to have their works fully funded, produced and staged by CVRep. Last year’s winning play was Summer Session With the Bones Brigade; the show, which received rave reviews, had a set including a life-size skate ramp. CVRep is accepting submissions for the program through June 30.
“Last year, we did (Bones Brigade) as part of the announced season, so it was one of the five shows,” Karsten said. “This year, we’re doing five shows, and then we’re adding this show. It’s an example of how well we’re doing with the shows during the season, and how many people are staying later. The organization is able to expand further into the spring months as well.”
Karsten explained how the Origins program works.
“Each year, we take four new works that we select for staged readings,” Karsten said. “Those staged readings are open to the public and free, and then we form a committee and work to actually produce it. Last year, we did (Bones Brigade) for the second show of our season. We learned a lot from that experience, and it was really interesting. … We’re excited about what’s to come.”
Karsten said he’s still finding his groove at CVRep after being executive artistic director for two years—but he’s learned a lot about a balanced approach to theater programming.
“I’m getting a better understanding of our audience, and knowing that, yes, our audience wants to find challenging subject matter in plays that will obviously make them think, but at some point, they also need some time to be able to be entertained,” he said. “It’s a discussion I have with my wife all the time. I think theater can be both, and it’s my job to find and prepare a season that’s balanced and can give us both.
“In the five shows that you’ll see this season, there’s a balance of musicals and plays. … It’s finding a balance that will challenge audiences and make them think, but at the same time, allow them to cathartically get lost for a moment in time and forget their worries and troubles.”
CVRep’s Summer Cabaret Series continues on most Wednesdays and Thursdays through July 25 at 68510 E. Palm Canyon Drive, in Cathedral City. All shows start at 7 p.m., and tickets are $50. For more information, visit cvrep.org.
