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Broadway at The Plaza! ‘Footloose’ and ‘Forbidden Broadway’ in the Heart of Palm Springs
David Green’s Musical Theatre University, the Plaza Theatre and the Palm Springs Unified School District present BROADWAY AT THE PLAZA—A REGIONAL SUMMER STOCK featuring talented young people from throughout the Coachella Valley and Inland Empire in fully staged productions of Broadway’s biggest hit musicals.
Footloose is the explosive musical adapted from the iconic feature film. It tells the story of Ren McCormack, a city teen who moves to a small town where dancing is banned by a strict preacher, leading him to challenge the rules, find romance and help the community heal and rediscover joy through music and dance. The show includes hits like “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” and “Holding Out for a Hero,” alongside new songs for the stage; it earned Tony Award nominations for its book and score.
Forbidden Broadway, newly revised by its original creator, Gerard Alessandrini, is the legendary long-running Off-Broadway musical revue delivering a hilarious, razor-sharp send-up of Broadway’s biggest hits and brightest stars. With ingenious parodies, rapid-fire comedy and a deep affection for the art form, Forbidden Broadway gleefully skewers iconic shows, unforgettable performers, and beloved songwriters in a fast-paced evening of pure theatrics.
Forbidden Broadway is performed at 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday, July 9 and 10; Footloose is performed at 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday, July 16 and 17, at the Plaza Theatre, 128 S. Palm Canyon Drive. Tickets start at $36.50. For tickets or more information, visit www.palmspringsplazatheatre.com/events. (Sponsored Content)
Home Is Where the Story Is
The Palm Springs International ShortFest proves that a great story doesn’t need two hours to leave an impression. Among this year’s programs is a screening of “A Sense of Place” at 3 p.m., Thursday, June 25, a collection of six short films that explores the relationship between people and the places they call home, taking place at Festival Theaters, at 789 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way. ShortFest programs give audiences the chance to experience a remarkable range of voices and perspectives in screening collections that run about 90 minutes, while the festival also serves as a gathering place for filmmakers, industry professionals and movie lovers. General admission tickets to each set of films are $20, with full festival passes starting at $270. Get tickets and view the complete schedule at psfilmfest.org/shortfest. —Charles Drabkin
Listen to Latin
Locals and a global music star are joining forces to enjoy Latin jams on wax. On Thursday, June 25, catch a double dose of DJ sets at Indio’s immaculate vinyl listening lounge and wine bar, Rosemary HiFi, at 45120 Oasis St. From 7 to 9 p.m., Spanish folk duo Las Tías (Giselle Woo and Janine Rivera) will get the evening started before DJ Lucha (Luz Elena Mendoza Ramos of Mexican indie act Y La Bamba) spins from 9 to 11 p.m. Rivera became a touring member of Y La Bamba, and has frequently invited Woo to join select performances. Experience some killer Latin sounds and other curated musical gems from a trio of powerhouse musicians. The event is free to attend, but you must be 21+. For more information, visit www.instagram.com/rosemary.hifi. —Matt King
Get Your Kicks
Around 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, Luckie Park, at the intersection of Two Mile Road and Utah Trail in Twentynine Palms, will become an automotive showcase when the 2026 Hemmings Great Race rolls into town. More than 140 vintage automobiles, ranging from early 20th-century classics to vehicles built in 1974, will arrive as part of a nine-day, 2,300-mile rally celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66. The race begins in Springfield, Ill., and finishes in Pasadena, but this stop offers locals a chance to meet drivers and navigators, and inspect the vehicles up close. Admission is free. For more information, visit greatrace.com. —Charles Drabkin
Music Makes the People Come Together
Celebrate the new era of a pop icon. At 4 p.m., Saturday, June 27, check out the newest album from the one and only Madonna at the Confessions II Pre-Release Celebration at Midnite Moon, at 54225 N. Circle Drive, Unit 1, in Idyllwild-Pine Cove. Before Madonna adds to her undeniable legacy with her 15th studio release, the sequel to 2005’s Confessions on a Dance Floor, head up the mountain to dance the night away; hear songs from the yet-to-be-released album; grab some freebies; and enter a giveaway! The event is free to attend. For more information, visit www.instagram.com/_midnitemoon_. —Matt King
A Two-Hour Concert, A Two-Hour Concert
Gilligan’s Island (The Band), a seven-piece Southern California group that performs as the castaways from the classic sitcom, headlines the Beach Party Summer Kickoff during Desert Nights on the BLVD in downtown Desert Hot Springs (66120 Pierson Blvd.), at 6 p.m., Saturday, June 27, with the band taking the stage at 8 p.m. Gilligan, the Skipper too, the millionaire and his wife, a movie star, the professor and Mary Ann deliver a set of beachy hits from the 1960s through the 1990s, along with yacht rock favorites. The result is equal parts tribute show, costume party and sing-along. Attendees can also enjoy food vendors, local artisans, a beer garden, and family-friendly activities—and admission is free! For more information, visit cityofdhs.org. —Charles Drabkin
Dang That Twang
Bluesy, country sounds will fill the high desert air at 7 p.m., Saturday, June 27, when guitar-riff-riddled rockers Leroy From the North perform at Snake Bite Roadhouse, at 55405 Twentynine Palms Highway, in Yucca Valley. Uniting twangy vocals, dirty guitar licks and a bit of glam-rock energy, Leroy From the North is a standout modern band carrying a vintage edge. Expect the desert heat and the cosmic energy of the Mojave to extend some jams and amplify some gritty guitar solos! Singer/songwriter Herb Benham IV will open the show. The event is free, and is open to all ages. For more information, visit www.instagram.com/snakebite_roadhouse. —Matt King
Dang That Probe
If the blues isn’t your thing, how about some out-of-this-world experimental rock and jazz? At 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 27, fashionable freaks ALiEN PROBE—in all of their alien-garb, spacesuit, theremin, guitar-and-saxophone glory—will perform at Giant Rock Meeting Room, at 1131 Old Woman Springs Road, in Yucca Valley. The group is one of the desert’s most unique bands, as every show features wild jams, interactive trivia with the audience, and hilarious space-related lyrics. If you haven’t been probed yet … you should! Acoustic punks Dust Devil Music will open the show. Tickets are $10 at the door, and the show is all-ages. For more information, visit www.giantrockmeetingroom.com. —Matt King
Make America Bubbly Again
Nothing says Fourth of July quite like a sausage fest and bubbles. At 6 p.m., Friday, July 3, On the Mark Palm Springs, at 111 N. Palm Canyon Drive, is hosting Bubbles, Beers & Brats, a tasting event that swaps backyard cookout basics for a polished and bubbly approach. Guests will sample craft beers from Las Palmas Brewing alongside sparkling wines, gourmet bratwursts and a selection of Independence Day-inspired bites. The event is for guests 21 and older and is standing room-only, so comfortable shoes are important, as is a healthy appetite. Vegetarian options are available upon request, ensuring nobody is left with an empty bun. This tasting offers a delicious excuse to raise a glass before the fireworks begin. For more information and to purchase your $49.87 tickets, click here. —Charles Drabkin
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