Now that the “snowbirds” have flown the coop, the desert venues will be seeing a drop in attendance, but that doesn’t mean you cannot find something to do.
The Copa Room at The Tropicale has Varla Jean Merman 5/1 & 2, Gloria Reuben 5/16 and America’s Favorite Dragapella Quartet The Kinsey Sicks 6/12 & 13, and Derrik Lewis and his duo/trio on Tuesdays and Thursdays in their Coral Seas Lounge. Dick Taylor presents a new series at The Purple Room called For the Love of Broadway which began in April with Jo Ann Worley and continues 5/15-17 with Dale Kristien and Bill Hutton and 5/22-24 with Carole Cook. These are in addition to the regular weekly shows, like The Michael Holmes Trio on Wednesdays, Rose Mallett on Tuesdays, and The Judy Show on Sundays.
Alibi Azul has Bella Da Ball on Tuesdays, Fleet Easton Presents on Fridays, and Saturday one-nighters. New on the local cabaret scene, Oscar’s Café added Carnival Cabaret Thursdays through Saturdays. It’s a dinner show hosted by the legendary James ‘Gypsy’ Haake and drag performers impersonating Cher, Reba, Liza…you get the picture.
Speaking of drag shows, packing the last Tuesday of every month at AJ’s on the Green is Dining with the Divas hosted by Sasha. Wayne Abravanel and I are there Saturday nights for Cabaret on the Green Open Mic. Mikol & Jazz Jam on Wednesdays, Paul Elia & Ricky Z on Thursdays, Paul Elia & Undercover on Fridays.
Darci Daniels and Francesca Amari present Luck Be a Lady every Sunday night at Threesixty North with a different guest singer in each show and featuring desert locals. Joel Baker and I are there weekly with Applause Wednesdays Cabaret Open Mic. Vicky’s of Sante Fe continues nightly entertainment before closing for the summer. Its Jazz Cabaret Supper Club Series was a huge success, so hopefully Bill Lanese will return next year to head up the series.
I’m presenting the sixth season of Sundays in Summer Cabaret Series at Arthur Newman Theatre every Sunday at 2 PM from April 12 through October 25. We kicked off with Harold Sanditen, Stacie Calkins, Vicki Knight. Coming up: Derrik Lewis and Kevin Wood in Sentimental Journeys 5/10; Phillip Moore in Barry and Me 5/17; Angelo Divino in Remembering Ruth–The Duke Ellington Story 5/31; Laurie Clothier in Come on-a-My House: A Tribute to Rosemary Clooney 5/31, Tish Oney in Divas and Masters of Jazz 6/7; Keisha D in Keep Calm… It’s Only Love 6/14; We’re Still Here starring Jean Sorf, Noni Lambertson, Pat McCann, Marge Harris and Patti Gallagher 6/21; and Jeanne Page in Reboot Live 6/28. Visit lesmichaels.com/joslyn for the season line-up.
McCallum Theatre has Fiddler on the Roof 4/30 – 5/3. It’s the annual College of the Desert production and features several students who frequent our cabaret open mics. Palm Canyon Theatre presents La Cage aux Folles with some local drag personalities on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 5/15-24.
Submit your performance schedule to les@lesmichaels.com
— Les Michaels
