Michael Orland’s Open Mic

Revolution Stage Company, Palm Springs, CA, March 24, 2026

Reviewed by Joel Vig

The Revolution Stage Company, founded by Gary Powers and James Owens in 2023, is one of the newest and most innovative not-for-profit theater companies in the greater Palm Springs area. In presenting a wide range of entertainment that includes plays and musicals, Powers and Owens have been champions of the amazing Palm Springs local talent pool. Yo Younger, a celebrated local actress, recently starred in the West Coast premiere of JBKO (a one-woman play about Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis). A recent benefit for the Revolution entitled Simply Sondheim featured three generations of local, current, and former Broadway actors fand starred Sondheim actress Teri Ralston in a two-act original revue directed by Paul Curran.

Cabaret, in all its many forms, has been a main feature at the Revolution Stage Company throughout its history. Singers, comedians, and musicians have performed everything from the ridiculous to the sublime. Richard Skipper presented his tribute show honoring Jerry Herman and Hello, Dolly! That featured special guest Jason Graae. Bonnie G tried out her show The Look of Love—The Music of Dusty Springfield with special guest Gregg Marx. Dina Martina, the stage name of drag artist Grady West, has performed there multiple times. Martina has been described as “a tragic singer, horrible dancer, and surreal raconteur.” He has created a cult following for his unique and hysterical form of comedy/performance art. A contest called Cabaret Riot has played out on the Revolution Stage, and the winner is given the opportunity to perform a full show at the theater.

Michael Orland’s Open Mic has had a Revolution residency this season. I caught the event on March 24 and was wowed both by its talent and even more by its potential. Orland is well known in music and theater circles. He was featured for 16 seasons on American Idol on both FOX and ABC as a pianist, arranger, vocal coach, and associate musical director. He was also the musical director and vocal coach on Little Big Shots and Forever Young, both hosted by Steve Harvey. Orland has appeared on Oprah, Entertainment Tonight, and Access Hollywood, and he made a record number of appearances on The Ellen Show. The celebrities for whom Orland has played make up a Who’s Who of Broadway and recording artists. His has musical-directing credits that include with two of my favorite musicals, Ruthless! and Hairspray. I had the thrill of starring in both of these shows in their original New York City productions.

The format of his Open Mic is simple. Orland sits on stage at a grand piano and calls out the names of people who have signed up to sing that night. This can be a challenging situation, but he has a remarkable way of putting a performer at ease. Some of the singers are seasoned professionals, often friends of Orland, who want to try out a number they are considering for a new act or a recording. Broadway and cabaret artist Philip Officer and headliner Maximo Marcuso both sang and delighted the crowd. But even more exciting was the thrill of seeing nervous beginners get up and surprise the audience and themselves with a performance that knocked it out of the park. One young man didn’t know his key and had no sheet music. Orland knew the song; he found a comfortable key for the singer, and together they gave a beautiful rendition that received rousing applause from the audience.

Orland has performed his Open Mic at several venues. The Revolution Stage has a great vibe for performers of all ages. A full bar is available for the adults, and there is an ice-cream bar with snacks for the younger crowd. Overall, there is a definite party atmosphere. At the performance I attended, a patron who was celebrating a birthday was serenaded with a singalong of “Happy Birthday” by many of the best voices in the Palm Springs area.

Orland tells me he is often surprised by who shows up. Kristin Chenoweth might slip in to try out a new song. On time, Betty Buckley was coaxed onstage, and she agreed to sing if Orland would join her in a duet.

I told him I would try to get Rusty Strait to come to the April Open Mic. Rusty is the oldest WWII vet in Riverside County (he’ll be 102 years old next month), and he’s a former big-band singer. He was featured in the recent Jayne Mansfield documentary produced by Jayne’s daughter, Mariska Hargitay. I also called a local opera star and a legendary television actress and invited them to come and try out a duet.

I have been reaching out to choir directors, high school and college music teachers, and vocal coaches to tell them that this Open Mic is like an incredible master class in the art of singing and auditioning. For all the shy people who sing in their car or in the shower or step up to the microphone on a karaoke night in a bar, this experience as a performer or as an audience member pushes the singing experience to a whole new level.

I asked Orland for any final advice or instructions. He smiled and said, “The secret to music and singing is to find the joy. Come and have a good time.”