"THE BIG SHOW: LIVE" PRESENTS "TALK DIRTY TO ME" AT IPAC FEB. 20
The valley’s most mischievous group of performers return to the Indio Performing Arts Center with their 2010 season debut, THE BIG SHOW LIVE: TALK DIRTY TO ME, on February 20th!  The show features original sketch comedy mocking a seductive blend of love, relationships, sexual malfunctions, and rock ‘n’ roll.  One of the valley’s top vocalists, Jerome Elliott, returns to the show to put his best assets on display and members of The California Ballet Opera make their BIG SHOW LIVE debut with a sultry show-stopping dance performance.
The cast of the desert’s most unique form of entertainment continues to break down the walls of the theatre going experience with their most innovative and provocative show yet!  Original sketches include THE LICKI RAKE SHOW (Licki discusses relationship problems with an all-star panel), FLOPPY OR LAMINATED (Mobsters provide customer service), TALK DIRTY TO ME (Four outrageous female fans try to get backstage at a “Poison” concert), EVERYTHING IS ALBRIGHT (The world’s most dysfunctional married couple answers phone calls concerning sexual problems), and much, much more.      

The talented no holds barred ensemble cast includes Justin Brusca, Jennifer Bennett, Dan Graff, Tres Dean, Noemi Villela-Dean, Nicole Willared, Dani Jara, Keri Rivers, Rodney T., and Katie Nelissen.   

The PRE-SHOW PARTY featuring music, food, beer, and the chance to play with cast begins at 7 p.m.  The show begins at 8 p.m. For more information and reservations, contact the Indio Performing Arts Center box office at 775-5200 or 333-0847.  Tickets are $20 for adults / $15 for students and military with a valid I.D.  The show is rated “R” for language.
For more information on the performers, please visit the following websites: thebigshowlive.blogspot.com, jeromeelliott.com, and caballetopera.com

"ZAMAN AND THE PRINCESS OF CHINA" AT RIVERSIDE COUNTY FAIR AND NATIONAL DATE FESTIVAL THROUGH FEB. 22
What do you get when you fall in love?  A colorful, fun-filled and exhilerating union of China, Arabia and Fantasy that shows that when love enters the picture we are all one world.  The Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival presents Zaman and the Princess of China, an original adaptation from the pages of The Tales of 1001 Arabian Nights.  This musical extravaganza will be performed nightly after the Salute to America starting at 6:00 p.m. at the County Fairgrounds in Indio.  Admission to this production is included with admission to the fair.  See www.datefest.org for ticket information and directions to the fair.   

FIRST ANNUAL PALM SPRINGS SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, FEB. 26-28
'A Fluid Movement' presents it's 1st Annual Palm Springs Shakespeare Festival at Palm Springs High School's Historic Auditorium Theatre.  Tickets will be $20 for the Opening Night Gala to benefit Palm Springs High School Fine Arts & $15 for Saturday or Sunday tickets. Discounts available for multiple day attendance. Tickets will be available at the Box Office up to 1 hour prior to the Festival each day.

The festival will offer 2 plays, Shakespeare's highly irreverent comedy, 'Much Ado About Nothing', and an original play by local, acclaimed Playwright Tony Padilla, 'Attribution', a dark comedy about the great Shakespeare authorship debate. It will also include festivities such as live music, sword fighting, booths on fashion and customs and our student Interns will present selected scenes and monologues from Shakespeare's beloved plays. Come in costume if ye please!

The Festival will run February 26th, 27th & 28th only.

The Greek Tragedy 'Prometheus Bound', a preview of next season's Festival of Dionysus, is also coming in March and our 1st Annual High School Shakespeare Scholarship Competition to take place in May of 2010.

CABARET CONCERT SERIES CONTINUES FEB. 19
A series of concerts have been scheduled for early 2010 to raise funds to establish the Michele Gaines Theatre Arts Scholarship Fund at College of the Desert (COD).

Gaines, a COD Professor Emeritus in  Theatre Arts, taught at COD for twenty-four years before retiring in 2007. She is well known for directing and choreographing COD’s productions of Guys and Dolls, Damn Yankees, South Pacific, A Chorus Line, Gypsy, Man of La Mancha, Pirates of Penzance and many others.   

The series starts in February and includes four shows: Las Vegas Live!, A Night at the Opera, Duets: Best of Broadway’s Leading Ladies, and Michele Gaines– A Retrospective. COD faculty, staff, students and alumni will perform in the shows.

A Night at the Opera features COD’s Mark Almy, COD Alumni Kara Masek, and Open Call Alumni Melissa Batalles. Relive some of opera’s magical moments with these truly gifted, professional vocalists performing arias, duets and choral numbers from the most beloved operas. The performances are Feb. 19, 20 and 21, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3p.m.

Duets: Best of Broadway’s Leading Ladies is on Mar. 5, 6, and 7, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3p.m. This is a special musical evening with Tricia Ridgway and Allison Jones, well-known local talents, backed by musical director Paul Cracchiolo. This show is jam packed with Belting Broadway Diva Duets. 

Michele Gaines: A Retrospective is a musical celebration of Michele’s 24 years at COD through song and dance. It will feature performances by college alumni and students, along with Musical Director Scott Smith, Directed by Tod Kent. The shows are Mar. 19, 20 and 21, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3p.m.

All shows are at the Pollock Theatre on the College of the Desert campus. For more information call (760) 773-2565. Tickets are available for purchase in advance at the COD Bookstore during regular business hours, at the box office one hour before the show, online at www.ticketleap.com, or visit www.collegeofthedesert.edu.