BY DIANE MARLIN-DIRKX
This week started out with promise and then, with the long-awaited drenching from above, slick patent-leather wet streets turned into hours of eat-bon-bons- and- read- movie-magazines lie-downs-with feet-up escapes into romance, imaginings and self-indulgencies we yearn for during the busy season from now thru the holidays and long into the next year until the end of May with the blossoming of flowers, a new season, time to breathe, refresh, rejuvenate, ready-up for fall. A long sentence which we accept with gratitude. Life is grand.
Friday, December 12, & Saturday, December 13, 8:00 PM. The Irish Tenors, one of the most applauded Irish touring acts ever, celebrate the season with a Holiday concert of traditional carols and classic Irish ballads, accompanied by a symphony orchestra. The tenor is a casting genre acknowledged as” the lover” for the singer’s rich vocal gymnastics and gloriously beautiful sound in every performance venue, but particularly in opera. Truth be told, the narrative is thus: It ain’t easy, but the romantic tenor always gets the girl—for both, dead or alive (Think “Romeo and Juliet.”). Touring together since 1998, Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns and Ronan Tynan, have performed in sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall, , Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, and major concert halls around the world. Their faces and voices are familiar to PBS audiences through several specials, including the Ellis Island recording that sold a million CDs and DVDs . We Three Kings, their best-selling Christmas album, includes holiday gems that feature in their legendary Christmas tour. They’ve sold millions of albums and landed at the top of Billboard’s music charts. The Irish Tenors are gifted interpreters of a wide range of material, with such songs as “My Heart Will Go On,” “Fairytale of New York”, “Danny Boy,” “Whiskey in the Jar” and “Fields of Athenry.” Their best-selling album Heritage features many of the most beautiful Irish songs. Through the generosity of Harold Matzner, the McCallum Theatre presents The Irish Tenors for two performances only. Tickets for each performance are $85, $75, $55 and $35 and are available at the Theatre’s web site at www.mccallumtheatre.com, or by calling the McCallum Theatre box office at (760) 340-ARTS. The McCallum Theatre, located at 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert CA 92260, accepts payment by cash, personal check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
Saturday, December 13, 8:00 PM, Sunday Matinee, December 14, 3:00 PM. The Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus (PSGMC) now over 80 voices strong, will present A Mid-Century Modern Holiday bringing to life festive Christmas and Hanukkah standards for two incredible concerts. Not your typical holiday show, as the PSGMC will take the audience on a retro journey through the mid-century modern era with delightful seasonal hits, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” (1963) “Holly Jolly Christmas,” (1965) “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” (1943) “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” (1944) “Silver Bells,” (1950) and “A Christmas Carol” from Scrooge, the 1970 musical film adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic. The PSGMC is accompanied by Joel Baker and is conducted by Douglas C. Wilson. An Elvis Christmas,” (1948-1957) a Hawaiian favorite from 1949 “Mele Kalikimaka” and several traditional Hanukkah songs will be a part the unique program. Each performance, they showcase a few staging and costuming surprises. In addition, this season they are introducing new small ensembles, The Arrangement and Vocal Harmonics as part of the full concert. For more information on a variety of ways to support or join the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus, visit www.PSGMC.com. Concert will be presented at Temple Isaiah, 332 West Alejo Road in Palm Springs.
Sunday, December 14, 7:00 PM. “Colors of Christmas” is a soulful Holiday performance of holiday favorites and pop-hits starring an incredible cast of award winning musicians including two-time Grammy- winner Peabo Bryson (“Beauty and the Beast” with Celine Dion, also an Oscar winner, and “Aladdin’s Theme” from the movie), , Taylor Dayne , known for 3 decades of Top Ten hits, the original Dreamgirl Jennifer Holiday and “American Idol” winner Ruben Studdard, all backed by a 12-piece band and a spectacular choir. Through the generosity of Milton and Areta McKenzie, the McCallum Theatre presents “Colors of Christmas” with tickets priced at $95, $85, $65 and $55. They are available at the Theatre’s web site at www.mccallumtheatre.com, or by calling the McCallum Theatre box office at (760) 340-ARTS. The McCallum Theatre, located at 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert CA 92260, accepts payment by cash, personal check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
Tuning up today! Thursday, December 11, 5:30 PM. In the “something completely different” category, The tenth annual Academic WorldQuest Competition” takes place at CSUSB (Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus) in the Indian Wells Theater. The team game tests high school students’ knowledge of international affairs. Teams consist of four high school students and a coach. Topics include 1) food and water; 2) human trafficking; 3) Russia/Eurasia; 4) youth, jobs and social unrest; and 5) current events. Each year, both public and private high schools compete for scholarships and the chance to compete nationally in Washington, D.C. This year’s teams include Cathedral City High School, Coachella Valley High School, Desert Mirage High School, Indio High School, La Quinta High School, Palm Desert High School, Palm Valley School, Palm Springs High School, Rancho Mirage High School, Shadow Hills High School and West Shores High School. This year’s competition will be moderated by Eric Newman, a marketing professor at CSUSB Palm Desert Campus. No Holiday singing is expected, but then again, one never knows how the winning school may respond! Members of the community are invited to attend this free event. The Academic WorldQuest Competition is sponsored by World Affairs Council of the Desert who also pay for the parking at the event. For more information, visit World Affairs Council of the Desert website at www.worldaffairsdesert.org. For more information about the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, contact Mike Singer in the campus’s Office of Public Affairs at (760) 341-2883, ext. 78107 or msinger@csusb.edu or visit the campus website at www.pdc.csusb.edu.
“Don’t Be Clueless” wants to remind you that press releases for inclusion should be in to the Coachella Valley Weekly at least two weeks ahead of the scheduled event! Thanks!
