By Craig Michaels
It’s been almost three long years now since the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies closed its doors at the Plaza Theater in downtown Palm Springs. During its 23 seasons, the Follies described itself as a “Broadway-caliber celebration of the music, dance, and comedy of Mid-Century America with a cast old enough to have lived it!”
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is proud to present the debut performance of “The Ladies Who Sang with the Follies” on March 9 beginning at 7:00 p.m. on the Pines Café Stage. Headlining the show is 20-season Palm Springs Follies vocalist Judy Bell and two-season Follies vocalist Terri Olsen. The show’s music director is Wayne Abravanel, who was an integral member of the Follies orchestral team for nine seasons.
While not widely known, Tramway General Manager Rob Parkins actually played a pivotal role in the original founding of the Fabulous Follies. “I was Palm Springs’ city manager when then-Mayor Pro Tem Tuck Broich took Follies Co-Founders Riff Markowitz and Mary Jardin to see our vacant Plaza Theatre,” remembers Parkins. “When they explained the type of show they were thinking about, many thought they were crazy. I didn’t and—along with other members of the city council—pushed to grant them the lease. The rest, as they say, is history. What a treat it is to have this reunion occur at the Tramway.”
According to Tramway Vice President of Marketing Nancy Nichols, “Since opening the Pines Café Stage with our recent holiday choir series, we’ve been trying to decide what we should present as our first headline act? We worked so closely with the Follies for over two decades in promoting our wonderful destination that this seemed like the logical choice…and we still hear how much folks miss the Follies.”
General admission show ticket is $39 (including tram fare) and seating is extremely limited. Phone orders only by calling 760-325-1449. Cocktail and appetizer menu will be available. Pre-show dining in Peak’s Restaurant is also available that night beginning at 4:00 p.m. For additional information, please visit www.pstramway.com/folliesladies.
Written By: Craig Michaels Productions
(760) 880-3848
