The Bent Reimagines Jane Wagner’s Iconic Masterpiece: The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe

April 22^nd-23^rd,  2026 | Palm Springs Cultural Center

The Bent is proud to announce a special staged reading of Jane Wagner’s Tony Award-winning play, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe. While traditionally celebrated as a tour-de-force solo performance, this unique production breaks tradition under the visionary direction of Kudra Wagner, featuring a dynamic ensemble cast that includes Rosemary Flaherty, Melanie Blue, Cecilia Orosco, Tessa Gregory-Walker, Angela Landis, Jason Reale.

Originally written for Lily Tomlin, who won the Tony award for her performance, the play is a hilarious, poignant, and philosophical exploration of American society through the eyes of “Trudy,” a bag lady acting as a guide for space aliens. By distributing these iconic roles across multiple actors, director Kudra Wagner highlights the interconnectedness of the human experience—proving that while we may feel like separate entities, we are all part of the same cosmic soup.

“Jane Wagner and Lily Tomlin’s work speaks to the multiplicities in all of us,” says Director Kudra Wagner. “By bringing more voices to the stage, we can immerse ourselves and our audience in those multiplicities interacting with one another, our experiences and perspectives working together in the search for meaning.”

Performance Details

• Where:The Bent, Theater 3, Palm Springs Cultural Center
• When:April 22 and April 23rd
• Tickets: thebend.org