Only one music festival (Stagecoach) left, and then traffic will return to normal, I promise, fellow desert rats.
But while you’re avoiding the Empire Polo Club area like the plague, why not check out one of these local events happening elsewhere throughout the valley?
Here are The Desert Sun’s picks for the top events to attend the week of Monday, April 20 in the Coachella Valley and surrounding communities.
If you’d like to submit an upcoming event of your own for a future 10 things to do roundup, see the bottom of this article for directions.
Palm Canyon Theatre presents ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’
Theater fans looking for something provocative and emotionally charged might be interested in this musical by John Kander and Fred Ebb, with book by Terrence McNally. “Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1993, the show is a daring exploration of love, political resistance, and ways people endure unimaginable circumstances,” as the theater’s press release states. “Set in a South American prison under an authoritarian regime, the musical centers on two men forced to share a cell despite coming from vastly different worlds. Molina (Nathan Wilson), imprisoned for his sexuality, retreats into fantasies inspired by old Hollywood films, while Valentín (Luís Salcido), a committed revolutionary, clings to his political ideals. As confinement erodes their defenses, the two form an unexpected bond that challenges their belief systems.”
When: Now through April 26 (see website below for specific showtimes)
Where: Palm Canyon Theatre, 538 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
Cost: $20-$46
More info: palmcanyontheatre.net
CINEVISTA film series presents ‘Key Largo’
Need a getaway? The Palm Springs Cultural Center’s latest film series, CineVista: A Cinematic Tour of Iconic Hotels, invites cinephiles on a global journey through some of the most memorable hotels ever captured on film. The theater’s website describes this week’s film, “Key Largo,” as follows: “As a hurricane bears down on a remote Florida Keys hotel, a group of strangers—including a war veteran, a gangster, and the widow of a fallen friend—find themselves trapped together as tensions rise with the storm.”
When: 5 p.m. pre-show, 6 p.m. screening Monday, April 20
Where: Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs
Cost: $16.81
More info: eventbrite.com
CV Rep presents ‘Ernest Shackleton Loves Me’
For theater fans, there’s perhaps no better way to cap off the 2025-26 season than attending a critically acclaimed new musical comedy with a tongue-in-cheek script by Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro (“Nice Work If You Can Get It”). “Ernest Shackleton Loves Me” makes its Coachella Valley premiere this week, and as the CV Rep website says, it’s an “inventive and romantic adventure” about a “sleep-deprived single mom who makes her living as a video game music composer” and is “contacted across space and time, via a crossed connection on her cell phone, by the famous early 20th century polar explorer Ernest Shackleton while he is stranded on an iceberg in the Antarctic in the early 1900s. Inspired by her music, he shares his epic journey with her and, together, they overcome the odds in a timeless, and very funny, musical romance for the ages.”
When: April 22-May 10 (see website below for specific showtimes)
Where: Coachella Valley Repertory, 68-510 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City
Cost: $95
More info: cvrep.org/productions
‘Casting Shadows: Dimensional Art’ Show Opening Reception
The Artists Council presents its latest show, “Casting Shadows: Dimensional Art,” April 22 through May 24. “Light meets form in this bold, boundary‑pushing exhibition celebrating painters, photographers, and 3D artists who dare to step beyond the flat surface,” the Council’s press release states. “Casting Shadows invites creators to stretch their imagination — literally and conceptually — by incorporating elements that extend outward and transform under light.” But what does that really mean? Every piece in this exhibit was required to have a physical attachment or protrusion that creates a visible shadow, aka must have an element that allows the piece to play with depth, dimension, and illusion.
When: Opening reception 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 23; show runs April 22-May 24
Where: Artists Center, 72-567 Highway 111, Palm Desert
Cost: Free admission, with art available for purchse
More info: artistscouncil.com
Revolution Stage Company presents ‘Cockroaches’
Want to be among the first people in the world to see a new piece of theater? “Cockroaches is a piercing Southern Gothic dark comedy that crawls under your skin and lingers like the humid air of a Mississippi summer,” the Revolution Stage Co.’s website states. “Written by Emma Schillage, this unsettling family drama follows three sisters trapped in the decaying remains of their childhood home as they grapple with their mother’s latest — and most theatrical — suicide attempt. The walls of their clapboard house seem to breathe with memories, while something far more sinister stirs beneath the floorboards.”
When: April 23-May 3 (see website below for specific showtimes)
Where: Revolution Stage Company, 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
Cost: $35
More info: revolutionstagecompany.com/cockroaches
Into Wonderland – The Films Of Mary Blair: A PSCC Feature Fest
Looking to escape reality for a little bit? How about a trip to Wonderland? Into Wonderland: The Films of Mary Blair is a mini film festival at the Palm Springs Cultural Center this week celebrating the artist Mary Blair, “whose bold use of color and design helped shape some of Disney’s most beloved classics,” as the PSCC description states. Presented on the big screen with special guests and experiences, this festival features screenings of “Cinderella” (April 24), “Saludos Amigos” (April 25), “Peter Pan” (April 25) and “Alice in Wonderland” (April 25).
When: April 24 and 25 (see website below for specific showtimes)
Where: Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs
Cost: From $9.42
More info: eventbrite.com
The Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus presents ‘Rhinestones & Rainbows’
The Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus returns to the spotlight at the Plaza Theatre this week with “Rhinestones & Rainbows,” a “high-energy, Dolly Parton–inspired concert that promises sequins, soaring harmonies and plenty of heart,” as the press release states. Led by Artistic Director Jerry R. Soria-Foust, this show features more than 130 singers and a live Western band in a “glitter-soaked celebration of identity, resilience and joy.” While the first half of the show pays tribute to Dolly Parton with several of her beloved hits, the second half evolves into more favorites by other iconic female artists like Lady Gaga, Linda Ronstadt, Cyndi Lauper, Kelly Clarkson, P!nk, and Cher. If you’re up for it, audiences are encouraged to come in their best Dolly-inspired looks — “think big hair, fringe and rhinestones” — so get ready for a joyful evening.
When: 7 p.m. April 24 and 25, and 2 p.m. April 26
Where: Plaza Theatre, 128 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
Cost: $30-$85 (with more than 150 mezzanine seats available at $30)
More info: psgmc.com
Dance Mojave presents ‘Wild Stages’
Dance Mojave and Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve are coming together for the dance collective’s fourth original full-length performance, “The Wild Stages.” This site-specific, immersive performance experience — as the press release says — “will take audience members on a tour through the Preserve to experience contemporary dance performance set against the backdrop of the Preserve’s landscape, blending choreography and live acoustic music with the desert environment. Audience members will be taken on guided walks along the Preserve’s walkways while witnessing choreography inspired by the creatures and natural features that define the area — from Western Bluebirds to cryptobiotic crust.” To celebrate Earth Month, ticket proceeds will jointly benefit the Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve.
When: Timed entry groups of 20 audience members from 4 p.m. to dusk on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26
Where: Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, 11-055 E. Drive, Morongo Valley
Cost: $28.52
More info: tinyurl.com/thewildstages
Giddy Up Lounge
No Stagecoach pass? No problem, head to downtown Indio this Saturday to watch the official Amazon Prime Video stream of the festival for free on the Center Stage screen. The screening event will also include a live DJ, giveaways, bandana necklaces and photo ops, and it’s open to all ages.
When: 4-10 p.m. Saturday, April 25
Where: Center Stage, 82-881 Miles Ave., Indio
Cost: Free admission
More info: instagram.com
Dance Together for Immigrant Family Relief
The world is heavy right now, and everyone could use a little dance break. So, come out to dance to some live music performed by the Funk Monks while you support nonprofit TODEC. According to the organization, recent ICE raids have left 3,000 local families in drastic need, and by attending this fundraiser, you’re supporting TODEC Legal Center’s emergency response to families affected by immigration raids across the Coachella Valley and Inland Empire. Your contribution will help provide urgent legal assistance, food deliveries, and crisis support for families who have suddenly lost a parent or primary wage earner. Note: Space is limited, so reserve ASAP.
When: 2-5 p.m. Sunday, April 26
Where: Canyon Estates Clubhouse, 2323 Madrona Drive, Palm Springs
Cost: Suggested donation $50
More info: 310-422-4611 or eventbrite.com
To submit an event for The Desert Sun’s consideration in future 10 things to do stories, send an email to niki.kottmann@desertsun.com with the time, date, location and price of admission for your event, as well as a brief event description, two weeks before the event is scheduled to take place. Photos are not required, but are highly encouraged as part of the submission.
Tip: Send your submission as early as possible to make sure we have it in time, and to make sure your event jumps out in our inbox, put “10 things to do submission” in the email subject line.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 10 things to do in Palm Springs area, including a Stagecoach screening
Reporting by Niki Kottmann, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
