In two weeks, the newly restored Plaza Theatre in Downtown Palm Springs will shimmer with rhinestones, echo with harmonies and channel the irrepressible spirit of Dolly Parton.
That’s where the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus will debut “Rhinestones & Rainbows,” a three-day concert event opening April 24 — one that organizers say is as much about joy and visibility as it is about music.
For the chorus, now serving as the theater’s Official Inaugural Resident Artists, the production marks both a homecoming and a statement.
“It’s joyful, bold and completely unafraid to shine,” said Artistic Director Jerry R. Soria-Foust. Drawing inspiration from Parton’s famously larger-than-life persona — she once told Elle magazine: “Had I not been a girl, I definitely would have been a drag queen!” — he described the show as “flashy, flamboyant and full of love.”
The performance will bring together more than 130 singers and a live seven-piece country-western band, transforming the historic venue into a high-gloss, rhinestone-studded stage. Performers will take to the stage in denim, cowboy boots and glittering accents, leaning fully into the aesthetic that has made Parton an enduring cultural icon.
The first half of the program will center squarely on Parton’s music, with choral arrangements of classics including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.” The goal, Soria-Foust said, is not just tribute, but reinterpretation — expanding intimate songs into something communal and cinematic.
In the second half, the concert broadens its scope, spotlighting a lineup of genre-crossing artists whose music has resonated across generations and communities. Songs made famous by Lady Gaga, Linda Ronstadt, Cyndi Lauper, Kelly Clarkson, P!nk and Cher will carry the evening toward a pop-infused finale.
While the musical influences span decades, the message is firmly rooted in the present. For the chorus, “Rhinestones & Rainbows” is designed to affirm identity and community at a time when both can feel fragile.
“There’s something powerful about coming together and choosing joy,” Soria-Foust said. “That’s what this show is about.”
Audiences are encouraged to take part in that spirit, arriving in Dolly-inspired attire — big hair, fringe, sequins and all — turning the event into something closer to a shared celebration than a traditional concert.
The run also underscores the chorus’ evolving role within Palm Springs’ cultural landscape. As resident artists at the Plaza Theatre, the ensemble is helping reintroduce the historic venue as a hub for live performance in the city’s downtown core.
Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. on April 24, 7 p.m. on April 25 and 2 p.m. on April 26.
Tickets range from $30 to $85, with more than 150 mezzanine seats priced at $30 — an effort, organizers say, to keep the experience accessible and open to the broader community.
Tickets are available at psgmc.com.
About the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus
Since 1999, PSGMC has given back to its community through initiatives such as the George Zander Memorial Anti-Bullying Grants and donation drives to Martha’s Village & Kitchen, Transgender Wellness Center and The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert. The chorus continues to perform at a vast array of community events, including Greater Palm Springs Pride, Tour de Palm Springs, La Quinta Arts Festival and Indio tree lighting, to name just a few. Greater Palm Springs Pride recognized PSGMC as the Organization of the Year in 2016, and in 2018 the City Council proclaimed the chorus the “Official Gay Men’s Chorus of the City of Palm Springs.”
Through musical excellence, community outreach and civic responsibility, PSGMC seeks to entertain, inspire and educate the culturally diverse community in which we live. Learn more at psgmc.com.
Charlie Dyer is an associate publicist and marketing specialist for the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Gay Men’s Chorus to channel Dolly Parton in upcoming shows
Reporting by Charlie Dyer, Special to The Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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