Michael Childers has always loved movies.
From watching films at the Plaza Theatre during visits with his grandmother to eventually serving as a director’s assistant on “Midnight Cowboy” — the only X-rated film to win the Oscar for best picture — the photographer’s life has been heavily impacted by the film industry.
Author, entertainment journalist and fellow desert resident Dave Karger also built his career around films. He’s best known as an award-winning host on Turner Classic Movies, and in 2024, he released his first book, “50 Oscar Nights: Iconic Stars & Filmmakers on Their Career-Defining Wins.”
Bonded by their shared love of both film and the Academy Awards, Childers and Karger recently joined forces to organize a celebration of Oscar-winning songs in the same format as Childers’ former “One Night Only” series. The presentation, which will be tighter and have a slightly different focus than “One Night Only,” is called “One Night in Hollywood,” and will be held Tuesday, March 10 at the Plaza Theatre.
The show, hosted by Karger, will feature performances by local cabaret singer Lizzie Sosa, classical vocalist Maximo Marcuso, and Broadway and stage performers David Burnham, Julie Garnye, Alex Getlin, Amanda McBroom, Kelli Rabke, James Snyder, and Nina Whitaker.
During a recent interview with The Desert Sun, both Childers and Karger explained their personal connections to the Plaza Theatre. Childers said “it’s part of my life,” adding that he first went to the theater in his teens while visiting his grandmother to see double features starring Esther Williams, Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret.
“We were asked to introduce a screening of ‘Camille,’ the great Greta Garbo movie, which actually had its premiere at the Plaza Theatre 89 years ago,” said Karger, who hadn’t been to the theater before then, but was excited to be part of the full-circle-moment.
“One Night in Hollywood” will guide audiences through the musical history of the Oscars Best Original Song category, starting with the first winners from the 1920s and following with selections from each subsequent decade. It will also focus on a handful of songwriters who were Academy favorites, such as Johnny Mercer, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Howard Ashman, and Alan Menken, whose work shaped the category.
“We picked one year in each decade that we thought had the most interesting crop of songs,” Childers said.
“I’ve spent the last 30 years of my career focused on the Oscars. To get to do a show that combines music and movies, which are two passions, is so fun,” Karger added.
‘I have theater in my blood’
The last time Childers presented his “One Night Only” show was in 2023 at the McCallum Theatre, which brought the 17-year annual event to a close. Over the course of that nearly two-decade-long run, the concerts raised more than $4 million for local charities, including Jewish Family Service of the Desert and the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center.
The new show will be smaller than the original, with nine performers accompanied by a piano and bass directed by Todd Schroder — compared to the more than 20 performers and live orchestra that “One Night Only” had. When asked what made him decide to produce a different show at a new venue, Childers said, “Because I’m relentless.”
“I said, ‘I’ll never do it again.’ I have theater in my blood, and I love working with musical comedy and theater. This is not my world. I work in film, Hollywood, and photography. But theater, they’re a special breed of people. I’m a Broadway junkie. But this is about the movies I grew up with and everything Dave knows about,” said Childers.
Although the evening will feature music, it won’t simply consist of a series of singers performing songs. Childers and musical director Scott Culver have designed a program that combines music with storytelling, highlighting the history of Oscar-winning music.
“They really had a mind toward not having it be ‘and next up is this person.’ That way it gives the show movement, more of a story, more of a meaning, more of a purpose, and more of a flow,” said Karger.
Giving back to Plaza Theatre Palm Springs’ community programming
Proceeds from “One Night in Hollywood” will go to benefit The Plaza Theatre’s community programming. The Plaza Theatre is also developing a museum of Hollywood and Palm Springs inside the building, which Childers is contributing to.
“I’ve got 20 original prints from the Garbo club donated to the museum. There’ll be memorabilia, programs, an Oscar, and whatever people can contribute,” said Childers.
According to a representative of the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation, the museum is currently in the planning stages and its opening timeline is unknown. But plans for the museum include items from the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, items from the Plaza Theatre’s early years and other elements.
While discussing The Plaza Theatre’s December 2025 reopening, both Childers and Karger expressed their enthusiasm for the cultural revival they’ve seen across the Coachella Valley. When Karger moved to the area five years ago, he was pleasantly surprised by the local arts and entertainment offerings.
“I’ve discovered so many incredible cultural organizations out here. There’s so much more going on in the film and music world than I ever would have imagined,” said Karger.
“When I arrived here in 1998, there was nothing. We didn’t even have Broadway or cabaret. Now, there’s a lot happening,” said Childers.
If you go
What: Michael Childers presents “One Night in Hollywood”
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10
Where: The Plaza Theatre, 128 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
Cost: Tickets start at $58.25
More info: palmspringsplazatheatre.com
Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment for the Desert Sun. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Michael Childers to celebrate the music of the Oscars in new show
Reporting by Brian Blueskye, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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