Yvonne Bell
McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert
After more than two decades at the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, Yvonne Bell moved to the desert in 2021 to serve as the senior vice president of development at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, which led to her current position as CEO. Among her many achievements at the venue to date, she is particularly excited about hiring local musicians to perform in the lobby before curtain. She also plans to expand the performance season, shortening the summer hiatus.
Don’t Miss: “I’m most proud of our five dance shows,” Bell reveals, speaking of productions including Momix: Alice (Dec. 5), BodyTraffic (April 2, 2026), and Parsons Dance (April 15, 2026). “There are things the McCallum can do that other theaters in the valley don’t have the backstage resources to do. Rather than just loading them in on the day of performance, the dance companies have time to come in early to rehearse.”
Making a Difference: The McCallum celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by bringing in popular Latinx artists, such as internet sensation Camila Fernández, and takes them around to local elementary schools to introduce children to the arts.
Live Theater Matters Because: “The performing arts create community,” Bell says. “In dance and classical music, there are no language barriers. That creates empathy and understanding, and for kids, I think it helps them break out of their shells and find confidence.”
Where to Dine and Imbibe: Pre-show, Bell suggests Ponzu in Palm Springs. “It has the best sushi and is located in downtown behind the Kimpton Rowan hotel.” Post-show, she heads to Little Bar, located in Palm Desert closer to the theater. “It’s a good place to go and talk about what we’ve just experienced.”
Lance and Ron Phillips
Prism Theater, Palm Springs; Desert Theatreworks, Indio
As artistic director and CEO of Desert Theatreworks, respectively, Lance and Ron Phillips are known for their community productions held at the Indio Performing Arts Center. Now, they’re branching out in Palm Springs with a new LGBTQ+-centric venue called Prism Theater (pictured below during construction) that officially opened Oct. 30 with Camp Morning Wood (through Dec. 7).
Don’t Miss: Desert Theatreworks’ rendition of The Graduate (Feb. 14–March 8, 2026). The stage adaptation of the 1967 film is “not produced often and will be filled with intensity and humor in an intimate space,” Lance says.
Making a Difference: Ron refers to Prism Theater as “a fun, safe space for the LGBTQ+ and allied community.” The focus is on producing newer, campier queer works, such as Coachella Valley of the Dolls, penned by Lance.
Live Theater Matters Because: “The arts keep us mentally healthy,” Lance says. “They give us an escape from reality and help us handle everything we’re going through.”
Where to Dine and Imbibe: When attending a Desert Theatreworks show, the couple suggests a table at Pueblo Viejo Grill in Indio — they swear by the chile verde burrito. After the performance, head to Indio Taphouse for “the great drinks and lively atmosphere.”
Adam Karsten
Coachella Valley Repertory, Cathedral City
In 2022, Adam Karsten left a prestigious position at Lincoln Center in New York to move with his family to the desert to serve as executive artistic director at Coachella Valley Repertory, also known as CVRep. The venue brings together both students and professionals for innovative productions in downtown Cathedral City.
Making a Difference: CVRep produced a play to raise awareness of bullying in October in honor of Bullying Prevention Month. “Students are bused from around the Coachella Valley to see a play that deals with issues that are real for kids that age,” Karsten shares. “Then, we provide a talkback after the show with professionals and counselors to discuss what they saw and what happened in the play. The great thing about that program is that … this is the first time some of them have been in an actual theater.”
Live Theater Matters Because: “Whether you’re going to have a thoughtful or a cathartic experience where you can forget the troubles of the world, the arts remind us of what makes us human and sets us apart, and without that enrichment, I don’t feel like we’re in a grown-up society,” he says. “My hope is that my children become better versions of myself. I believe one of the reasons they have the potential to do that is because of the exposure that they’ve had to the theater arts.”
Where to Dine and Imbibe: Karsten’s go-to is Willie’s Modern Fare. “Besides the great food, [owner] Willie Rhine knows when his diners need to be out the door to make showtime and is a huge supporter of the arts,” he says. “After the show, the cast often goes to The Roost.”
Derik Shopinski
Palm Canyon Theatre, Palm Springs
The 29th season is chock-full of evergreen musicals, including Annie (Nov. 28–Dec. 21), Hair (Feb. 6–March 1, 2026), and Sunset Boulevard (March 13–April 5, 2026). As the company’s resident costume designer, Derik Shopinski — now in his 20th year with the downtown Palm Springs theater — is largely responsible for bringing each character’s look vividly to life.
Don’t Miss: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Oct. 24–Nov. 16. In addition to crafting the costumes, Shopinski also directs the musical comedy, which marks the company’s third staging of the adaptation of the 1994 film. “As a director, I’m more of a traditionalist,” he says. “We’ll throw in some new things with technology; but it’s such an iconic movie, and we want to honor that.”
Making a Difference: A six-week summer theater camp “allows kids to blossom and find something that they enjoy and are good at,” he says.
Live Theater Matters Because: “We’re living in a time where people spend so much of their lives in front of screens and devices,” Shopinski says. “Live theater offers a real, shared human experience. Every night and every performance are different, because there’s an energy
between the performers and the audience.”
Where to Dine and Imbibe: “I love Chicken Ranch, which is across the street,” he says. “There’s also Eight4Nine, which is great.”
John Bolton
The Plaza Theatre, Palm Springs
John Bolton was hired in late 2024 as senior vice president and general manager of the historic Plaza Theatre, which famously opened in 1936 and is currently in the final throes of a major restoration after years of being shuttered. Bolton is just as excited as the rest of the Coachella Valley for the restored crown jewel of downtown Palm Springs to officially reopen in December.
Don’t Miss: Considering the theater’s star-studded lineup, from comedy legend Lily Tomlin to RuPaul’s Drag Race champ Bianca Del Rio, Bolton insists it’s difficult to single out just one favorite. “Getting to see someone like Billy Porter is an amazing opportunity, since he’s coming directly from Cabaret on Broadway to the Plaza in December.”
Making a Difference: The Plaza Theatre will soon launch a new educational program, Arts Teach Kids, which will provide arts-based learning experiences for local youth. “This program will continue to expand, and we’ll get involved more with the training of educators in schools to introduce kids to the arts.”
Live Theater Matters Because: “It’s our job to provide as many opportunities for diverse programming as we can, and not to be afraid of really pushing the envelope,” Bolton says. “We’re presenting shows that our community really wants to see, and it’s important to not be afraid of any kind of influence that would impact who we might present at the theater.”
Where to Dine and Imbibe: “I love the food at Farm, which has delicious specials that change with the seasons,” Bolton says of the Palm Springs brunch staple that also offers prix-fixe dinners. “It’s so close to the theater, I can open my side door and walk onto their patio. Lulu California Bistro is also great and two blocks away.” After the show? “A lot of our programming is LGBTQ+-related, so many patrons may enjoy going to the bars in the Arenas District.”
