Award-winning shows featured in 2023-24 Dezart Performs season; new Sunday performances

Palm Springs' Dezart Performs will kick off its 16th year of theater with a lineup that includes a Pulitzer Prize finalist, a Drama Critics Circle Award winner and the first Broadway play written by a Native American playwright.

The season will include the satiric "The Thanksgiving Play"; the 2019 Pulitzer Prize finalist "What the Constitution Means to Me"; "A Case for the Existence of God" by Samuel D. Hunter, whose work is no stranger to the Dezart Performs stage; and the drama "Mr. Parker."

"Age 16 is when one is allowed to drive, and we really feel this season puts us back in high gear," Michael Shaw, founding Artistic Director of Dezart Performs, said in a statement. "Each production offers a unique perspective, combining laughter, introspection, and powerful storytelling. We can’t wait to share these extraordinary performances with our loyal patrons and new audiences alike."

Due to record attendance numbers last year, the company announced it is adding additional performances to each production at 7 p.m. Sundays.

Existing and new season subscribers can now purchase tickets. Single show tickets go on sale Sept. 12.

All performances take place at the Pearl McManus Theater, at 314 S. Cahuilla Road, Palm Springs. Tickets cost $48 to $55 and can be purchased online at www.dezartperforms.org or by calling 760-322-0179. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays.

'The Thanksgiving Play'

Dates: Nov. 3-5, 10-12By Larissa FastHorse

Larissa FastHorse's "The Thanksgiving Play," a comedy that satirizes the collision between good intentions and absurd assumptions, kicks off Dezart Performs' upcoming season. This funny production follows a troupe of terminally "woke" teaching artists as they scramble to create a pageant that celebrates both Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Month. FastHorse, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Lakota People, made a splash on Broadway this spring when the show premiered at Second Stage’s Helen Hayes Theatre: She became the first known Native American female playwright to have a show produced on Broadway.

'What the Constitution Means to Me'

Dates: Jan. 19-21, 26-28By Heidi Schreck

"What the Constitution Means to Me," a 2019 Pulitzer Prize finalist written by Heidi Schreck, explores the profound relationship between four generations of women and the founding document that shaped their lives, and imagines how it will shape the next generation of Americans. The play was also nominated for two Tony Awards, including Best Play.

'A Case for the Existence of God'

Dates: March 1-3, 8-10By Samuel D. Hunter

Dezart Performs took on Hunter's "A Bright New Boise" last season, and his work is back on the main stage with "A Case for the Existence of God" this season. The emotional and thought-provoking play, set in a cubicle in Southern Idaho, delves into the fragile worlds of Keith, a mortgage broker, and Ryan, a yogurt plant worker, who choose to open up to each other. The show was named best play of the 2021-22 season by the the New York Drama Critics’ Circle.

'Mr. Parker'

Dates: April 12-14, 19-21By Michael McKeever

Michael McKeever's "Mr. Parker" will close out Dezart Performs' 16th season. In the show, 54-year old widower Terry Parker has to adjust to his newly single life after the loss of his partner of 30 years. After a night of heavy drinking, he wakes up and finds an unlikely fresh start. McKeever's "Daniel's Husband" was featured in Dezart's 2020 season.

"In an era when so much seems to be about polarization, I hope our plays continue to open dialogue and build community," Shaw said in a statement. "We are dedicated to producing fresh and compelling works that inspire such dialogue and provoke thought with a commitment to artistic excellence and community engagement."

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Dezart Performs returns for 16th season with award-winning shows