Immersive 'Cabaret,' reimagined 'The Fantasticks' featured in 2023-24 CV Rep season

The Coachella Valley Repertory will showcase five new productions, including world and West Coast premieres and bold reimaginations of shows, during its 2023-2024 season, the theater announced Monday.

The season will include the West Coast premiere of a new take on "The Fantasticks"; the world premiere of "Summer Session with the Bones Brigade," the first play developed through CV Rep’s Origins: New Works Program; the fully immersive 1998 version of "Cabaret"; a direct-from-Broadway comedy "POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive"; and George and Ira Gershwin’s classic tunes in "Nice Work If You Can Get It."

Adam Karsten will continue his tenure as CV Rep's executive artistic director and said the upcoming season will be a "great adventure."

"The shows represent everything we want to offer Coachella Valley audiences: fun, irresistible classics, familiar works examined for new insights and relevance, plus all new works that reflect the interests and ideas in our world today," Karsten said in a statement. "I am so grateful to CVRep’s family of donors and sponsors who make it possible for us to produce the quality productions that our community has grown to expect of us and deserve."

Subscribers can renew their current season tickets beginning July 1, while new subscriptions go on sale Aug. 1. Orders can be made at www.cvrep.org, by calling 760-296-2966, ext. 201, or at the CVRep box office located at 68-510 E. Palm Canyon Drive in Cathedral City. Box office hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Patrons requesting accessibility assistance are encouraged to speak to a ticket representative while purchasing their season subscriptions.

'The Fantasticks' (reimagined; West Coast premiere)

Dates: Nov. 1-12

Book and lyrics by Tom Jones, music by Harvey Schmidt

The reimagining of "The Fantasticks" will be headed to Broadway after its exclusive West Coast premiere at CV Rep, according to a news release. The original production featured two neighboring fathers who trick their children, Luisa and Matt, into falling in love by pretending to feud. In 2022, the show was reimagined to be about two young men falling in love. All of the original songs remain, including "Try to Remember," "Much More" and "Soon It's Gonna Rain."

'Summer Session with the Bones Brigade' (world premiere)

Dates: Dec. 6-17, 2023

By Kirby Fields, selected from the CVRep 2023 Origins: New Works Project

"Summer Session with the Bones Brigade," written by Kirby Fields, artistic director of University of Pennsylvania Theater Company and Up Theatre company in Manhattan, is the first work selected from the company's new works development project, ORIGINS. Set in the Midwest during the summer of 1988, the production explores the story of four teenagers with dreams of becoming competitive skateboarders and their two female friends. When one of them mysteriously disappears, the group fears the worst and directs their guilt and shame against one another.

'Cabaret' (1998 version; CV Rep premiere)

Dates: Jan. 24-Feb. 4, 2024

Book by Joe Masteroff, based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood, music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb

The immersive 1998 version of "Cabaret" will take audience members to a wild nightlife, a dangerous time in another country and on a new journey.

'POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive' (CV Rep premiere)

Dates: Feb. 28-March 10

By Selina Filinger

A wild bunch of female characters are included in this fresh from Broadway show. Chief of Staff Harriet and Press Secretary Jean are trying to minimize the damage after the president called his wife an unprintable name in front of foreign diplomats and the press. There are also a few unexpected visitors in store, such as the president's pregnant mistress, his convicted felon sister and a seasoned reporter. "POTUS" was nominated for three Tony Awards and three Drama League awards.

'Nice Work If You Can Get It' (CV Rep premiere)

Dates: April 10-21, 2024

Lyrics by Ira Gershwin, music by George Gershwin, book by Joe DiPietro

"Nice Work If You Can Get It" will be the biggest production ever mounted on the CV Rep stage, according to the theater. The classic Broadway blockbuster is filled with actors, singers, dancers and beloved Gershwin tunes, such as "Sweet and Lowdown," "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off," "S’Wonderful," "Fascinating Rhythm," "Lady Be Good" and "I’ve Got to Be There."

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: 'Cabaret,' 'The Fantasticks' featured in 2023-24 CV Rep season