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PERMIT NO 00005
February 5, 2020 Vol. 16 No. 9
“Ballroom” Bill Lewis, Melodie Wolford, Marcia Rodd, Aviva Pressman, Sean Timothy Brown. Photo by Jim Cox.
CVRep Theatre launches a new reimagining of the musical production “Ballroom” By Jack Lyons Theatre and Film Critic Member American Theatre Critics Association As theatre and society, in general, evolve, especially here in the United States,
“Ballroom,” the new reimagined musical is a very appropriate production choice for CVRep to present to its 2019/2020 audiences. It’s another crowdpleasing show that fits the 2019/2020 season theme of “New Beginnings.” It’s also the boldest and
Story and Photos by Pat Krause The Rancho Mirage Writers Fest was held from Jan 29 to Jan 31. The diversity of Authors was impressive as almost every topic was covered in today’s society. These are famous authors who sometimes make several appearances and do a book signing after their event. Valet parking went very smoothly for the number of cars attending. Moving from room to room was also done quickly, and it seemed no one was without a seat or a viewing on a TV screen. Each author and moderator spoke for 45 minutes. Topics included Catastrophic events, politics, aging, business,
women, racism, foreign policy, health, economy, education, former presidents, wars, writers, newspapers, White House, fiction and non-fiction, American west, crime, sports, autobiographies, historians, the media, Middle East, our turbulent times and more. On the first day, one of the speakers was the well-known country singer, Tim McGraw, who wrote a book with John Meacham about music. The room was filled with music and McGraw Fans. The book, Songs of America, deals with Patriotism, Protest, and the music that made a nation. The
most audacious production in CVRep history. The Cathedral City-based theatrical company headed by Founding Artistic Director Ron Celona, now in its 11th season of producing quality Equity productions here in the Coachella Valley, has become a beacon for
more professional actors and creative artists who want work in the Valley’s newest, stateof-the-art theatre complex. What began as a dream of Ron Celona’s long-held desire to create an Equity Regional Theatre in the Coachella Valley eight years ago is now a reality.
The stakes were high, but the passion and skills, plus hard work and the generosity of some of the Valley’s loyal Patron’s of the Arts, along with Celona’s dedicated and committed Board of Continues on Page 19
TimMcGraw and John Meacham at RM Writers Fest
Continues on Page 9
John Meacham and Tim McGraw. Photo by Pat Krause