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Desert Theatricals 2026–27 Season

The Best in Local Professional Theatre is returning to the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater for its eighth season, bringing Broadway favorites, live orchestral performances and special musical events to audiences throughout 2026 and 2027.

Presented in partnership with the City of Rancho Mirage, the new season will open with Into the Woods, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony Award-winning musical. Ray Limon and Joshua Carr will direct the production, running Oct. 23–25, 2026, with a cast featuring Lizzie Schmelling Sosa and Catrina Teruel.

The theatrical lineup continues Jan. 22–23, 2027, with Sister Act. Based on the beloved comedy, the show promises an uplifting mix of humor, music and high-energy entertainment.

Next comes one of musical theater’s most enduring classics, Man of La Mancha, playing April 2–4, 2027. Charles Herrera, Jacob Lozano and Joseph Savant will lead the cast.

Music lovers can also look forward to the return of the company’s variety series, featuring local performers and visiting artists backed by seven-piece swing bands.

The special-event schedule begins July 22–23, 2026, with A Cool Yule, a holiday-themed concert celebrating the music and hits of Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald. On Dec. 12, 2026, The Pepsodent Variety Hour will offer a nostalgic evening featuring the music of Bob Hope, Dean Martin, The Andrews Sisters, Abbott and Costello, Fred and Ginger, and other legendary entertainers.

The variety season will conclude March 6, 2027, with Tony Award nominee and Broadway veteran Eden Espinosa in An Evening of Broadway.

The upcoming season will also introduce several audience upgrades. Premium tables in the theater’s first two center tiers will now include bottle service, while new padded seating offers additional comfort. All seats will be reserved and available for advance selection, eliminating the need to wait in line for amphitheater admission. Food and beverage options will continue to be available on-site.

Tickets go on sale at 6 a.m. on July 15 through Desert Theatricals’ Broadway in the Desert website. With larger chairs reducing the amphitheater’s overall capacity, organizers are encouraging audiences to reserve their seats early.