The Palm Springs structure, reconceived by architect Susan Secoy Jensen, recently reopened as the new locale for Dezart Performs, and the buzz is building—for the property and the performing arts enterprise. 

A recent grant from Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) through the FitzDell Gifting Fund is yet another boost as Dezart creates a new path into the future. 

“We spent last spring, into the summer, and into early fall converting the church into a theater performing arts space,” said Michael Shaw, Co-founder and Artistic Director of Dezart Performs, noting that the organization was grateful to receive a grant from The FitzDell Gifting Fund through IECF.  

The Donor Advised Fund was established at IECF by donors Jack Fitzsimmons and Walter Gendell to support various causes in in the region. 

“We’ve been receiving gifts along the way to help this transition, and it’s been a big campaign,” Shaw said. “But the FitzDell Gifting Fund was the first who gave to the campaign for the church and the renovation. Additionally, through the fund, a gift was made towards a naming opportunity—including name on the seats of our new theater chairs, which will be installed during Phase Two of this project.” 

There have been many opportunities for patrons and donors to support the renovation, Shaw added—from lighting aspects and a new stage to seats, equipment, and ADA-compliant modifications. 

The new 6,000 square foot playhouse will help meet the expanding needs of the company’s continuous growth and serve as a hub for diverse activities, community events, and cultural engagement.  

Shaw says the new playhouse will increase the excitement of the local arts scene, creating more opportunities for a variety of voices and talents to represented and celebrated.  

One-hundred-fifty seats will occupy the fully equipped theater. There are dressing rooms, a rehearsal hall, meeting rooms, and lobby with box office and bar.  

“The transformation of this stunning Albert Frey-designed church into a state-of-the-art professional theater is not just a dream come true; it’s a profound honor,” Shaw noted last year in a statement. “We are privileged to have this unique and rare opportunity to breathe new life into this architectural gem.” 

The theater opened in November last year. Shaw said Phase Two of the revamps begins in April. In the meantime, there’s plenty of theater to be had.  

Dezart recently wrapped production of “Eureka Day” Jan. 25. Up next: The West Coast Premiere of “Destroying David” by Jason Odell Williams, which is set for Feb. 26, and will run through March 8. The production revolves around an art restorer/docent, who gives the audience a private after-hours tour of Michelangelo’s David at Florence’s Galleria dell’Accademia.  

“Jason is a wonderful playwright and has become a dear friend,” Shaw said. “We held the regional premiere of his ‘Church and State,’ about eight years ago at our original location, and it did very well. ‘Destroying David’ is a fascinating piece; a powerful one-person play that is very interactive with the audience, who become ‘tourists’ touring the gallery.  

Look for a unique relationship to form between the docent and the audience. 

“The docent raises the question, ‘How permanent is art supposed to be? Does art have an infinite life? Or is there a point where it’s no longer significant?’” Shaw said. “There’s this conversation about, ‘What if I destroyed the [Michelangelo’s] David? What if we got rid of this 300-plus-year-old piece of work?’ The message of the play is not so much about art as it is the docent’s dealing with grief of the loss of their son named David. It’s a lot about life and loss.” 

Then, come April, look for Tony-Award-winner “Love! Valour! Compassion!,” which rounds out the season. 

Meanwhile, Dezart continues to raise major gifts to complete Phase Two.  

“We continue to develop new opportunities for everyone to be a part of this,” Shaw said. “We have something called, ‘Circle of Friends,’ which is designated for donors who give us contributions between $2,500 and $10,000. They’re names would be permanently displayed on the walls of the theater. They’re also mentioned in all our programs. 

“We’re excited about that opportunity, and all the support,” Shaw added. “The FitzDell Gifting Fund is just one element of this piece of the puzzle that continues to grow. It’s a wonderful time.” 

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, February, 2026.

Stay up to date on all the good work we’re doing through the power of philanthropy. Sign up for our eNewsletter, Philanthropy Matters, today.

The post Grantee Spotlight: Blessings mount as Dezart Playhouse transforms iconic church appeared first on IECF.

“We’re excited that the grant will help us fund our production of Falsettos because it will be only the second musical that we produced in our 17 years,” says Dezart Performs Artistic Director Michael Shaw. “It’s wonderful we’re getting funding to help put on this production because we’re not known for musicals.”

The performing arts organization’s 17th season launches in November with the 2019 Broadway political dark comedy Hillary And Clinton, running Nov. 15-24. The 2022 Pulitzer Prize winner Fat Ham, a modern-day Hamlet by James Ijames, follows, running Jan. 17 – 26. The Off-Broadway drama Grand Concourse premieres Feb. 28.

Falsettos, a Tony Award-winning musical written by William Finn and James Lapine with music and lyrics by Finn, will take place at The Pearl McManus Theater at the historic Palm Springs Woman’s Club.

“I thought this would be a great piece to do in the Valley because it speaks to the LGBTQ+ community,” Shaw says of the show. “It also speaks to an older generation, and it’s just intensely beautiful and rich in storytelling.”

The production is an inventive and contemporary musical about family, relationships, bar mitzvahs, baseball, and AIDS. Michael Rupert, Stephen Bogardus as Whizzer, Barbara Walsh, Chip Zien, and Jonathan Kaplan helmed the Broadway hit.

Shaw launched Dezart Performs in 2008 with Daniela Ryan at the Dezart One Gallery in the Backstreet Art District in Palm Springs. It captured attention from the get-go with its play readings of new works performed in the main gallery while both actors and the audience were surrounded by art.

“At the time, there were three gallery owners of this particular gallery,” Shaw recalls of the Dezart’s origins. “The artist wanted to create a salon-type setting in the gallery where you could have poetry readings, sketch readings, theatrical pieces, monologues, or even book readings. Then Daniela befriended the artist.

The connection was kismet. Ryan, a local actress who had also worked in Los Angeles, was soon commissioned to write a one-woman show. Shaw happened to be in the area for the weekend and was familiar with the artists but surprised to discover a performance there one night.

“I fell in love with Daniela’s piece and her talent,” he shares. “We eventually struck up a friendship and spearheaded the whole salon aspect in the gallery. And that was actually the legs to Dezart Performs.”

Today, the organization is thriving, thanks to its solid board of directors, long list of sponsors, and inventive programming.

On that note, heading into Season 17, Dezart Performs nabbed 26 nominations for the 38th annual Desert Star Awards, which honors Coachella Valley and High Desert communities’ theatrical performers from the 2023-2024 season. All the organization’s 2023-2024 productions were nominated in multiple categories, with all four of its season productions being nominated in the outstanding professional production categories. 

In addition, things are moving quickly with the next stage campaign, and the organization hopes to share some exciting news soon.

“We continue to raise funds,” Shaw says of the campaign, which has been in the silent phase for more than a year, with the goal to raise $2,200,000. “We’re very excited about the future.”

In addition to being used by Dezart Performs, the new venue will be a destination for other local businesses and nonprofits. The Dezart Playhouse is expected to open for the 2025-26 season.

“We continue to raise funds,” Shaw says of the campaign, which has been in the silent phase for more than a year, with the goal to raise $2,200,000. “We’re very excited about the future.”

Learn more at dezartperforms.org.

This article originally appeared in the Desert Sun, September 2024.

Stay up to date on all the good work we’re doing through the power of philanthropy. Sign up for our eNewsletter, Philanthropy Matters, today.

The post Grantee Spotlight: Grant helps Dezart Performs stage vibrant musical in new season appeared first on IECF.