Coachella Valley Theater guide Feb. 26-March 4: Mysteries, musicals and more

Niki Kottmann, Palm Springs Desert Sun
·3 min read

This week in theater includes "The Mousetrap," "The Scarlet Pimpernel" and more.

Coachella Valley theater companies can submit their theater listings — one per form — at bit.ly/TheaterGuideForm to be included in the weekly Theater Guide inside Sunday's Arts & Culture section.

Here's our list of must-see performances in the Palm Springs area this week:

Desert Theatreworks presents 'The Mousetrap' Feb. 10 – March 5.
Desert Theatreworks presents 'The Mousetrap' Feb. 10 – March 5.

Agatha Christie’s 'The Mousetrap'

Desert TheatreWorks adapts Agatha Christie's murder mystery about a group of seven strangers stuck at a guesthouse with a killer among them. The story follows the group of strangers trying to unravel the mystery while they are snowed-in at a countryside guesthouse. This thriller is also the longest-running play in history.

Venue: Playhouse at Indio Performing Arts Center 45-175 Fargo St., Indio

Running dates and times:  7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 10 to March 5

Ticket prices: $40

More info: dtworks.org/tickets

'The Scarlet Pimpernel'

This musical is based on Baroness Orczy's novel about a wealthy man named Sir Percy Blakeney who lives a secret life of rescuing those sent to execution during the French Revolution. The premise resembles a super hero double identity, as the character's wife is unaware of her husband's action-filled adventures.

Venue: Palm Canyon Theatre, 538 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs

Running dates and times:  7 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 10 to March 5

Ticket prices: $38

More info: palmcanyontheatre.net/show-tickets

'Once'

Cast members Piper Bruce, Molly Coyne, Eileen Doan, and Emily Miksell perform a scene from Coachella Valley Repertory's production of 'Once.'
Cast members Piper Bruce, Molly Coyne, Eileen Doan, and Emily Miksell perform a scene from Coachella Valley Repertory's production of 'Once.'

Enjoy this beloved musical that aims to remind us of how the language of music is universal. Winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, "Once" tells the story of Guy, an Irish songwriter who spends his days fixing vacuums in the Dublin shop he runs with his father. On the verge of giving up, a girl walks into his life who changes everything, eventually getting him to arrange a motley crew of musicians to record a demo album.

Venue: Coachella Valley Repertory, 68-510 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City

Running dates and times: Various times Feb. 21 – March 11, check website for specifics

Ticket prices: $63

More info: cvrep.org

'A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Gynecologic Oncology Unit At The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Of New York City'

Interested in a show about a foul-mouthed 20-something comedian and a middle-aged man embroiled in a nasty divorce brought together by their cancer-stricken mothers? Then you'll enjoy this aptly named play, which follows an unlikely duo who choose to negotiate some of life’s biggest challenges by making some of the world’s most inappropriate jokes.

Venue: Pearl McManus Theater at the Palm Springs Woman’s Club, 314 S. Cahuilla Road, Palm Springs

Running dates and times: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sundays March 3-12

Ticket prices: $39-$50

More info: dezartperforms.org

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Theater guide: Palm Springs-area shows to check out Feb. 26-March 4