Plaza Theatre curtain to rise again at ‘Opening Night Gala’ headlined by Cynthia Erivo
City News Service
PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – The newly restored Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs will reopen its doors to the public with a monthlong slate of shows, starting with the “Opening Night Gala” on Monday, December 1st.
“Wicked” actress Cynthia Erivo will headline the Gala at 7:30 p.m. at 128 S. Palm Canyon Drive. Her one-night performance will feature Mark Meadows and the Palm Springs Pops Orchestra.
Erivo is a Tony-, Grammy-, Emmy-award winner as well as a three-time Academy Award-nominated actress, singer, and producer.
“Opening night at the Plaza is the moment we’ve all been waiting for,” said Senior Vice President of Oak View Group and general manager of the Plaza Theatre John Bolton. “We’re honored to welcome Cynthia Erivo for this milestone performance; it’s the perfect way to begin a vibrant new chapter in the Plaza’s story.”
Every ticket will include a copy of Erivo’s book, “Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They’re Too Much,” a commemorative ticket, and a limited-edition poster created exclusively for opening night.
Actress Lily Tomlin will perform at 7:30 p.m. December 2nd through December 4th. Tomlin has received nine Emmy’s, two Tony awards, a Grammy, two Peabody awards, the Mark Twain Prize, the Kennedy Center Honor and SAG Lifetime Achievement honor, officials said. She has starred in “The Late Show,” “9 to 5,” “The Incredible Shrinking Woman,” and Netflix’s “Grace and Frankie.”
Filmmaker John Waters will have his comedy revival show, “A John Waters Christmas,” at 8:00 p.m. on December 5th.
Many more events have been scheduled well into 2026. Other scheduled events coming up in the next few weeks include:
Comedian Fortune Feimster on December 6th
Palm Springs Symphony from December 7th through July 4th, 2026
Palm Springs Icons on December 8th
Queens of the Stone Age on December 9
Modern Men Cool Yule on December 13th and 14th
Palm Springs Speaks series with Rob Reiner on December 16th
Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus from December 19th through April 26, 2026
Since 1936, the venue has hosted a variety of events starting with its opening night with the world premiere of the Oscar-winning film, “Camille,” starring Greta Garbo. It has hosted movie premieres and live radio shows featuring stars like Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Amos ‘n’ Andy, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.
The restoration began in March 2024 under the management of Oak View Group and a partnership between it and the Plaza Theatre Foundation and the city of Palm Springs. News Channel 3 has followed the restoration from the first months of work, to the middle of the progress, and leading up to just days before the curtain rises again.
Information on tickets and all events, including holiday, can be found at www.palmspringsplazatheatre.com/events.