La Quinta PlayHouse full of activity

The Desert Sun • July 23, 2009

As the La Quinta PlayHouse prepares for a second season at its Old Town theater, directors also have a slate of summer activities planned.

"It used to be that we'd take down the tent and come back in September, but now we've got this space," said Managing Director Eric Olson.

To take advantage of having year-round access to a theater, the PlayHouse will put on the comedy "Greater Tuna" at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, through Aug. 29.

"It's really a good show for the summer because it's very light, very funny," Olson said. "It's a two-person show where you basically have two guys who play (20) townspeople of this small town of Tuna, Texas."

Artistic Director JoAnn Reeves said the show was hilarious.

"I'm a little biased being from Texas and all," she added.

One summer performance of the popular "Bill W. and Dr. Bob" also remains. The drama about the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous finishes its current run at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Also on the summer schedule is an arts camp for children ages 8 to 16. The second of three sessions is under way, and the camp's last session - which is already at full enrollment - will run Aug. 3-14.

The PlayHouse's season kicks off in October.

"We really focused on comedies last year," Olson said. "This year, I think we tried to diversify a little bit."

The season begins with "The Gin Game," which Olson called a heartwarming comedy-drama.

"It's not a laugh riot, but it's sweet," he said.

Next up is "Baby With the Bathwater" by playwright Christopher Durang, who also wrote a play performed in the PlayHouse's 2008-09 season, "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You."

Olson and Reeves are both fans of Durang's work.

"He puts the fun in dysfunctional," Reeves said.

The two directors try to include one of Durang's shows each season, Olson said.

"His comedy is a little askew," he said. "The audiences really enjoyed 'Sister Mary' last year, and I think they'll enjoy this one as well."

December brings a holiday-themed show with singing, dancing, magic and comedy.

"It's essentially a variety show with a bad Santa, who's hilarious," Reeves said.

The PlayHouse's first show of 2010 is the buddy comedy "I'm Not Rappaport," which is followed by the musical "The Fantasticks."

"We started out five years ago with 'The Fantasticks,' and we're going to bring it back to celebrate our fifth season," Reeves said. "It's a wonderful musical."

The season wraps up with "Glengarry Glen Ross," a play by David Mamet that was adapted into a 1992 film of the same name.

"As a mix, it's an interesting group of plays that you don't usually see in the desert and will feature some tremendous actors," Reeves said of the season.

Olson said he and Reeves are encouraging patrons to attend the entire season by offering a discounted subscription package.

"Last year was more, 'We're in the space; let's work on attracting people show by show,'" Olson said. "This year, we want to attract people to the whole season."