"If their preview production is an indication, hold onto your hats. THE BENT theatre might just end up being the most in-demand ticket in town."
---Broadway World
THE BENT
In partnership with The Palm Springs Cultural Center
Reviews from our recent hit production of...
GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM
"Two remarkable actors star in Martin Sherman's GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM. Terry Ray and Daniel Bateman shine in this relationship drama directed by Steve Rosenbaum... chemistry and charm carry the day in this unconventional love story."
Mike Napoli - Performing Arts LIVE
"An astonishing theatrical experience"
"A knockout"
"Impossible to find a flaw in Ray's delivery...the audience is in the palm of his hand for the entire show...something you won't soon forget."
Director Steve Rosenbaum is also an actor which helps explain the depth of his success
...explains the quality work with his actors."
"Rufus (Daniel Bateman) and Beau (Terry Ray) exchange perfectly timed conversations
...it's endlessly interesting."
Justin Ledesma "brightens the stage with his energy and presence."
"The best thing you can do is go see this play
...it's my favorite of the season."
Valerie-Jean Hume - THE CV INDEPENDENT
"The Bent continues their pattern of excellence... Not only is The Bent telling gay stories -
they are consistently telling them damned well!"
"I honestly don't think Laurence Olivier could do a better job with the monologues than Terry Ray did... a nuanced performance... Ray's dialect is masterful and consistent."
"The Bent's Artistic Director, Steve Rosenbaum, directs with the inventive excellence that we have come to expect from him. He brings great humanity to the script."
"The production values are top-notch and all three actors presented outstanding performances."
"Top marks to The Bent for bringing this jewel to our attention and
presenting it with unwavering excellence!"
Stan Jepson - BroadwayWorld
The Bent's inaugural production
The Coachella Valley’s brand new LGBTQ theater company, The Bent's first production was the world premiere of THE LINCOLN DEBATE by Terry Ray, the playwright of ELECTRICITY, the record-breaking longest running play in Palm Springs. Steve Rosenbaum directs.
THE LINCOLN DEBATE takes a funny, touching and historically honest look at the relationship between Abraham Lincoln and Joshua Speed, a man he shared a bed with for four years. Did they have an intimate relationship? Did one of the greatest men in American history have a letter under the LGBTQ banner that fit him? You will leave THE LINCOLN DEBATE armed to draw your own conclusions.
Get your PINK on for PINK SATURDAY and support THE BENT
and our home at The Palm Springs Cultural Center
at a fabulous party for a cause!
The Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation, Joe Troncoso and Carl Schreier invite you to HOUSE PARTY PS: PINK SATURDAY on Saturday, April 1st from 4 to 7pm. Get your PINK on and show us how pretty in PINK you can be. Special entertainment will be provided by American Idol’s DAVID HERNANDEZ, drag star BILLY L’AMOUR, STEVEN MICHAEL’S WATER LILLIES featuring the DESERT FLAGGERS and DJ Abie Perkins.
The event will feature a Silent Auction including beautiful art, merchandise, experiences, and much more. Guests will also enjoy Ketel One and Bulleit Bourbon cocktails, Eco Terreno wines, fabulous food and other surprises. Tickets are $100 - 100% of ticket sales goes directly to support THE BENT and The Palm Springs Cultural Center.
This is a vaccinated only event.
The Bent Presents
BETH LAPIDES
in
IT'S A LOT
It’s A Lot is the new show from comedian, author, innovator, and muse Beth Lapides. It’s about change, navigating through this overwhelming now, the nature of creating, and the possibility that everything is unfolding in divine and perfect order! Beth’s iconic
blend of the soul searching, storying telling, meaning mining, moment making and revival tent inspiration, will be in full effect.
“The godmother of alternative comedy!” The LA Times
“Nothing’s cooler!” Vanity Fair”
Beth is the critically acclaimed creator of UnCabaret, which Variety called ‘a progressive comedy institution’, and which launched the alt comedy revolution. Over the past 25+ years of live shows, TV, CD’s and streaming Beth has welcomed comedy luminaries like Margaret Cho, Bob Odenkirk, Jennifer Coolidge, Kathy Griffin, Julia Sweeney, Alec Mapa, Scott Thompson, Patton Oswalt, Janeane Garofalo and so many more.
“A potentially life changing treasure!” Variety
Beth has appeared on an in: Sex and The City, Comedy Central, Will and Grace, PBS’s Women in Comedy, NPR’s All Things Considered, Vulture’s Good One podcast, CNN, The Today Show, Politically Incorrect, Time Magazine, O Magazine, Elle Décor, LA Yoga, the cover of the LA Weekly etc.
“You need alt comedy swami Beth Lapides!” LA Weekly
“A comedy be in!” Rolling Stone
Mitch Kaplan is the It’s A Lot Musical Director. His songs have been performed and recorded by Chaka Khan, Thelma Houston, Sister Sledge, Sam Harris, and Martika etc. and have appeared in films such as Jonathan Demme’s Something Wild. His song, If I Travel Up, is the end credit song for the upcoming
documentary film Studio One Forever.