Straight to the Heart
A Tribute to the Legacy of Rodgers & Hart
Due to popular demand! New added performance Sunday, June 23, 2:00 PM
STRAIGHT TO THE HEART is a tribute to the legacy of Rodgers and Hart. More than just a performance of their songs, it’s a unique blend of traditional cabaret and musical theatre. The show offers fascinating insights into the songs’ origins, the groundbreaking shows they were featured in, and the memorable characters who sang them. Audiences will also learn about the two dynamic creators whose conflicting approaches to life and work came together to create unforgettable songs filled with wit, melody, and deep human emotion.
Conceived and hosted by Broadway veterans Dennis Courtney and Wayne Bryan, the multi-talented cast features Broadway veterans Kim Huber, Tim Ewing, alongside local performers Jenne Carey and Patrick Wallace, plus special guest star Barbara Kerr with musical direction by Joel Baker.
Running time: 90 minutes
There will be no intermission.
Created by Dennis Courtney and Wayne Bryan
Cabaret at the Pearl: Straight to the Heart is generously sponsored by Mary Ann McLaughlin.
Special Event Jun 21 2024 - Jun 23 2024
Show Times6:00 PM Social Hour/Happy Hour
7:00 PM Performance
New! 1:00 PM Social Hour/Happy Hour on Sunday
2:00 PM Performance
Pearl McManus Theater
at the Palm Springs Woman’s Club
314 S Cahuilla Road
Downtown Palm Springs, CA 92262
The Cast
Dennis Courtney, Co-Creator/Co-Director/Choreographer/Host
Dennis staged FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in Tel Aviv, for which he won the Israeli National Theatre Award. Favorite productions include PETER PAN starring Cathy Rigby, CAN-CAN starring Leslie Uggams, the regional premieres of I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE and THE LAST FIVE YEARS, the world premieres of RED HOT MAMA, CIVIL WAR VOICES, THE LAST ADAM, HURRICANE ETHEL (which he wrote), VANYA, SONIA, MASHA AND SPIKE, SOPHISTICATED LADIES, THE ALL NIGHT STRUT, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, LUCKY STIFF, PAPER MOON starring Wayne Bryan and 21 original music revues he created. Dennis appeared on Broadway/on tour in STARLIGHT EXPRESS, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, PETER PAN with Sandy Duncan, ROZA with Georgia Brown and GREASE. He directed the 5th season opener of TV’s PERFECT STRANGERS and also teaches Master Classes in Auditioning as well as private coaching. He is a former U.S.champion figure skater.
Wayne Bryan, Co-Creator/Co-Director/Host
Wayne was personally selected by Richard Rodgers to appear on Broadway in RODGERS AND HART: A MUSICAL CELEBRATION, and later directed a reinvented version of that show. A California native and UC Santa Barbara graduate, Wayne began his theatrical career as both actor and director at San Diego’s Old Globe, while also serving as a Naval Officer during the Vietnam War. Other acting credits include Broadway: GOOD NEWS, TINTYPES; TV: M*A*S*H*; and National Tour: JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. In regional theaters he starred in THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, ME AND MY GIRL, A CHRISTMAS STORY and PAPER MOON directed by Dennis Courtney. Wayne served as Producing Artistic Director for Music Theatre Wichita (1988-2021), producing 168 Broadway-scale musicals, directing 56. Locally, he played the Old Actor in THE FANTASTICKS: REIMAGINED for CVRep and directed INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH BROADWAY for the McCallum Theatre.
Kim Huber, Performer
Kim starred on Broadway as Belle in Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and on the National Tour. Other Broadway: OBCs of SUNSET BLVD (w/ Glenn Close) and MARIE CHRISTINE (w/ Audra McDonald). Her portrayal of Nellie in FLOYD COLLINS earned her Barrymore, Jeff and Ovation Award Nominations. Favorite regional: MAMMA MIA! (Donna), THE KING AND I (Anna), THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Maria), CHESS (Florence) and BIG FISH (Sandra). She has sung in concert throughout the USA and is an accomplished vocal teacher and coach to beginners and Broadway/TV stars. Kim can be heard as the singing voice of Princess Aurora on Disney Records. She recently appeared in INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH BROADWAY at the McCallum Theatre.
Tim Ewing, Performer
Tim recently moved to Palm Springs after over four decades in NYC working on Broadway, Off-Broadway and TV. He most recently appeared in NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT at CVRep and played Horace Vandergelder opposite Cady Huffman in HELLO, DOLLY! for MTU. Broadway/National Tour: MAMMA MIA! (Harry). Off Broadway: Sondheim’s PACIFIC OVERTURES, Jones-Schmidt’s COLETTE COLLAGE, Bill Finn’s FALSETTOLAND, Sheldon Harnick’s LOVE IN TWO COUNTRIES, Richard Rodgers’ NO STRINGS. Regional: VANYA, SONIA, MASHA & SPIKE (Vanya), CABARET (Herr Schultz), THE BURNT PART BOYS (Father), THE FULL MONTY (Harold), A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Frederick), FALSETTOS (Marvin), SYLVIA (Greg), LEND ME A TENOR (Max), DRACULA (Van Helsing) and JACQUES BREL. TV: THE LAST O.G., LAW & ORDER (all), THE GOOD WIFE, ELEMENTARY, THE BLACKLIST, UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT and DIFFICULT PEOPLE.
Barbara Kerr, Guest Performer
Barbara has performed across the country, winning rave reviews for her performance in the one-woman play, SHIRLEY VALENTINE and earning acclaim for leading roles in WIT, THE LION IN WINTER, AGNES OF GOD, HAMLET, THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG, MOON OVER BUFFALO, TALLEY’S FOLLY, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST and THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. Her musical credits include leading roles in GYPSY, MAME, COMPANY, FOLLIES, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, ANYTHING GOES, THE MOST HAPPY FELLA, APPLAUSE, ANNIE, NUNSENSE, OLIVER!, SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM, as well as tributes to Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Kurt Weill. Her regional appearances include IT’S ONLY A PLAY and GROSS INDECENCY: THE THREE TRIALS OF OSCAR WILDE at The Bent, SHERLOCK HOLMES CONFIDENTIAL at Desert Ensemble Theatre, and performing on the Coachella Valley Repertory stage in RJ Arts Theatrical productions celebrating composers Stephen Sondheim and Sir Noël Coward.
Jenne Carey, Performer
Jenne is an award-winning singer and award-nominated actress who has performed in prestigious venues across the United States, Canada and Japan. She has originated roles in new operas and dramatic plays, lent her voice to the soundtrack of a major motion picture and shared the stage with artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion, Tony Bennett and Sarah Brightman. Her musical theatre credits include THE SECRET GARDEN, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Jenne is in demand as a concert soloist and holds a Master of Music degree in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College. She recently appeared in INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH BROADWAY at the McCallumTheatre, SONGS FROM MY CLOSET at Revolution Stage, and regularly sings with Coachella Valley Classical Voices.
Patrick Wallace, Performer
Patrick is a Bay Area native and a recent Coachella Valley transplant. A graduate from USC’s BFA in Acting program, he was seen last season as Mark in RENT at Palm Canyon Theatre, Princeton in AVENUE Q at Revolution Stage Company, and the world premiere of INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH BROADWAY at the McCallum Theatre. Most recently, he played Perchik in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and Joe Hardy in DAMN YANKEES at Desert Theatricals and appeared in SONGS FROM MY CLOSET at Revolution Stage.
Joel Baker, Musical Director, Arranger, Pianist
Joel, a native of the Seattle area, moved to the desert in 2003 and has been in demand ever since as a music director, accompanist and entertainer. Joel can currently be found playing for THE JUDY SHOW at The Purple Room along with leading a weekly open mic at The Roost Lounge. He also serves on the staff for Musical Theater University and Midsummer Musical Retreat in Walla Walla, WA. Joel has been principal accompanist for the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus since 2013. Recently, Joel was honored to participate as music director in the world premiere of the musical INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH BROADWAY at the McCallum Theatre. Along with his husband, Don Vasconcelos, Joel wrote the song Christmas in Palm Springs.