"Grand Concourse" Debuts at Dezart Performs with Actress Tia Laulusa

The latest production at Dezart Performs brings audiences a compelling drama with the debut of "Grand Concourse" at the Pearl McManus Theater in downtown Palm Springs. Running from February 28 through March 9, the play stars actress Tia Laulusa, who joined Desert Entertainment to discuss her role and the show’s powerful themes.

Written by Heidi Schreck (What the Constitution Means to Me), "Grand Concourse" centers on Shelby, a nun managing a soup kitchen in the Bronx, grappling with her faith and sense of purpose. Laulusa plays Emma, a 19-year-old college dropout whose chaotic behavior challenges Shelby’s capacity for forgiveness.

"Emma is like an undertow of chaos," Laulusa explained. "She tests Shelby’s patience and pushes everyone around her to confront their beliefs." Balancing acting with plans to attend law school, Laulusa finds parallels between her character’s search for direction and her own journey.

The play also features diverse characters, including the first openly transgender actor to play Frog, an unhoused individual who has become part of the soup kitchen’s makeshift family.

Show Details:

🎭 Grand Concourse
📅 February 28 – March 9
📍 Pearl McManus Theater, Palm Springs Woman’s Club

a chance to win free tickets: NBCPalmSprings.com/cool

Other Events Around the Desert:

• Open Mic Night at Play Lounge, Wednesdays at 5:30 PM

• Lady Bunny’s “Don’t Bring the Kids” at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, February 21 at 7 PM

• Dear Evan Hansen at the McCallum Theatre, limited run this weekend

• Arrival from Sweden: ABBA Tribute at Agua Caliente Resort & Casino, February 22

Don't miss your chance to experience "Grand Concourse", a show that will make you reflect, laugh, and think.

Visit NBCPalmSprings.com for more local entertainment and event news.