News from: Green Room Theatre Company
This spring, Green Room Theatre Company is bringing to the Coachella Valley two very powerful and unique theatrical experiences. ‘The Newish Shakespeare Festival’ will consist of Como Te Gusta and American Moor, bringing a mix of classic and dark humor to the stage for the community to enjoy.
Como Te Gusta is a lively bilingual reimagining of As You Like It by William Shakespeare set in the Sonoran Desert, and directed by Green Room Theatre Company’s Founding Artistic Director, David Catanzarite. Each performance opens with Ballet Folklórico, setting the tone for the evening’s celebration of culture and storytelling. The show blends Spanish, cowboy English, and Shakespeare’s original text, and celebrates love, identity, and self-discovery with humor, heart, and a fresh cultural perspective, making it suitable for audiences of all ages.
“Since 2011, we’ve proudly produced works by and about Shakespeare each season,” said Catanzarite. “With our Newish Shakespeare Festival, we’re deepening that commitment by creating work that reflects the rich bilingual and Hispanic culture of the East Valley. Como Te Gusta allows us to connect with audiences in a way that feels culturally familiar, welcoming, and relevant, while continuing to make Shakespeare accessible to our entire community.”
Directed by Kathryn Ervin, American Moor is a powerful, one-man drama that follows a seasoned Black actor auditioning for the role of Othello, confronting both Shakespeare’s text and the unspoken biases of the classical theatre world. Raw, thought-provoking, and deeply personal, the play examines race, identity, and who gets to claim the classics and is better suited for a more mature audience.
“This is an exciting play confronting the relationship between plays and performers and directors. Specifically, a black actor auditioning for Othello and issues including stereotyping, actor training and colonial views. It’s been a very exciting process as we worked to bring these issues and more to our production,” said Ervin.
Together, both productions celebrate innovation while sparking timely conversations about culture, representation, and the enduring relevance of Shakespeare. Multiple showings are planned throughout the Valley at the following locations: St. John’s Episcopal Church, Carl May Community Center, RAP Foundation, and the Revolution Stage Company with ticket prices ranging from $20 to $40.
For more information about the shows, or to purchase tickets, please visit https://grtccv.org/2026-shakespeare-festival/.
About Green Room Theatre Company
Green Room Theatre Company Coachella Valley (GRTCCV) is the only company in the region that tours professional theatre and ballet folklorico performances to under-resourced neighborhoods throughout the desert. GRTCCV leads the way in producing culturally inclusive theatre, while developing new audiences in East Coachella Valley and beyond.
Meanwhile, the company continues to build career pathways for the next generation of desert
artists by offering internships, scholarships, and high-quality, small-enrollment classes for
hundreds of children and teens in Indio, Coachella, Thermal and Mecca. A burgeoning 501(c)(3) nonprofit, GRTCCV is on the road to recognition by Actors Equity for a contract as a Small Professional Theatre. For more information, call (442) 215-7039 or visit www.grtccv.org.