DESERT MODERNISM 101: Scriptures to Scripts | Presented by Eric Chiel
About this Event
Experience the story of the Dezart Playhouse inside the building itself. Originally built in 1957 as the First Church of Christ, Scientist, the church designed by Frey & Chambers has been transformed into a 123-seat professional theatre.
After Dezart Performs purchased the property in 2024, 18 cartons of publications, photographs, and artifacts were discovered in the attic. They revealed the congregation’s history in Palm Springs dating back to the 1930s, including photographs and records of the building’s original design and construction.
Join Playhouse historian Eric Chiel as he shares these discoveries and the story of the church’s conversion into Dezart’s new home. The project received a local AIA chapter design award in 2025 and PS ModCom’s Adaptive Reuse Award in 2026.
About Eric Chiel
Eric Chiel is a writer and longtime Dezart Performs board member who led the committee responsible for finding, purchasing, and adapting the church. He now leads architectural tours of the Playhouse. His writing includes the Annenberg Theatre chapter in the Palm Springs Art Museum’s 75th anniversary book and The ONE-PS Guide to Palm Springs Neighborhoods. He also founded the Twin Palms Neighborhood Organization and leads a walking tour of the neighborhood for Modernism Week.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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