The Plaza Theatre Announces Opening Night Gala With Cynthia Erivo
PALM SPRINGS, CA (October 21, 2025) — The wait is over! The newly restored Plaza Theatre will reopen its doors in grand style this December. Cynthia Erivo, the iconic voice behind Wicked’s “Defying Gravity”, will headline The Plaza with a spectacular Opening Night Gala on Monday, December 1, 2025, marking the official beginning of a new era for Palm Springs’ most beloved stage.
Cynthia Erivo is a Tony®, Grammy®, Emmy Award-winning and three-time Academy Award nominated actor, singer and producer who burst onto West End and Broadway stages in The Color Purple, winning the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical. She recently starred as Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande in Universal's record-breaking WICKED, which became the highest-grossing movie ever at the domestic box office based on a Broadway musical, earning her Golden Globe, SAG, Critics' Choice, NAACP, BAFTA, and Academy Award nominations. Erivo will reprise her role in WICKED: FOR GOOD (November 21, 2025) and is set to star in the film adaptation of Prima Facie, which she'll also executive produce under her Edith's Daughter production banner. Beyond acting, she's a Grammy®-nominated songwriter and performer who has released two albums—Ch. 1 Vs. 1 (2021) and I Forgive You (2025)—and headlined venues including the Kennedy Center Honors and the Academy Awards. In 2026, she returns to the West End in Kip William's one-woman theatrical extravaganza Dracula, playing 22 roles including Bram Stoker's demonic vampire.
“Opening Night at the Plaza is the moment we’ve all been waiting for,” says John Bolton, Senior Vice President, Oak View Group, and General Manager of the Plaza Theatre. “We’re honored to welcome Cynthia Erivo for this milestone performance; it’s the perfect way to begin a vibrant new chapter in the Plaza’s story.”
Erivo’s one-night performance will feature Mark Meadows and the Palm Springs Pops Orchestra. The event is generously sponsored by Richard Wood and Michael Blasingame.
Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster’s Ticket Request system to ensure a fair and secure process for all fans. Requests will open Tuesday, October 21 at 10:00am PST and closes Monday, October 27 at 10:00pm PST. See the attached FAQ for more information.
There is a two-ticket limit per customer.
Each ticket includes a copy of Erivo’s upcoming book, Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They're Too Much, along with a commemorative ticket and limited-edition poster created exclusively for the Opening Night Gala.
The Opening Night Gala launches a new era of entertainment at the Plaza Theatre, a cornerstone of Palm Springs’ cultural history since 1936, blending world-class performances with the glamour and warmth that have long defined this desert landmark.
