Supporting & Cultivating Theatre
in the Coachella Valley & Morongo Basin

IOn July 25, 2018, Desert Theatre League President Frank Berman, on behalf of the entire board issued a letter to the Current Managing Editor of the Desert Sun newspa

There was no response

September 9, 2018, Frank Berman issued another letter to the new incoming Executive Editor to The Desert Sun, Julie Makinen.

October 25, 2018  - I met with Ms. Julie Makinen, the new (2 weeks) Executive Editor of The Desert Sun.  The purpose of our meeting was to pursue my earlier attempt to gain recognition of Member productions in the Sun.  I had previously provided Ms. Makinen with some history of DTL and introduced her to our website.  I initiated our discussion by giving Ms. Makinen insight into the magnitude of the local theatrical market.  I related the number of DTL member companies, the number of annual productions, the size of the audiences, and a dollar estimate of the economic impact on the community.  I found Ms. Makinen to be attentive and receptive.  She readily acknowledged that the Sun should be doing more to promote live theater.  She indicated that she had recently engaged in discussions with Bruce Fessier on how best to achieve that goal, albeit within a limited budget.  Near the end of our one hour meeting, I gave Ms. Makinen contact information and email addresses for each of you.  I requested that a member of her staff reach out to you to collect information on upcoming productions, dates and times, and synopses of productions.  Ms. Makinen replied affirmatively.  Furthermore, she volunteered that she fully intended to put local theater at the top of her "to do list" once the November elections are history.  Her goal is to develop a vehicle for gathering local theatrical information prior to the end of the year.  In the meantime. Ms. Makinen offered to listen to each of you via her email address, julie.makinen@desertsun.com.  I urge you to make your voices heard.   I would like to think that I have cracked open the door at the Sun.  The more of you who insert yourselves into that opening, the more likely that the theatrical community will be better served.  Please keep me in the loop by apprising me of any communications.   

Frank Berman 

President 

Desert Theatre League