Palm Desert, CA –The McCallum Theatre today announces its much anticipated Annual Gala featuring An Intimate Evening with Josh Groban. The always eagerly anticipated annual event will honor Aubrey and Lori Serfling, community leaders, dedicated volunteers, and generous supporters who have made a lasting impact on the Coachella Valley.
Invitations for the performance and pre-show dinner at one of four restaurants will be mailed in early November. The restaurants are Cuistot, Jillian’s, La Spiga and Wally’s Desert Turtle. Due to high demand, seats are only being sold via sponsorships at this time. Sponsorships received before November 8th will be recognized in the Gala program book. To secure a sponsorship for this highly anticipated evening, please visit our website at www.mccallumtheatre.org or contact Thomas Head, Associate VP of Development, at<> thead@mccallum-theatre.org or (760) 776-6164.
Proceeds from the McCallum Theater Annual Gala bring enriching arts education programs to thousands of Coachella Valley schoolchildren at no cost to them and ensure that the McCallum Theatre continues to flourish as the desert’s premiere performing arts center.
This evening’s Honorees are Aubrey and Lori Serfling. Aubrey Serfling retired from his role as President and Chief Executive Officer at the Eisenhower Medical Center after a 20-year tenure in March 2021. Additionally, both Aubrey and Lori Serfling have supported the McCallum Theatre since 2009 as members of the Presidents Circle. They became members of the Founders Circle in 2021. That same year, Aubrey was elected to serve on the Board of Trustees and would later become the first Vice Chairperson in 2023.
Since moving to the Coachella Valley, the couple has supported over 30 local organizations that include but are not limited to Eisenhower Health, ACT for MS, Guide Dogs of the Desert, The Living Desert, Animal Samaritans, Boo2Bullying, Desert Arc, Palm Springs Air Museum, Palm Springs Film Festival, Rancho Mirage Writers Festival and the McCallum Theatre. Lori Serfling currently serves on the Board of Directors for Desert Arc. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Animal Samaritans Men of the Desert Fashion Show and Luncheon. Aubrey Serfling currently serves on the Board of the Palm Springs Film Festival and the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center.
This evening’s headliner, Tony®, EMMY®, and four-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer, songwriter, actor, and philanthropist Josh Groban possesses one of the most outstanding and instantly recognizable voices in music. Moreover, he continues to captivate fans everywhere as both a powerhouse vocalist and a dynamic renaissance man. He has sold over 35 million albums worldwide, headlined legendary venues on multiple continents, and entertained audiences with acclaimed film and television appearances. His catalog spans a series of chart-topping blockbuster albums, including Josh Groban (5x-platinum), Closer (6x-platinum), Noël (6x-platinum), Awake (2x-platinum), Illuminations, All That Echoes (gold), Stages (gold), his first UK #1 album, Bridges, and his most recent release, Harmony. Along the way, he has packed arenas throughout North America, Europe, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Asia.
Extending his repertoire, Groban made his Broadway debut in 2016 with a starring role in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. He garnered a Tony® Award nomination for Best Lead Actor In A Musical. He has expanded his presence with appearances on Glee, The Simpsons, The Office, CSI: NY, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and The Crazy Ones as well as in the feature films Coffee Town, Muppets Most Wanted, and Crazy, Stupid, Love. In addition, he starred in the Netflix series The Good Cop in 2018. Groban maintains his position as the consummate American showman in 2022 and beyond. In 2022, he returned to the hallowed stage of Radio City Music Hall for his Great Big Radio City Show residency and launched a nation-wide live tour. Groban also starred in ABC’s special Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration as none other than the Beast in December 2022.
In the spring of 2023, Josh took to Broadway once again, performing in the highly anticipated revival of Sweeney Todd, playing the title role which earned him a Tony Nomination and widespread acclaim. Deadline: ‘Groban makes himself over into a full-blown, and fully developed, Broadway star…His Sweeney is by turns sympathetic and monstrous.’ The New York Times: “The ‘gorgeously sung’ part is no surprise with Groban, whose quasi-operatic pop baritone perfectly encompasses the range of the role, and whose technique makes sure every word is bell clear. That some of the songs are thus even prettier than usual is all to the better.”
He remains an active arts education philanthropist and advocate, and his Find Your Light Foundation helps enrich the lives of young people through arts, education, and cultural awareness.
