Rayrose Theatricals Inc - DBA The BENT

The Bent was founded as a non-profit LGBTQ+ theater in 2022 by Terry Ray and Steve Rosenbaum when they learned that the long established gay theater in Palm Springs had closed its doors due to the financial pressures of Covid. Ray and Rosenbaum started the theater with no assets, not a mailing list or even a performance space. Ray had written the play ELECTRICITY that ran for a record breaking 4 years in Palm Springs. It was directed by Rosenbaum and starred Ray. Based on that success, the Palm Springs Cultural Center was willing to take a chance on the team and gave them a home theater.

They had to open with a new play by Ray, THE LINCOLN DEBATE, because they had no money to pay for royalties. They each put $20 into a checking account and after checks were printed they had $4.95 in the bank on opening night. The audience was so thrilled with the show and the new LGBTQ+ theater company that they spontaneously gave the new The Bent over $2000 that first performance. People were digging into the wallets and passing cash forward during the curtain speech.

The Bent may have started out with no money but, what the team did have was the expertise to put on great plays, and audiences responded. Shows were soon sold out. The community rallied for a fundraiser to give The Bent enough money to pay for the rights for an entire season. After that The Bent was off and running.

As it enters its 5th season, The Bent has built a reputation as one of the best theater companies in the Coachella Valley. Every show has been nominated for either Best Comedy or Best Drama awards. It has grown by leaps and bounds. Every donation goes toward telling our LGBTQ+ stories. The Bent is presenting the most important playwrights and new playwrights, enabling LGBTQ+ audiences to see their own lives on the stage.

The Bent plays a vital role in its community. There are less than 5 LGBTQ+ theaters in all of Southern California--a population the same size as Florida. Especially at this point in our nation's history--telling our LGBTQ+ stories has become especially important.

We want to hire more staff--we have such a small team that work way more than they are paid for. Donations enable us grow. Rent out theater space more often so we can bring more LGBTQ+ voices to the stage. We are so excited about the future and so incredibly thankful to anyone who wants to be part of it through their ability to give.

THANK YOU!