Why Carol?

Carol Channing was more than an iconic performer — she was one of the most celebrated figures in American theatre history.

Best known for her legendary Broadway performances, including Hello, Dolly! and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Carol’s career spanned decades and left an enduring mark on the art of musical theatre. She was admired not only for her unmistakable stage presence, but for her deep respect for the craft and the artists who bring theatre to life.
 

In the later years of her life, Carol Channing made her home in Rancho Mirage, becoming part of the cultural fabric of the Coachella Valley. She was formally recognized by the community with a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars, reflecting the region’s appreciation for her extraordinary contributions to the performing arts and her connection to the area she called home.
 

The Carol Channing Awards are named in her honor because her legacy embodies the values these awards seek to uphold: excellence in performance, commitment to craft, and respect for the art of theatre. By carrying her name forward, the awards acknowledge both her lasting impact on professional theatre and her meaningful connection to Palm Springs and the surrounding community.
 

These awards exist to celebrate thoughtful, skillful, and heartfelt theatrical work; the kind of work Carol Channing’s career exemplified and helped elevate. Work that Carol herself believed deserved to be seen and celebrated.

 

In honoring her legacy, the Carol Channing Awards aim to recognize excellence where it lives today, within the local theatres and artists who continue to shape our region’s  theatrical landscape. 

The Carol Channing Awards honor a legacy of theatrical excellence — on stage and within the community she called home.