Luke Yankee Brings “Mom at the Movies” to Palm Springs, Plus New Marilyn-Inspired Play at Annenberg Theater

Actor, director, playwright, and producer Luke Yankee is back in Palm Springs with a heartfelt tribute to his mother, legendary actress Eileen Heckert, through a special film series titled “Mom at the Movies” at Palm Springs Cultural Center.

The Friday night series features several of Heckert’s most memorable films, including My Six Loves with Debbie Reynolds, Somebody Up There Likes Me starring Paul Newman, Bus Stop with Marilyn Monroe, Miracle in the Rain, and The First Wives Club. Each screening is preceded by vintage TV and film clips of Heckert’s career, including appearances on classic shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Hawaii Five-O. Guests can also enjoy Foodie Fridays before the movies begin.

Heckert, whose career spanned more than 50 years, earned an Academy Award for Butterflies Are Free and received an earlier Oscar nomination for The Bad Seed. Yankee says creating this retrospective has long been a dream, and turnout for the opening films has been strong.

In addition to the movie series, Yankee is bringing his deeply personal play “Marilyn, Mom, and Me” to Palm Springs for a special benefit performance Feb. 28 and March 1 at the Annenberg Theater, part of the Palm Springs Art Museum.

The production explores Heckert’s intense friendship with Marilyn Monroe during the filming of Bus Stop and how that relationship ultimately shaped Yankee’s own life. For this Palm Springs presentation, Morgan Fairchild will portray Eileen Heckert, while Yankee himself steps onstage to play his own role — something he says he has never done before.

The role of Marilyn is performed by Alicia Soper, who has been with the project since its beginning and is known for her acclaimed portrayals of Monroe.

Tickets for the play are available through psmuseum.org, while the “Mom at the Movies” screenings continue Fridays at the Palm Springs Cultural Center.

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