Join us May 29-30 at the Rio Theatre for "Desert Films," a bold, live stage work starring Academy Award–nominated actor and filmmaker James Franco and Blaine Kern in a cinematic storytelling series exploring the nature and cost of fame. Written, directed, and starring Franco—who also created the artwork for the production’s poster—the piece blends theatre and cinema in a striking exploration of fame, identity, and the shifting boundary between performance and reality.

The Rio Theatre is excited to host a work that sits at the intersection of film and theatre... It’s exactly the kind of bold, boundary-pushing storytelling our audiences connect with. With its intimate setting and legacy of cult cinema and live performance, the Rio Theatre offers the ideal backdrop for this evolving piece—an experience that invites audiences not just to watch, but to step inside the story.

Friday, May 29
Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

ABOUT THE PLAY

"Desert Films" revisits the Robert Blake–inspired character from LOST HIGHWAY, appearing as a mysterious manifestation who confronts a young actor—kidnapped and tied up—and delivers a haunting monologue about the seduction and traps of celebrity. The performance intentionally blurs the line between film and theater, reality and fiction, creating an intimate, unsettling experience where audiences feel they are witnessing something raw and immediate—almost as if a film scene has come alive on stage.

The Rio holds a special place in Franco’s creative history; it was here at the venue that he first experienced Tommy Wiseau's pop-culture phenomenon THE ROOM, and met author, actor, and long-time Rio friend Greg Sestero—a moment that ultimately led to the making of Franco's 2017 film, THE DISASTER ARTIST.

“Coming back to the Rio feels full circle,” Franco said. “It’s one of those rare places where discovery happens—where something unexpected can shape what you create next.”

Unfolding in a distinctly Lynchian world—where reality fractures and identity blurs—imagining Robert Blake as a manifestation of his own character, the Mystery Man from LOST HIGHWAY. The piece operates as a dark comedy layered with historical references, drawing from Blake’s life and Hollywood’s shadowy mythology. The result is an unsettling yet compelling experience that doesn’t just entertain, but provokes curiosity—leaving audiences wanting to dig deeper into the story, the history, and the strange overlap between them.

While THE DISASTER ARTIST explored the relentless pursuit of fame, "Desert Films" turns inward—examining the psychological weight and personal cost of living inside that pursuit.

“This is one of the most intimate, close-up experiences you can have with artists of this caliber,” said producer Ashton Ramsey. “Seeing James workshop something this raw—blurring film and theater in real time—creates a rare kind of connection between the audience and the story. It’s not just a show, it’s an experience.”

“Desert Films' is a firing squad of dark humor with plenty of exploratory banter about the psyche of the actor, the motives of those running the “Hollywood machine,” and the curated reality seen in movies, on TV, and in social media." (Maggie Yates, Santa Barbara Magazine)