Celebrating its fifth year of showcasing original, non-traditional, provocative performance art, the Hi-Desert Fringe Festival will return to a live, on-site format at a new venue in Wonder Valley. Arts & Entertainment Reporter Charlie Thomas tells you how to get your seat for this Morongo Basin original …
Celebrating its fifth year of showcasing original, non-traditional, provocative performance art, the Hi-Desert Fringe Festival (Hi-DeF) will return to a live, on-site format at a new venue in Wonder Valley. The event, designed to establish a forum for promoting cultural equity and community involvement through a progressive theatre movement, will offer a full day of performances presented by an array of artists on May 14.
Dubbed “Hi-DeF Hi-5” in honor of its anniversary year, the festival will unfurl on the sprawling grounds of the fabulous Tower Homestead Guest Ranch at 76969 Amboy Road in Wonder Valley. The artwork-filled, Old West style property will provide an inspirational creative setting for participants as well as allow for the comfortable observance of outdoor COVID protocols.
This year’s alum performers include the return of Catherine Barnes, Allen Merritt, Kurt Schauppner, Sue Neal, Roy Boucher and Lisa Mednick-Powell. Newcomers to the Fringe stage include Ruth Nolan, the inaugural Mojave Desert Literary Laureate: Claire Vaye Watkins, recently named “The important New voice of the American West” by the L.A. Times, playwright, producer and actor, Patricia West-Del Ruth, performance and dance artist Jenn Henry, musician, songwriter, hooper, Christine Mathias. There will also be readings by Hi Desert literary groups, Cholla Needles and The Desert Split Open Mic. Spoken word artist, Turiya Autry also returns as performer and guest host. Food, provided by The Hungry Lizard, as well as beer and wine and other beverages will be available for purchase onsite.
The day’s activities will be hosted by Hi-DeF co-founders and co-producers Miri Hunter and Ann Van Haney, both of whom are highly active as performers and makers in the thriving Morongo Basin theatre community. Hunter, the producing/artistic director of Thought Theatre, has just been honored as Best Director in Greater Palm Springs by the national online publication Broadway World for SHAKESPEARE IN REVUE, a play she also conceived, presented last July by Joshua Tree Summer Theatre Under the Stars. Van Haney, a film/television actor, improv performer and sketch comedy writer, has appeared in many productions. Her play THE MEXICAN REVELATION debuted at Thought Theatre in 2020 and received four Desert Theatre League award nominations.
“It is so great to be able to have a live festival for our big anniversary year,” Hunter said. “In celebration, we are inviting past performers as well as new ones to join us.” Added Van Haney: “We created this event as a forum to encourage new and established artists from the Hi-Desert and around the world to share original, innovative works, and to create a space that makes theatre approachable and enjoyable for all.
For admission pass pricing and the event scheduling information, please visit hidesertfringe.org. The Hi-Desert Fringe Festival is a program of Project Sheba, a minority and woman-owned nonprofit organization founded by Miri Hunter. Z107.7 is a media sponsor.
