SPECIAL SESSIONS
Qi Gong
Doug Blanc is a Qi Gong teacher, massage therapist, artist, and writer, living and working in Joshua Tree. He has been a bodyworker for 20 years and integrates Qi Gong exercises and meditation into his work with clients and massage students. Tap into your body’s own balancing energy. Qi Gong is a gentle, flowing exercise that works with the breath to improve the flow of qi throughout the body and balance all systems. It’s simple and fun! This is a drop-in class for all ages and skill levels.
Sunday May 21 11am Noble Hall
Cholla Needles Group Reading
Katia Aoun Hage recently released the 2nd edition of her book After the war, the women spoke.
Heather Morgan is a local actor/writer from Joshua Tree.
Kathy French is a local artist/writer from Yucca Valley.
John Serpinski has two books out; Sucker Hole, and Vacancy/No Vacancy.
Takuboku Ishikawa's latest book is Selected Poems.
Saturday May 20, 5pm Friendship Hall
Writers’ Panel
r soos published his first poem in 1965 and hasn't quit. He began editing literary magazines in 1973, and is still at it fifty years later with Cholla Needles, a litmag based in Joshua Tree.
Long-time playwright Bruce Bonafede’s first play, ADVICE TO THE PLAYERS, won the Heideman Award at the Humana Festival at Actors Theatre of Louisville in 1985. More recently his play EYELESS IN COLONUS was produced as part of the “Theatre Under the Stars” program in Joshua Tree, California and was named Best Play by the Broadway World regional awards. CRUSADE was produced as part of the Baltimore Playwrights Festival in 2019. The Zoom production of MANIFESTO, made during the pandemic, has received numerous awards at film festivals around the country. His short plays have been included in national “Best of” anthologies four times. He is a Lifetime Member of the Dramatists Guild.
Cody Frank is co-owner of the Palm Springs-based film production company Pollen Path Entertainment. As a SAG eligible film actor, Cody has appeared in several short films shot in both Palm Springs and Los Angeles. Cody made his directorial debut with the short film Nephilim, which he also wrote and starred in, and which screened at multiple film festivals domestically and internationally. Cody directed Pollen Path Entertainment’s short film For The Love of Noodles, and most importantly starred opposite renowned Scream Queen Scout Taylor-Compton in the vampire horror feature film Captive, which will be released domestically and internationally beginning next month. Cody is also a professional theater actor, having appeared in award-winning theater productions in the Palm Springs area, including Jewtopia along with Ann Van Haney!
Tom Stajmiger is the other co-owner of Pollen Path Entertainment. Tom comes to film from a business and theater background with over 30 years of business analysis and management experience, and 40 years of stage experience. In the corporate world, Tom has managed programs with budgets in the billions of dollars, as well as having previously owned two successful small businesses, Stepping Out Productions, a Milwaukee and Chicago area professional theater company, and Urban Man Made, a New York, NY and Provincetown, MA men’s clothing and accessories store. The main mission of Stepping Out Productions was either to stage new works or to revise shows, giving them a second chance after an unsuccessful New York run. Tom has appeared on stages around the country, including four on Broadway, in shows such as Cabaret, Carousel, Brigadoon, and The Fantasticks. In film, Tom played the lead in the award winning short film Happy Birthday Art!, and had a small part in Captive, for which is was also a lead producer.
Tom and Cody are currently working on the script for an upcoming supernatural horror film, which is tentatively scheduled to shoot in New Mexico next May, while also researching options for an additional script to shoot in 2024.
Sunday May 21, 4pm Friendship Hall
Songwriters’ Panel
Ann-Britt was born and raised in Denmark where she pursued her love for singing and swimming. She became a national champion swimmer, was a solo singer at the Danish church and sang at Tivoli Garden in Copenhagen. She moved to California in 1992. She performed in a number of musical theater productions with Palm Canyon Theater. Once her kids were grown she went on to become a Pilates instructor and was excited about getting her career going singing gigs around town. Life was good. In May 2018 Ann-Britt got sick and didn’t get better. After two years of seeing numerous specialists, sge was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Through careful management of her symptoms, Ann-Britt is able to live a full life, keep a positive attitude and continue to pursue her love of singing/songwriting . She will be releasing her first album of original songs later this year. Follow her at annbrittsings on Instagram and TikTok.
Ted Quinn aka Teddy Quinn is a singer, songwriter, painter, journalist, actor, dj, producer, and recording artist with over a dozen “records”, originally from Hollywood and residing in Joshua Tree for most of the past three decades. A community and cultural activist, Quinn recently relaunched a weekly "Open Mic Revisited" at Beatnik Lounge, where he serves as a board member.
instagram @tedquinn11 @tedquinnsopenmic
https://teddyquinn.bandcamp.com/
Thom Merrick, a California native was initially inspired by the sounds of new wave and punk rock. He was the bass player for the 1980's New Wave band, Modphilo. They released an EP in the 1980's entitled "What Went On." For ten years he was a member of a well-known Southern California desert band, playing festivals and roadhouse venues throughout the state. The band had several song placements in film and TV productions, most notably with the Showtime production, "Weeds." In 2014, he traded in his bass (temporarily) for guitar and he is currently lead guitarist, singer and songwriter for the Hi Desert Band, Hunter and the Wicked. Merrick has a passion for music and the desert lifestyle.
Pat Kearns is an American record producer, recording engineer, songwriter, guitarist and vocalist.He is best known for his work as singer/songwriter for Portland, Oregon-based band Blue Skies for Black Hearts, as well as his production and engineering work for a wide variety of artists, including The Exploding Hearts, Lovvers, Pat MacDonald, Sons of Huns, Walter Salas-Humara and Jerry Joseph.[1] His credits include Guitar Romantic, The Exploding Hearts' first album, which Pitchfork ranked no. 60 on its list of the top 200 albums of the 2000s.
Sunday May 21 2:30-4:00, Friendship Hall
Improv Zen: "Feel no urgency. Dare to be dull."
Andy Harmon is an American improv teacher, theatre director, playwright and leadership coach. He lived and worked in London for 30 years helping people from many professions tap their creativity and communicate more effectively. He recently taught improv and writing at the CVRep and left to found the New Theatre Workshop. He is also the host of the Secret Destinations podcast on YouTube.
Saturday May 20 2:00-4:00 Friendship Hall
PERFORMANCES
Tumbleweed (Keara Scannell) is a roller skating circus performer that wants to roll out the play in everyone around them. With many tricks and a whole lot of silly humility, see her transform to her many states of clown and the characters that are unleashed
WHAT IS CLOWN
Friday May 19 6:45 Outside Between Noble and Lotus Halls
Saturday May 20 6:45 Outside Between Noble and Lotus Halls
Wendy McColm is a director/actor who dedicates her life to believing, filmmaking and growth. A performing artist and fractal of light in human form. Their first play was the Little red hen in first grade - going on to become an award winning director and actor. All in favor of trying - that is art www.wendyfilms.com
THE TODAY PLAY
Saturday May 20 1:00 Friendship Hall
Sunday May 21 1:00 Friendship Hall
Director, writer, and performer Grey Forge LeFey's favorite phrases have always been "why not...?" and "what if...?" They've been imagining a story and convincing their friends to help tell it on stage for most of their six decades. Before relocating to the Morongo Basin just four and a half years ago, Grey was the director and producer of their own LGBTQIA+ repertoire theatre company in NE Ohio whose shows included their acclaimed original comedies "Hell, with the Holidays" and "Go On With Your Wind: a Parody in Scarlet" (both available on Amazon).
TWISTED AND SHOUTING: SOLO PEOPLE IN FUNNY SHORTS
Friday May 19 5:00 Noble Hall
Sunday May 21 2:30 Noble Hall
Jenn Henry has staged dance performances since 1989. They were set in the kitchen. Thanks to being able to take kitchen ballet during the pandemic, she returned to dance after a brief hiatus. She is lucky to have danced locally (and out of the house) with the Inland Empire Dance Center and 11th Hour Dance Project. She is grateful to teach dance and fitness classes at Viva Fit, and to be a part of the warm and welcoming High Desert dance community.
84 MILES OF BURIED CONDUIT AND SIPHONS & MEMORIES D’ERIK
Friday May 19 9:30 Noble Hall - DANCE
Satutday May 20 1:00 Lotus Hall - Entertainment Law Session
Saturday May 20 3:00 Noble Hall - DANCE
Choreographer Eliezer “Eli” Rabelo (La Quinta, CA) has over 20 years in the performing arts field and is a professionally trained dancer, and has performed principal roles with the resident company at Amazon Opera House and several ballet and modern dance companies in Brazil and USA. He has developed Ballet, Modern Dance, Jazz and Pilates curriculum for several different institutions, and founded studios dedicated to the arts including Cia. Ballet da Barra in his hometown Manaus – Amazonas-Brazil. He has studied with many masters in ballet, modern, and jazz dance, as well as Pilates and voice.
84 MILES OF BURIED CONDUIT AND SIPHONS & MEMORIES D’ERIK
Friday May 19 9:30 Noble Hall - DANCE
Saturday May 20 3:00 Noble Hall - DANCE
JD Rudometkin is a multi-disciplinary artist working in music, film, art and writing. His current work includes multi-media exhibitions as writer/director and curator at Super X Gallery in Pioneertown, CA. His solo multi-media theatre pieces include “Ubiquity” and “Honey Venom” which he wrote and co-directed. Rudometkin’s work explores the ideas of perception and post-existential notions of consciousness. His essential influences are the mystic traditions of Sufism, Gnosticism, Cabbala, his own Russian Molokan heritage and the imaginative writing of authors such as Jorge Luis Borges, Hafiz and Haruki Murakami and well as the oblique humor of Richard Brautigan. In 2019, Mr. Rudometkin and Alice Batliner curated the multi-media immersive art experience “Duende” in collaboration with local artists in the Joshua Tree area. Rudometkin and Batliner are currently curating exhibitions at Super X Gallery in Pioneertown, CA. (www.superxgallery.com).
COELACANTH
Saturday May 20 6:45 Friendship Hall
Sunday May 21 4:00 Lotus Hall
Jorge Davies is a multi-disciplinary artist with a diverse range of skills in the creative arts. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and currently residing in Joshua Tree, California, he is a director, composer, filmmaker, game designer, and visual artist.His portfolio includes directing theater, creating computer adventure games, recording two albums, many short films and two long-form features. Jorge's dance films and musical scores have been exhibited and performed in theaters, galleries, and museums throughout the U.S. and Europe. Regardless of the medium, the constants in his creative life are experimentation, passion and mysticism, as he explores cutting edge techniques in pursuit of his artistic vision.
COELACANTH
Saturday May 20 6:45 Friendship Hall
Sunday May 21 4:00 Lotus Hall
Lauren Wolpert is an American author, artist, filmmaker, and stand-up comedian known for earnest irony and edgy social commentary. Wolpert’s wit dismembers 21st Century patriarchy, genderization, genocide, and more, with seamless pivots and dives into anecdotal slap schtick relief, and pithy expressions of a life lived post-American Dream. Wolpert’s solo stand-up show (2022), What Came First, bears likeness to Fran Lebowitz-meets-the Marx Brothers-meets-Kafka-meets-Forrest Gump, with a couple of life-size chicken characters, Muppets on mushrooms, filling in with existential, comedic turbulence as movie-ushers delivering the audience into personal responsibility and conscious inquiry. Wolpert is a performing member of community art project and band, Stagefright, and is the creator of Badass Angel Cards (2021), Wolpert is a contributing artist to art shows, live comedy performances, musical theatre extravaganzas, and film projects integrating social justice convergence with psychological exploration.
WHAT CAME FIRST?
Friday May 19 9:30 Friendship Hall
Arjuna
Storyteller, actor, musician, playwright
DANCING SONG OF DEAD PEOPLE IN OTHER WORLDS
Friday May 19 6:45 Noble Hall
Sunday May 21 4:00 Noble Hall
Vic Terry
Good Vibe Cinema is a San Diego based production company in the business of good vibes and good times. Through Super 8 film, live theatrical events, and the Vibe Talkin podcast, Good Vibe Cinema invites audiences to live a life that's more cinematic. In her work, executive producer and playwright Vic Terry explores the inherent theatricality of our existence, the complicated space where staging and raw emotion intersect, and the often blurred line between authenticity and performance. She is inspired by the juxtaposition of glamour and grime - by a twitchy neon sign that stands out against a striking desert skyline - and fascinated with capturing both the humor in grief and the tragic heart of comic characters.
BIG FEET, film
DESPERATE TO BE SEEN, HORRIFIED OF BEING KNOWN: A GHOST STORY, play
Friday May 19 5:00 Lotus Hall - FILM
Saturday May 20 2:00 Noble Hall - PLAY
Sunday May 21 NOON Lotus Hall - FILM
Sunday May 21 5:30 Noble Hall - PLAY
Lee Scott is a life long composer and musician. Originally from Atlanta, GA. He moved to California where he received an MFA in music composition from CalArts. He went on to have a career primarily as a music editor and sometime composer for major Hollywood films. He recently retired to Yucca Valley where he operates Giant Rock Studios.
ELECTRONIC RAGAS
Friday May 19 5:00 Friendship Hall
Saturday May 20 7:15 Noble Hall
Kristin Moran is a pianist, singer/songwriter and actress from Phoenix, AZ. She earned a B.A. in Piano Performance at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA and currently teaches Drama at Knox Gifted Academy K-6 in Chandler, AZ. Highlights of her artistic career include playing Madame Hattori in the Toyko award winning short film thriller Madame Hattori’s Izakaya and her solo show, Futakuchi Onna, which won Best Show Featuring Music at the 2023 Tucson Fringe Festival. She is honored to have studied with Brandy Hotchner, Jacque Arend, Randy Messersmith and Isaac Byrne at Arizona Actor’s Academy.
FUTAKUCHI ONNA
Friday May 19 8:00 Friendship Hall
Saturday May 20 4:00 Friendship Hall
Lindsay Lucas-Bartlett grew up in Essex, moved to London and…it’s all in the show, so let’s not spoil it. Lindsay has wanted to devise and perform a solo show since the age of sixteen, finally, many years later with a whole many stories to share with you, it is here. And Lindsay is thrilled and also petrified to be performing and sharing her life in a nutshell with you all. Lindsay trained at The Central School of Speech and Drama in London and in Los Angeles trained and worked at The Upright Citizen Brigade for four years. Lindsay was the winner of MonologueSlamUK in Los Angeles with an original piece.
TRUST ME I’M FROM ESSEX
Friday May 19 6:45 Friendship Hall
Saturday May 20 1:00 Noble Hall
Patricia West Del-Ruth
Playwright, actor, director
THE TODAY PLAY
Saturday May 20 1:00 Friendship Hall
Sunday May 21, 1:00 Friendship Hall
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Stephanie Kern aka Duffy
She has been singing her whole life. She was born in San Francisco and through a series of events found her way from the Catholic Church and a Silicon Valley job to the Hi Desert in Joshua Tree, CA working with native teachings and finding a whole new way of life. Join her on this amazing journey lined with poetry, music and song. Singer, Songwriter, Poet, Writer, Performer
SUCKER PUNCHES FROM THE UNIVERSE
Saturday May 20 5:00 Noble Hall
Sunday May 21 1:00 Noble Hall
Kevin Hayles
Kevin is veteran of Groves Cabin Theater appearing in many productions including “Two Cats, No Dogs”, “Educating Rita” and most recently,“The Death of Bessie Smith”. He is excited to work with director Miri Hunter again, having worked with her on several productions including Sam Shepard last play, “A Particle of Dread: Oedipus Variations.
BANNED IN TEXAS, reading and discussion
Saturday May 20 3:00 Lotus Hall
Sunday May 21 1:00 Lotus Hall
Roy Boucher
Roy moved to the Greater Palm Springs area in 2009. He very quickly became an active member of Andy Harmon's Writers Studio. Fast forward to today and Roy is still active with the group. He has written dozens and dozens of short plays, acted in 6 indepdent feature films, did backgorund for a Hallmark film (Sister of the Bride) and background for the trailer for Slippery When Wet. Roy loves writing 10 minute plays. His work has been performed in numerous annual "Twilight Cafe" events held by the Writers Studio. Additionally, Roy has participated in the Hi Def Fringe Festival in 2019, 2020, and 2022. Roy is a certified Tarot read. Certified by Biddy Tarot, Australia.
37, A LOVE STORY
Friday May 19 5:00 Lotus Hall FILM
Sunday May 21 Noon Lotus Hall FILM
Sunday May 21 2:30 Lotus Hall TAROT
Tessa Gregory-Walker
Tessa is a jack of all trades in the theatre realm and is thrilled to be back on-stage performing improv in person again! Some of her recent credits include Joanna in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (Desert Theatreworks), Love and Money staged reading, Winnie/Fauna in Salty, and Marcie/Lili/Nina in The Beebo Brinker Chronicles (Desert Ensemble Theatre). Thank you, Thought Theatre and Groves Cabin for this chance to play!
INTRO TO TECHNICAL THEATRE, workshop
Saturday May 20 2pm Lotus Hall
Lisa Mednick Powell
Lisa Mednick-Powell is a musician and songwriter who resides in Twentynine Palms, California (close to Joshua Tree) with her husband and bassist extraordinaire, Kip Powell. Together they have a band called "Arroyo Rogers," which plays country hits from the 60s and 70s, along with songs penned by the Powells. As a keyboard player she has worked on stages and in studios from New York to New Orleans, and from Austin to Auckland.
Around the retreat center throughout the Festival
The Pop Up Players
The Pop Up Players are a group of veteran long-form and short-form improvisers who started jamming together at Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre in spring 2023. Members have worked and studied with Viola Spolin, Del Close, the Upright Citizens Brigade, the Groundlings, and more in Chicago, the UK, Los Angeles, Palm Springs and now Joshua Tree!
IMPROV
Saturday May 20 5:15 Lotus Hall WORKSHOP
Saturday May 20 6:30 Lotus Hall PERFORMANCE
Sunday May 21 5:30 Friendship Hall PERFORMANCE
Qi Gong
Doug Blanc is a Qi Gong teacher, massage therapist, artist, and writer, living and working in Joshua Tree. He has been a bodyworker for 20 years and integrates Qi Gong exercises and meditation into his work with clients and massage students. Tap into your body’s own balancing energy. Qi Gong is a gentle, flowing exercise that works with the breath to improve the flow of qi throughout the body and balance all systems. It’s simple and fun! This is a drop-in class for all ages and skill levels.
Sunday May 21 11am Noble Hall
Cholla Needles Group Reading
Katia Aoun Hage recently released the 2nd edition of her book After the war, the women spoke.
Heather Morgan is a local actor/writer from Joshua Tree.
Kathy French is a local artist/writer from Yucca Valley.
John Serpinski has two books out; Sucker Hole, and Vacancy/No Vacancy.
Takuboku Ishikawa's latest book is Selected Poems.
Saturday May 20, 5pm Friendship Hall
Writers’ Panel
r soos published his first poem in 1965 and hasn't quit. He began editing literary magazines in 1973, and is still at it fifty years later with Cholla Needles, a litmag based in Joshua Tree.
Long-time playwright Bruce Bonafede’s first play, ADVICE TO THE PLAYERS, won the Heideman Award at the Humana Festival at Actors Theatre of Louisville in 1985. More recently his play EYELESS IN COLONUS was produced as part of the “Theatre Under the Stars” program in Joshua Tree, California and was named Best Play by the Broadway World regional awards. CRUSADE was produced as part of the Baltimore Playwrights Festival in 2019. The Zoom production of MANIFESTO, made during the pandemic, has received numerous awards at film festivals around the country. His short plays have been included in national “Best of” anthologies four times. He is a Lifetime Member of the Dramatists Guild.
Cody Frank is co-owner of the Palm Springs-based film production company Pollen Path Entertainment. As a SAG eligible film actor, Cody has appeared in several short films shot in both Palm Springs and Los Angeles. Cody made his directorial debut with the short film Nephilim, which he also wrote and starred in, and which screened at multiple film festivals domestically and internationally. Cody directed Pollen Path Entertainment’s short film For The Love of Noodles, and most importantly starred opposite renowned Scream Queen Scout Taylor-Compton in the vampire horror feature film Captive, which will be released domestically and internationally beginning next month. Cody is also a professional theater actor, having appeared in award-winning theater productions in the Palm Springs area, including Jewtopia along with Ann Van Haney!
Tom Stajmiger is the other co-owner of Pollen Path Entertainment. Tom comes to film from a business and theater background with over 30 years of business analysis and management experience, and 40 years of stage experience. In the corporate world, Tom has managed programs with budgets in the billions of dollars, as well as having previously owned two successful small businesses, Stepping Out Productions, a Milwaukee and Chicago area professional theater company, and Urban Man Made, a New York, NY and Provincetown, MA men’s clothing and accessories store. The main mission of Stepping Out Productions was either to stage new works or to revise shows, giving them a second chance after an unsuccessful New York run. Tom has appeared on stages around the country, including four on Broadway, in shows such as Cabaret, Carousel, Brigadoon, and The Fantasticks. In film, Tom played the lead in the award winning short film Happy Birthday Art!, and had a small part in Captive, for which is was also a lead producer.
Tom and Cody are currently working on the script for an upcoming supernatural horror film, which is tentatively scheduled to shoot in New Mexico next May, while also researching options for an additional script to shoot in 2024.
Sunday May 21, 4pm Friendship Hall
Songwriters’ Panel
Ann-Britt was born and raised in Denmark where she pursued her love for singing and swimming. She became a national champion swimmer, was a solo singer at the Danish church and sang at Tivoli Garden in Copenhagen. She moved to California in 1992. She performed in a number of musical theater productions with Palm Canyon Theater. Once her kids were grown she went on to become a Pilates instructor and was excited about getting her career going singing gigs around town. Life was good. In May 2018 Ann-Britt got sick and didn’t get better. After two years of seeing numerous specialists, sge was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Through careful management of her symptoms, Ann-Britt is able to live a full life, keep a positive attitude and continue to pursue her love of singing/songwriting . She will be releasing her first album of original songs later this year. Follow her at annbrittsings on Instagram and TikTok.
Ted Quinn aka Teddy Quinn is a singer, songwriter, painter, journalist, actor, dj, producer, and recording artist with over a dozen “records”, originally from Hollywood and residing in Joshua Tree for most of the past three decades. A community and cultural activist, Quinn recently relaunched a weekly "Open Mic Revisited" at Beatnik Lounge, where he serves as a board member.
instagram @tedquinn11 @tedquinnsopenmic
https://teddyquinn.bandcamp.com/
Thom Merrick, a California native was initially inspired by the sounds of new wave and punk rock. He was the bass player for the 1980's New Wave band, Modphilo. They released an EP in the 1980's entitled "What Went On." For ten years he was a member of a well-known Southern California desert band, playing festivals and roadhouse venues throughout the state. The band had several song placements in film and TV productions, most notably with the Showtime production, "Weeds." In 2014, he traded in his bass (temporarily) for guitar and he is currently lead guitarist, singer and songwriter for the Hi Desert Band, Hunter and the Wicked. Merrick has a passion for music and the desert lifestyle.
Pat Kearns is an American record producer, recording engineer, songwriter, guitarist and vocalist.He is best known for his work as singer/songwriter for Portland, Oregon-based band Blue Skies for Black Hearts, as well as his production and engineering work for a wide variety of artists, including The Exploding Hearts, Lovvers, Pat MacDonald, Sons of Huns, Walter Salas-Humara and Jerry Joseph.[1] His credits include Guitar Romantic, The Exploding Hearts' first album, which Pitchfork ranked no. 60 on its list of the top 200 albums of the 2000s.
Sunday May 21 2:30-4:00, Friendship Hall
Improv Zen: "Feel no urgency. Dare to be dull."
Andy Harmon is an American improv teacher, theatre director, playwright and leadership coach. He lived and worked in London for 30 years helping people from many professions tap their creativity and communicate more effectively. He recently taught improv and writing at the CVRep and left to found the New Theatre Workshop. He is also the host of the Secret Destinations podcast on YouTube.
Saturday May 20 2:00-4:00 Friendship Hall
PERFORMANCES
Tumbleweed (Keara Scannell) is a roller skating circus performer that wants to roll out the play in everyone around them. With many tricks and a whole lot of silly humility, see her transform to her many states of clown and the characters that are unleashed
WHAT IS CLOWN
Friday May 19 6:45 Outside Between Noble and Lotus Halls
Saturday May 20 6:45 Outside Between Noble and Lotus Halls
Wendy McColm is a director/actor who dedicates her life to believing, filmmaking and growth. A performing artist and fractal of light in human form. Their first play was the Little red hen in first grade - going on to become an award winning director and actor. All in favor of trying - that is art www.wendyfilms.com
THE TODAY PLAY
Saturday May 20 1:00 Friendship Hall
Sunday May 21 1:00 Friendship Hall
Director, writer, and performer Grey Forge LeFey's favorite phrases have always been "why not...?" and "what if...?" They've been imagining a story and convincing their friends to help tell it on stage for most of their six decades. Before relocating to the Morongo Basin just four and a half years ago, Grey was the director and producer of their own LGBTQIA+ repertoire theatre company in NE Ohio whose shows included their acclaimed original comedies "Hell, with the Holidays" and "Go On With Your Wind: a Parody in Scarlet" (both available on Amazon).
TWISTED AND SHOUTING: SOLO PEOPLE IN FUNNY SHORTS
Friday May 19 5:00 Noble Hall
Sunday May 21 2:30 Noble Hall
Jenn Henry has staged dance performances since 1989. They were set in the kitchen. Thanks to being able to take kitchen ballet during the pandemic, she returned to dance after a brief hiatus. She is lucky to have danced locally (and out of the house) with the Inland Empire Dance Center and 11th Hour Dance Project. She is grateful to teach dance and fitness classes at Viva Fit, and to be a part of the warm and welcoming High Desert dance community.
84 MILES OF BURIED CONDUIT AND SIPHONS & MEMORIES D’ERIK
Friday May 19 9:30 Noble Hall - DANCE
Satutday May 20 1:00 Lotus Hall - Entertainment Law Session
Saturday May 20 3:00 Noble Hall - DANCE
Choreographer Eliezer “Eli” Rabelo (La Quinta, CA) has over 20 years in the performing arts field and is a professionally trained dancer, and has performed principal roles with the resident company at Amazon Opera House and several ballet and modern dance companies in Brazil and USA. He has developed Ballet, Modern Dance, Jazz and Pilates curriculum for several different institutions, and founded studios dedicated to the arts including Cia. Ballet da Barra in his hometown Manaus – Amazonas-Brazil. He has studied with many masters in ballet, modern, and jazz dance, as well as Pilates and voice.
84 MILES OF BURIED CONDUIT AND SIPHONS & MEMORIES D’ERIK
Friday May 19 9:30 Noble Hall - DANCE
Saturday May 20 3:00 Noble Hall - DANCE
JD Rudometkin is a multi-disciplinary artist working in music, film, art and writing. His current work includes multi-media exhibitions as writer/director and curator at Super X Gallery in Pioneertown, CA. His solo multi-media theatre pieces include “Ubiquity” and “Honey Venom” which he wrote and co-directed. Rudometkin’s work explores the ideas of perception and post-existential notions of consciousness. His essential influences are the mystic traditions of Sufism, Gnosticism, Cabbala, his own Russian Molokan heritage and the imaginative writing of authors such as Jorge Luis Borges, Hafiz and Haruki Murakami and well as the oblique humor of Richard Brautigan. In 2019, Mr. Rudometkin and Alice Batliner curated the multi-media immersive art experience “Duende” in collaboration with local artists in the Joshua Tree area. Rudometkin and Batliner are currently curating exhibitions at Super X Gallery in Pioneertown, CA. (www.superxgallery.com).
COELACANTH
Saturday May 20 6:45 Friendship Hall
Sunday May 21 4:00 Lotus Hall
Jorge Davies is a multi-disciplinary artist with a diverse range of skills in the creative arts. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and currently residing in Joshua Tree, California, he is a director, composer, filmmaker, game designer, and visual artist.His portfolio includes directing theater, creating computer adventure games, recording two albums, many short films and two long-form features. Jorge's dance films and musical scores have been exhibited and performed in theaters, galleries, and museums throughout the U.S. and Europe. Regardless of the medium, the constants in his creative life are experimentation, passion and mysticism, as he explores cutting edge techniques in pursuit of his artistic vision.
COELACANTH
Saturday May 20 6:45 Friendship Hall
Sunday May 21 4:00 Lotus Hall
Lauren Wolpert is an American author, artist, filmmaker, and stand-up comedian known for earnest irony and edgy social commentary. Wolpert’s wit dismembers 21st Century patriarchy, genderization, genocide, and more, with seamless pivots and dives into anecdotal slap schtick relief, and pithy expressions of a life lived post-American Dream. Wolpert’s solo stand-up show (2022), What Came First, bears likeness to Fran Lebowitz-meets-the Marx Brothers-meets-Kafka-meets-Forrest Gump, with a couple of life-size chicken characters, Muppets on mushrooms, filling in with existential, comedic turbulence as movie-ushers delivering the audience into personal responsibility and conscious inquiry. Wolpert is a performing member of community art project and band, Stagefright, and is the creator of Badass Angel Cards (2021), Wolpert is a contributing artist to art shows, live comedy performances, musical theatre extravaganzas, and film projects integrating social justice convergence with psychological exploration.
WHAT CAME FIRST?
Friday May 19 9:30 Friendship Hall
Arjuna
Storyteller, actor, musician, playwright
DANCING SONG OF DEAD PEOPLE IN OTHER WORLDS
Friday May 19 6:45 Noble Hall
Sunday May 21 4:00 Noble Hall
Vic Terry
Good Vibe Cinema is a San Diego based production company in the business of good vibes and good times. Through Super 8 film, live theatrical events, and the Vibe Talkin podcast, Good Vibe Cinema invites audiences to live a life that's more cinematic. In her work, executive producer and playwright Vic Terry explores the inherent theatricality of our existence, the complicated space where staging and raw emotion intersect, and the often blurred line between authenticity and performance. She is inspired by the juxtaposition of glamour and grime - by a twitchy neon sign that stands out against a striking desert skyline - and fascinated with capturing both the humor in grief and the tragic heart of comic characters.
BIG FEET, film
DESPERATE TO BE SEEN, HORRIFIED OF BEING KNOWN: A GHOST STORY, play
Friday May 19 5:00 Lotus Hall - FILM
Saturday May 20 2:00 Noble Hall - PLAY
Sunday May 21 NOON Lotus Hall - FILM
Sunday May 21 5:30 Noble Hall - PLAY
Lee Scott is a life long composer and musician. Originally from Atlanta, GA. He moved to California where he received an MFA in music composition from CalArts. He went on to have a career primarily as a music editor and sometime composer for major Hollywood films. He recently retired to Yucca Valley where he operates Giant Rock Studios.
ELECTRONIC RAGAS
Friday May 19 5:00 Friendship Hall
Saturday May 20 7:15 Noble Hall
Kristin Moran is a pianist, singer/songwriter and actress from Phoenix, AZ. She earned a B.A. in Piano Performance at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA and currently teaches Drama at Knox Gifted Academy K-6 in Chandler, AZ. Highlights of her artistic career include playing Madame Hattori in the Toyko award winning short film thriller Madame Hattori’s Izakaya and her solo show, Futakuchi Onna, which won Best Show Featuring Music at the 2023 Tucson Fringe Festival. She is honored to have studied with Brandy Hotchner, Jacque Arend, Randy Messersmith and Isaac Byrne at Arizona Actor’s Academy.
FUTAKUCHI ONNA
Friday May 19 8:00 Friendship Hall
Saturday May 20 4:00 Friendship Hall
Lindsay Lucas-Bartlett grew up in Essex, moved to London and…it’s all in the show, so let’s not spoil it. Lindsay has wanted to devise and perform a solo show since the age of sixteen, finally, many years later with a whole many stories to share with you, it is here. And Lindsay is thrilled and also petrified to be performing and sharing her life in a nutshell with you all. Lindsay trained at The Central School of Speech and Drama in London and in Los Angeles trained and worked at The Upright Citizen Brigade for four years. Lindsay was the winner of MonologueSlamUK in Los Angeles with an original piece.
TRUST ME I’M FROM ESSEX
Friday May 19 6:45 Friendship Hall
Saturday May 20 1:00 Noble Hall
Patricia West Del-Ruth
Playwright, actor, director
THE TODAY PLAY
Saturday May 20 1:00 Friendship Hall
Sunday May 21, 1:00 Friendship Hall
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Stephanie Kern aka Duffy
She has been singing her whole life. She was born in San Francisco and through a series of events found her way from the Catholic Church and a Silicon Valley job to the Hi Desert in Joshua Tree, CA working with native teachings and finding a whole new way of life. Join her on this amazing journey lined with poetry, music and song. Singer, Songwriter, Poet, Writer, Performer
SUCKER PUNCHES FROM THE UNIVERSE
Saturday May 20 5:00 Noble Hall
Sunday May 21 1:00 Noble Hall
Kevin Hayles
Kevin is veteran of Groves Cabin Theater appearing in many productions including “Two Cats, No Dogs”, “Educating Rita” and most recently,“The Death of Bessie Smith”. He is excited to work with director Miri Hunter again, having worked with her on several productions including Sam Shepard last play, “A Particle of Dread: Oedipus Variations.
BANNED IN TEXAS, reading and discussion
Saturday May 20 3:00 Lotus Hall
Sunday May 21 1:00 Lotus Hall
Roy Boucher
Roy moved to the Greater Palm Springs area in 2009. He very quickly became an active member of Andy Harmon's Writers Studio. Fast forward to today and Roy is still active with the group. He has written dozens and dozens of short plays, acted in 6 indepdent feature films, did backgorund for a Hallmark film (Sister of the Bride) and background for the trailer for Slippery When Wet. Roy loves writing 10 minute plays. His work has been performed in numerous annual "Twilight Cafe" events held by the Writers Studio. Additionally, Roy has participated in the Hi Def Fringe Festival in 2019, 2020, and 2022. Roy is a certified Tarot read. Certified by Biddy Tarot, Australia.
37, A LOVE STORY
Friday May 19 5:00 Lotus Hall FILM
Sunday May 21 Noon Lotus Hall FILM
Sunday May 21 2:30 Lotus Hall TAROT
Tessa Gregory-Walker
Tessa is a jack of all trades in the theatre realm and is thrilled to be back on-stage performing improv in person again! Some of her recent credits include Joanna in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (Desert Theatreworks), Love and Money staged reading, Winnie/Fauna in Salty, and Marcie/Lili/Nina in The Beebo Brinker Chronicles (Desert Ensemble Theatre). Thank you, Thought Theatre and Groves Cabin for this chance to play!
INTRO TO TECHNICAL THEATRE, workshop
Saturday May 20 2pm Lotus Hall
Lisa Mednick Powell
Lisa Mednick-Powell is a musician and songwriter who resides in Twentynine Palms, California (close to Joshua Tree) with her husband and bassist extraordinaire, Kip Powell. Together they have a band called "Arroyo Rogers," which plays country hits from the 60s and 70s, along with songs penned by the Powells. As a keyboard player she has worked on stages and in studios from New York to New Orleans, and from Austin to Auckland.
Around the retreat center throughout the Festival
The Pop Up Players
The Pop Up Players are a group of veteran long-form and short-form improvisers who started jamming together at Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre in spring 2023. Members have worked and studied with Viola Spolin, Del Close, the Upright Citizens Brigade, the Groundlings, and more in Chicago, the UK, Los Angeles, Palm Springs and now Joshua Tree!
IMPROV
Saturday May 20 5:15 Lotus Hall WORKSHOP
Saturday May 20 6:30 Lotus Hall PERFORMANCE
Sunday May 21 5:30 Friendship Hall PERFORMANCE