OUR STORY so far.......
Hi-Desert Fringe (Hi-DeF) was formed in 2017 by three amazing Hi-Desert performers, producers and all around great people who quietly started a secret artistic society called the CIC.
THE MISSION
Bringing original, non-traditional, gritty, edgy, thought-provoking performance art
to the Hi-Desert
THE VISION
Establishing a forum that promotes cultural equity and community involvement through a progressive theatre movement
THE PRODUCERS, CIC members
Bringing original, non-traditional, gritty, edgy, thought-provoking performance art
to the Hi-Desert
THE VISION
Establishing a forum that promotes cultural equity and community involvement through a progressive theatre movement
THE PRODUCERS, CIC members
Miri Hunter is the Producing and Artistic Director of the Hi -Desert's Thought Theatre Company and Co-Founder and Co-Producer of the Hi Desert Fringe Festival. She spent ten years in LA doing the acting circuit. She has been seen in national commercials as well as several independent films. She has a Masters Degree in Playwriting and Directing and a Ph.D in. Humanities. Miri has been seen at the HDCC in "Motherhood Outloud", "The Spitfire Grill!", "A Christmas Carol" and various other productions. This past season she directed and performed In “Revolt She said. Revolt again, “ for Thought Theatre. She has several Desert Theatre League nominations for acting, directing, producing and writing to her credit. She also produces the playwriting workshop at ARTTRAP.
Other identities include being known in the Hi-Desert as the "frontman" for the band Hunter and the Wick'd. She began painting when she left LA several years ago. Her visual art is inspired by the beauty and high vibration of the desert as well as her connection to East African art traditions. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor at St. Mary's College in Moraga CA as well as being an adjunct Professor of Theatre Arts at Copper Mountain College In Joshua Tree.
Other identities include being known in the Hi-Desert as the "frontman" for the band Hunter and the Wick'd. She began painting when she left LA several years ago. Her visual art is inspired by the beauty and high vibration of the desert as well as her connection to East African art traditions. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor at St. Mary's College in Moraga CA as well as being an adjunct Professor of Theatre Arts at Copper Mountain College In Joshua Tree.
Ann Van Haney is Co-Founder and Co-Producer of the Hi-Desert Fringe Festival. She has appeared on stage and screen in Seattle, Los Angeles and locally, and was nominated for a Desert Theatre League award for Thought Theatre’s production of ‘The Vagina Monologues.’ Recent local projects include the film ‘Rasputin’s Curse,’ and the plays ‘Falling’ with Encore Theatre District, and ‘A Particle of Dread,’ and ‘Revolt. She Said. Revolt. Again’ with Thought Theatre. Recent network series appearances include ‘Dead Before Dawn,’ ‘Extreme Measures,’ ‘Betrayed,’ and ‘Justice for All with Judge Cristina Perez.’ Ann is also an improv performer and sketch comedy writer.
Ann has an MBA in international business and business ethics and is a teacher and mentor in global health grants management and research administration capacity building. She works with universities, non-profit organizations and government agencies in developing countries to cultivate sustainable practices for managing funding portfolios for health care research and delivery. Areas of focus include maternal-child health, cervical cancer, HIV and vaccine programs.
When she’s not on stage, on set or on a plane to Nairobi, Ann loves exploring the high desert with her husband and daughter.