A PARADE OF SOULS COMES TO JOSHUA TREE
WindWalkers is proud to present an adaptation of a classic beloved play: Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters. Howard Shangraw directs his adaptation called Tonight in Spoon River. The medicine wheel has been transformed into a hillside cemetery where over the course of an evening the souls of the departed come and visit. They impart their stories hoping to find forgiveness, redemption, understanding, warning or just to celebrate in who they were while alive. Their stories are strung together with music from the American Folk Tune song book. The music was arranged by Steve Caron and performed by Steve Caron and Nelms McKelvain.
The cast is filled with talented artists both regulars to the High Desert theatre scene as well as new comers.
Kurt Schauppner
Kurt performed in last seasons “Eyeless in Colonus" directed by Howard Shangraw and in “Shakespeare in Revue" directed by Miri Hunter.
Kevin Hayes
Kevin has appeared in several productions in the High Desert, including “ Two Cats, No Dogs" for which he won a best actor award. He has also been seen in “Educating Rita", “A Streetcar Named Desire", and most recently “ Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner".
Abe Daniels
Abe is an awarding winning actor, director and producer of stage. Abe has been working on stage for more than 40 yrs. His latest production was “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner" as Director. He has been in doing Theatre here in the High Desert for over 15 yrs., with such productions as, “Strange Snow”, “Willie Boy" and “A Few Good Men".
Jesse Scheckler
Jesse has developed a passion for theater ever since the beginning of high school. He is most proud of his work in “A Few Good Men" and being assistant director for “The Odd Couple – Female Version “ at the Yucca Valley High School. Other stage accomplishments include “ Joseph and the Technicolor Coat" and “ Christmas Story". Finally he would like to thank his sister Emily, for without her he would never had been introduced to theater.
Shannon Mary Dixon
Shannon is an actor, director, writer and athlete with a M.A. in Film/Theater. Shannon has trained at the Gaiety School of acting in Dublin, Ireland.
Morgan Phoenix
Morgan has been in several independent films including “Stardust" and “Calls". She has trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City. Morgan is also the lead singer of the rock band Lovempire.
Dawn Davis
Dawn has been a stage, film & television, voiceover actor and producer for more than 20 years. She earned a supporting actress award from the Desert Theatre League for her work in “The Diviners".
Shelly Scheckler
Shelly was last seen in the 2019 production of “Shadow Box" at the Groves Cabin Theatre. Shelly has given her talents in productions such as Aunt Eller in Oklahoma , Blanch in Brighton Beach Memoirs" and as Dr. Stone in “A Few Good Men"
Howard Shangraw
Howard’s acting career includes productions off-Broadway, summer stock, feature films, episodic television, and regional theatre productions. He’s directed for Orange County Performing Arts Center, South Coast Repertory, Stella Adler Theatre, Teatro Mediterranean Barcelona, Spain, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts Acting Company, and Hi-Desert Cultural Center, where he served as Artistic Director. He taught acting for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, South Coast Repertory Theatre’s Conservatory programs, Hi-Desert Cultural Center, and Idyllwild Arts Academy, where he chaired the theatre department from 2004-2014.
Nelms McKelvain.
Nelms is the musical director and pianist. Nelms has been musical director for many shows directed by Howard Shangraw, including four award winning summer youth musicals. He worked with Steve Caron to record the music for Tonight in Spoon River.
Steve Caron
Steve arranged and performed the music for Tonight in Spoon River. A musician and astronomer in the high desert, Steve is very active in the Hi Desert music community. He also splits his time with his passion for astronomy and inspiring the next generation of musicians.
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