Box Office Hours
Available for reservations by phone 11 AM - 4 PM (760) 366-3777 |
As you enter Joshua Tree, heading east on Highway 62, you
will see a large building with
an interesting red and white front. The railings, posts
and windows frames were donated
by people who rescued them from a home that was built for
General John Fremont in 1888.
This is the Culture Center, home of a truly unique
organization, the Hi-Desert Playhouse
Guild.
Inside is a 175 seat theater whose lobby is an Art
Gallery.
Behind is another building
of the same size, the Guild Hall, which houses the
workshop where sets are built, a dance
floor with bars
and mirrors for
dance lessons, a
wardrobe for
costumes, rehersal
hall, artists
workshop, meeting
hall for the theater
workshop,
membership
meetings and more.
The most unique
thing is the fact that
the building was
built with mostly
volunteer labor and
paid as it was built
through fund raisers and donations. The land was donated
in 1977. There were members who took care of the escrow,
title search, surveying, architecture, drafting,
engineering, grading etc. People of the community who
were in the businesses and received either no pay or very
little pay.
The Building Dept. was very cooperative. The
cement and building materials were supplied at reduced
cost by local dealers. The framing was done in one
weekend by a crew of 22 volunteers, including 2 biulding
contractors. Four to six men in their 60's and 70's
worked every day. often doing things they didn't know
they could do.
An electrician worked out the wiring and
another got the supplies wholesale.
A plumber laid out
the plumbing and got supplies.
One member worked for a
steel door manufacturer and one for an alarm system
company which helped.
A drapery company made and donated
the curtain. One man figured out an apparatus which
allowed these older men to lift and install the tresses
one by one, saving a lot of money.
The very good
accoustics are egg crates which were fire proofed,
painted and installed on the back wall.
Some people came
by just at the right time and worked for only a day or
two doing their special thing, like the man who installed
the restroom booths.
A member did the landscaping in the
front of the building, donating many plants.
Now there is
the beautiful big Howard Pierce roadrunner.
The guild first organized in 1965, putting on plays in schools,
Community Centers, Desert Christ Park and the Sportsman's
Hall until the building was finsihed in 1980.
The Chapparal Artists came along in 1968 and had their first
Studio Tour in 1969. Five artists opened their studios
for each of these fund raisers which continued for about
12 years. A couple who had been in the restuarant business
put on many spaghetti dinners and pancake breakfasts. We
had a paper bag project where everyone was given $1.00 to
multiply by buying ingredients to bake, craft materials
or whatever.
A beautiful garne party brought in
$10,000.00, mostly in $100.00 donations. An antique
auction made about $5,000.00. We had oprea concerts, a
tatling fair, hamburger fries, garage sales and more.
Kaffe Klatches brought an average of $50.00 and sometimes
new members.
Membership varied from 400 to 800 and they
have had lots of fun. A lot goes on there now. Usually 5
plays a season (3 of them musicals) and the Summer Youth
Theater.
The Theater Workshop has 2 productions. The
Chorale and Keyboard Clubs each present 2 programs. Then
there is Sounds Original and a couple of Singalongs.
The artists have a judged show and their Arts & Crafts
Roundup besides their weekly workshop and their gallery
displays.
In December, there is the Walk
Through Bethlehem, an unusual
experience that takes you back to the time and place of
the birth of Jesus with live animals, dancing girls, a
bazaar, artisans, craftsman and a lot more including the
baby in the manger.
There is something for everyone here,
so why not stop and look into what might be here for you.
Hi-Desert Playhouse WEB Site: http://www.hidesertculturalcenter.com
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