A Star-Studded Night in the Desert: IE at the 2026 Desert Star Awards
Some nights remind you exactly why you fell in love with theatre. The Desert Theatre League’s 2026 Desert Star Awards was one of them.
A Win Worth Taking a Bow For
We’re thrilled to share that John Ferris took home Best Director of a One Act! The tradition of a One-Man Christmas Carol has been passed down through the Ferris family for over a century, and we’re grateful that the heart and quality we brought to the Hi-Desert stage were recognized.
Although it may have been a “one-man show,” it was co-created by many hands: our volunteers, audiences, and community partners who keep showing up and believing in what we can do together.
The Best Table in the House (We May Be Biased)
True to form, the IE table brought the fun. Between presentations, we kept the energy high with rounds of Cards Against Gravity, which produced more than a few laughs our neighbors probably heard.
Everyone at our table also went home with a gift bag, complete with personalized IE merch and, of course, telescoping pointer fingers. Because when you’re cheering on your fellow artists, sometimes you need a little extra reach to point out the brilliance in the room.
An After-Party Tradition, Animal Style
No awards night would be complete without our favorite encore. Once the official recognitions ended, we continued our tradition of heading to In-N-Out with volunteers and leadership from our fellow Hi-Desert community theatres.
Over burgers, fries, and plenty of shakes, we swapped stories, toasted the night’s winners, and dreamed up what’s next for desert theatre. Different companies, same table, and one shared love of the stage.
Honestly, it’s one of our favorite parts of the evening.
The Real Award: Each Other
Awards are lovely, but the true gift of the evening was simply being together. The room was filled with directors, actors, designers, techs, volunteers, and longtime theatre lovers from across the low and Hi-Desert, all gathered to celebrate the stories we tell and the communities we build while telling them.
Congratulations to every nominee and fellow theatre company celebrated that night. The low and Hi-Desert theatre community keeps raising the bar, and we’re proud to stand in the spotlight alongside you.
Here’s to more inspired stories, generous hearts, and the next curtain up.
