The Performers
Andrea Kline
Annie Connole
Beth Allen
Brian O'Hare
Casey Kiernan
Gretchen Grunt
Kennedy Verrett
Liz Meyer
Palo Xanto
Ryan Heffington
Sarah Bliss
Andrea Kline
Andrea Kline, R.N., B.S.N. served in the U.S. Army with the 31st Combat Support Hospital as a nurse during Operation Desert Storm. She has been a nurse for over 40 years and has built a diverse career spanning bedside care, healthcare business development, and leadership in analytics and consulting. Her experience includes building products, (businesses) and leading analytics at UnitedHealthcare (a Fortune 5 company), serving as a Senior Consultant at Willis Towers Watson (an actuarial and finance consulting firm) where she led the National Data Cooperative, and working as a global Healthcare Industry Expert in advanced analytics, Machine Learning, AI and ChatGPT at Teradata, Andrea retired in 2024 and founded her own consulting firm. She is also the producer of I Am Speaking; an annual event focused on creating community and fostering healing among Veterans, Service Members, and their families. Andrea is an active member of several veteran organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the American Legion, and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). She can be found actively engaged in helping her community.
Annie Connole
Annie Connole is a writer, artist, and mystic who has lived in the Mojave Desert since 2015. Originally from Montana, her work has a strong resonance with place and landscape. She studied at The New School and earned a MFA in Creative Writing from UC Riverside - Palm Desert. Annie’s work has appeared in Alta Journal, High Desert Journal, Writers Resist, and The Rumpus. Her first book, The Spring: A Mythic Memoir, was published by Chin Music Press in 2021. Since 2023, she has led the Desert Book Club and produced climate storytelling events with Everything Change.
Beth Allen
Beth Allen is an ex-city girl — after 26 years in San Francisco she became a full-time desert rat in 2017, when she moved to Morongo Valley with her partner in crime, Shawn “Shonzie” Smith. A 9-5 graphic designer, she has a long list of hobbies outside of work. When she’s not on the clock, you might find her doing hot yoga, rocking out in one of her local bands (frontwoman for the Hot Patooties and ALiEN PROBE), dirt biking, creating multimedia art, or dabbling in taxidermy. She hates the color beige and is dedicated to keeping the desert weird.
Brian O'Hare
Brian O’Hare is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and former Marine officer. Currently, he’s an award-winning writer/filmmaker. His film Rizoo currently streams on The New Yorker Screening Room. His feature documentary Cannon Shot—about the world’s largest croquet match—will premiere in 2026. National Book Award winner Phil Klay awarded Brian Syracuse University Press' Veterans Writing Award for Surrender—his book of short stories published in 2022. Surrender was read as part of a WORDTheatre (LA) event with literary icons Tobias Wolff, Tim O’Brien and Richard Bausch. He’s at work on his novel, A Gathering of Vultures.
Casey Kiernan
Coming Soon
Gretchen Grunt
Gretchen Grunt, a fourth-generation resident of 29 Palms with deep family ties to the 29 Palms Inn, has pursued the arts since childhood. She attended Cuesta College and Sonoma State University, exploring a wide variety of mediums like drawing, painting, ceramics, and bronze casting. In 2003, Gretchen returned home to establish the 29 Palms Creative Center, immediately supporting local artists by serving on the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council board. The Creative Center has always welcomed and taught diverse art classes with its compound of art studios and artists, including painting, printmaking, stained glass, music and bookmaking. Currently, Gretchen mainly teaches clay classes to all walks of life. Her artwork is inspired by native plants that are stamped into the clay and sold at the 29 Palms Inn restaurant.
Kennedy Verrett
Kennedy Verrett is a versatile composer and multi-instrumentalist whose work, described as "hauntingly beautiful," spans concert halls and film/TV scores. His compositions often explore social/political issues (Change for a Dollar) and nature (SoundCheckEarth). A musician playing piano, didgeridoo, and custom instruments, he performs solo and with groups like The Cosmic Tones Research Trio. Verrett also served as music director at Portland Playhouse and has collaborated on films like Drag Me to Hell. Passionate about music education, he's adjunct faculty at Portland State University and founded Sound Sense, a STEM program blending music with science/math. His contributions have earned him multiple Best Score and BMI Scholar awards, plus residencies at institutions like Harrison House.
Licia Perea
Licia Perea is a native of Albuquerque, NM, lived in LA for 26 years and now lives in Joshua Tree. She’s a dancer, choreographer and loves to move! She has received grants from the NEA, City and county of LA, as well as numerous grants from CA, NM and regionally. She has a Masters from the University of New Mexico in Choreography/Performance and taught there for 8 years. She is a certified Classical Pilates instructor since 1997. Licia has choreographed, performed and taught nationally and internationally in all kinds of settings. She is Artistic Dir. of the Latina Dance Project, which produces the BlakTinx Dance Festivals in LA & Phoenix and now the !Hay Festival! In JT.
Mikey Reyes
Mikey Reyes, a proud native of the Coachella Valley, is a musician/artist whose vibrant energy is as boundless as his creativity. Known for his big heart and larger-than-life personality, Mikey is a charismatic force whose energy lights up every room he enters. His sense of humor and quick wit make him unforgettable, while his passion for music and art speaks to his deeply soulful nature. Whether he's crafting a melody, concocting a masterpiece, or simply sharing a laugh, Mikey embodies the spirit of joy and authenticity, making him a beloved figure in his community and beyond..
Patrick Wallis
Pat Wallis is the Innovation Lab Director at Esri, a mapping software company. He began as a U.S. Army engineer officer and captain, then was a civilian with the U.S. Coast Guard for 7 years. A New Orleans native, he earned a master’s in architecture from Tulane and is a certified GIS professional and city planner. For over six years, he has supported Mil-Tree, serving as its board president for the last 3.5 years. Married to Danielle for over 23 years, he has two grown children, two dogs, and enjoys brewing beer, writing, and philosophical conversations.
Bob Wold
Bob Wold spent more than 40 years doing his working-life thing in Los Angeles. It was fulfilling. It was wonderful. But now he and Judy are happily spending most of their time out in the northern stretches of Joshua Tree, three miles in, on a nasty dirt road. They sometimes go days without getting in their car. It’s also wonderful and fulfilling. Judy is a wonderful painter. Bob spends a lot of time digging in the dirt, trying to make things grow. Desert life is good.
Cheryl Montelle
Co-Producer, Director and Host
Cheryl Montelle is thrilled to host and curate Mil-Tree’s second online spoken word fundraiser. She is a writer whose stories have been published in anthologies and magazines, and performed in Los Angeles, Joshua Tree and New York City. She created and hosted Desert Stories at the HDCC for 18 years, 14 shows. She has also produced similar shows in New York City and Los Angeles. Cheryl loves bringing community together and in 2012 she founded the veteran/ community non-profit, Mil-Tree. For more information go to mil-tree.org.
Mil-Tree is a non-profit that brings veterans, active duty and civilians together through arts and dialogue to help transform the wounds of war. Mil-Tree.org
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