Joshua Tree Playhouse Presents: Coyote Howl

Summary

One mic. Five minutes. No filter.

Coyote Howl is a gathering of comedy, tragedy, story, sound, and spirit—where desert voices rise, trickster energy runs wild, and community comes together under the stars. Inspired by the tradition of raw, unfiltered storytelling, this new monthly event invites participants to share whatever burns brightest—in 5 minutes or less.

Equal parts howl, laugh, and heartbeat, each night is a surprise: from the wildly funny to the deeply raw, no two are ever the same. Sparks fly as local artists, community members, and unexpected guests take the stage.

Want in? Sign up to claim your 5-minute slot, or come ride the wave from the audience.

This is your desert soapbox. Let’s hear what’s burning.

Curated by Playhouse Artistic Director, Justin Zsebe.

About the Director

Justin Zsebe is an immersive director, writer, and educator with over 15 years of experience creating bold, emotionally resonant performance experiences across theater, film, and live events. His work blends narrative depth with visceral design and participatory storytelling, inviting audiences into charged, transformative spaces.

Zsebe has taught theater at UCLA, West Los Angeles College, and served as Director of the Family Initiative at The Actors’ Gang, where he expanded access to arts education and community programming. He has led commedia dell’arte masterclasses at over 40 universities nationwide, and was a teaching artist-in-residence at the Acadiana Center for the Arts in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he developed site-specific performance rooted in the works of Tennessee Williams.

As Creative Director of L’Enfant Terrible, an all-ages Shakespeare company, Zsebe developed repertory adaptations of King Lear, Hamlet, Macbeth, and Titus Andronicus—culminating in L.A.’s first Fun Family Festival of Tragedy and a national tour.

His critically acclaimed production of Nine Circles at Bootleg Theater received Ovation and LA Weekly Award nominations for Best Production, and his immersive work with Production Club’s Hellcrest series has redefined interactive storytelling in Los Angeles nightlife since 2015. Zsebe’s work has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, Backstage, and Business Insider.

Now based in Joshua Tree, California, Zsebe continues to build community through daring, collaborative performance rooted in story, spirit, and place.

Host or Publisher Hi-Desert Cultural Center