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SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | APRIL 2023 15 By Brad Hyman, Resident Did you know that the longest running outdoor play in the United States is performed every year in Hemet? Did you know that the play Ramona is California's official outdoor play? Did you know that Hemet is home of one of the most beautiful, natural outdoor venues in the country? The magical Ramona Bowl amphitheater is nestled in foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains, only five miles from Solera Diamond Valley. The Ramona story is often called the Romeo and Juliet of the Wild West. It is based on Helen Hunt Jackson's 1884 novel and tells the story off two star-crossed lovers, Ramona (famously played in 1959 by Raquel Welch and in 1969 by Anne Archer!), a beautiful half-Native American, half-Scottish orphan who was adopted by a Mexican American woman, and Alessandro, the son of the chief of the Temecula Native American tribe. It also is a fascinating history lesson about the local native people and the emerging settlers in our valley. The Ramona cast consists of hundreds of actors and musicians, mostly local volunteers, with cowboys and live horses thundering across the natural bowl amphitheater, live gun battles and colorful Spanish music and dancers. The action takes place across the lowland stage at the front of the bowl and also throughout the spectacular hills rising above it. All of this comes together to create a magical live stage experience under our beautiful spring skies, and there is no other place in the world to see it than Hemet! If you are looking for something special to do close to home, I urge you to check out Ramona. You will experience joy, sorrow, and awe during the course of this pageant, and you will leave with a greater appreciation of the history and beauty of our valley. Hopefully you also will be inspired by the human dignity and compassion of the love story of Ramona and Alessandro. And you will be supporting the amazing local art community in our area. This season's Pageant will be uniquely special because it is the 100-year celebration of the play's first performance in 1923, and it promises to be bigger and better than ever. There is fun in Hemet! Show dates are: April 22, 23, 29, 30 and May 6 & 7. All performances begin at 3:30 pm. Tickets are available at www.ramonabowl.com Photographs by, with permission from, and our thanks to Cindy Boeing, Hemet resident Did You Know?… There Is Fun In Hemet!