There’s nothing quite like a Lake Tahoe sunset in summer, experienced from one of its many beaches. Tahoe’s crystal waters mirror a sherbet sky of oranges, pinks, and violets with the purple Sierra Nevada in the distance. If “all the world’s a stage,” then setting a theater production on the coastline of Lake Tahoe at sunset provides just about the best venue you could imagine. For over 50 years, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival has been taking the Bard literally, combining breathtaking views of one of life’s sublime moments with joyous, engaging theater.
“It’s utter magic,” Charles Fee, producing artistic director of Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, says of producing live theater at the lake. “As the sun sets, that incredible starlit sky suddenly opens up and then bathes us in moonlight. There’s nothing like it.”
This summer, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival’s season features Shakespeare’s uproarious battle of the sexes, The Merry Wives of Windsor, as well as the musical celebration of a country legend, Always…Patsy Cline.
“Our 2024 productions are absolute delights,” says Fee, who notes that the Festival’s hit productions are on their second runs — but they’re firsts at Lake Tahoe. Fee leads the celebrated company of artists who produce and perform live theater productions in several cities across the United States. Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival features professional actors, directors, and designers from the best theater companies in the country. “Our actors are coming from New York, LA, Cleveland, Boise, and other cities across the country — and they’re fabulous, a brilliant company.”
Fee helms programming at Great Lakes Theater (Cleveland, Ohio), Idaho Shakespeare Festival (Boise, Idaho), and Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival (Incline Village, Nevada). Sharing productions with three theater companies offers huge advantages for the artistic and economic scope of their productions, which are necessary to produce large-scale productions like The Merry Wives of Windsor and Always…Patsy Cline, according to Fee.
“Building our professional plays, with union actors, union designers, union directors, plus all of the bells and whistles that come with large-scale productions, costs hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Fee explains. “Producing plays in multiple locations allows us to not only justify the expense, but also allows the productions to get better and better the more we perform them.”
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival’s 2024 productions spare no expense and require diligence and copious prep to produce. But Fee says that since the shows have been previously performed at Idaho Shakespeare Festival and Great Lakes Theater, Lake Tahoe will be getting the best-rehearsed versions.
For the uninitiated, seeing a production at Sand Harbor at Lake Tahoe is an all-encompassing experience for the mind, body, and spirit. Fee suggests attendees arrive early to enjoy glasses of wine or an ice-cold martinis on site at Shakespeare’s Kitchen, take a leisurely walk around the beachfront for a few minutes of calming lake views, then set up early on the giant sand dune and watch the kids, dogs, and squirrels frolic about before showtime. Shakespeare’s Kitchen even offers delicious food options.
The play environment is family- and date-friendly, a rare combo that draws people of all ages to the shores of Tahoe for this unbeatable summer experience. If you want to class it up, there are Adirondack chairs and café table seats up front. If you’re looking to chill, there’s plenty of space farther back. Just don’t forget your sweater. It may grow chilly after the sun goes down!
“Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival is a place where you can be entertained in any fashion you’d like. It’s unbelievably fun for everybody,” Fee says.
While this year’s mainstage productions are undoubtedly the draw, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival’s 10-event 2024 Showcase Series also will certainly impress. In addition, the surrounding Lake Tahoe region offers those interested in attending a plethora of other activities enough to easily fill a week-long vacation.
Lake Tahoe is one of the most pristine alpine resort regions in the world, with unparalleled beauty that teems with outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and swimming alongside a gorgeous natural backdrop. Fee recommends walking the East Shore Trail for stunning lake and mountain views. The lake offers paddleboarding, diving, and snorkeling for those looking to explore its clear blue waters. There’s plenty of shopping and dining in quaint Incline Village, too, plus lots of fun to be had at Lake Tahoe’s storied casinos, where midcentury charm meets snow-village amenities. With plenty of vacation rentals, hotels, and resorts in the area, Lake Tahoe in summer is a bucket-list experience.
“You will be blown away by our productions,” Fee says. “You’re going to sit down at Lake Tahoe with the sun setting and sip your glass of wine, and you’re going to say, ‘Why haven’t we been doing this every year?’”
Plan your escape today! Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival’s 2024 season offerings run through August 26 at Sand Harbor Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park. For complete information and tickets, visit LakeTahoeShakespeare.com or call 800-747-4697.
