General Info

The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival is established for the cultural benefit and enjoyment of all residents and visitors to our region. We strive to plan, produce and advocate the finest cultural events at Lake Tahoe while educating future generations on the importance of including theatre, music and art in their everyday lives. History of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival began modestly in 1972 at Sugar Pine Point State Park on the west shore of Lake Tahoe. The New Shakespeare Company presented eight performances during its inaugural season. The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival continued there for four years, until it ran into scheduling conflicts over the use of Sugar Pine Point's Ehrman Mansion. In 1976, the company and Nevada State Parks agreed to hold the performances at Sand Harbor - even though it was considered to be a less accessible location. A bare-bones stage was hastily built for just over $1, 000 in materials and labor. In 1976, our first year at Sand Harbor State Park it is estimated over 500 people attended each of twelve performances. In May of 1999, the Parasol Foundation, a non-profit community foundation, was awarded a generous grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation through the Community Services Center Program. The Community Services Program is designed to help privately supported, non-profit organizations with 501 C ( 3 ) status, join together to house their operations in a shared facility. The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival was fortunate to have been invited to share this facility ; it is one of a kind. Designed from the ground up for the special needs of non-profits and volunteer organizations, it is the headquarters of the Parasol Foundation, 20 other full-time organizations and over 80 other groups who utilize the facility as needed. The Parasol Foundation, which provides an umbrella of benefits and value-added services to aid the non-profit organizations on the North Shore, along with the generosity of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, has given the Festival a wonderful opportunity to be part of a model project for non-profit organizations in America. The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival Announce Schedule Change, With An Additional Night of Complete Works of William Shakespeare ( Abridged ) on August 20, 2010 A Chautauqua performance celebrating the lives of Babe Ruth and Julia Child will be featured Bowing to popular demand, the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival adds another evening of the outrageous...