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ENLARGE
A scene from The Foothill Theatre Company's 1998 production of
“Twelfth Night,” presented at the Lake Tahoe and Sierra Shakespeare Festivals; seen in foreground from left to right are Greg Bryan as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Philip Charles Sneed as Orsino, Sands Hall as Olivia, and Carolyn Howarth as Viola (in disguise as Cesario).
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ENLARGE
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Romeo (Vince Camillo, left) and Paris (Gillen Morrison, right) draw swords in The Foothill Theatre Company's 1998 “Romeo and Juliet,” seen here at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.
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ENLARGE
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Jennifer Taggart and Andrew Kerr in a dance from “Twelfth Night,” presented in 1998 by The Foothill Theatre Company, in residence at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.
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Get ready for a summer treat as the Foothill Theatre Company launches its 7th annual Shakespeare Festival in conjunction with the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. Plays will be performed on the shores of Lake Tahoe at Sand Harbor in July and August and in Grass Valley, known as the Sierra Shakespeare Festival, at the Fairgrounds in September. The two comedies presented this year will be “The Merry Wives of Windsor” and “A Midsummer Night's Dream.” In addition, a one-hour adaptation, just for kids, of “As You Like It” will be presented free on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings for three weeks at Lake Tahoe.
According to Philip Sneed, artistic director of the Foothill Theatre Company, Shakespeare festivals represent the fastest growing aspect of theater. “People like summer festivals. They're outdoors, they can wear their jeans, bring a picnic, some wine, bring the kids, stretch back and lean on their elbows. It takes away the formal aspect of going to the theatre,” Sneed said.
But what about folks who might feel intimidated by Shakespeare?
Sneed called that “Shakespeare phobia'” and here's his explanation. “People might have had bad experiences in English classes in high school or college that make them afraid of Shakespeare. In fact, the plays were never meant to be written down, they were meant to be performed, to be heard, to be seen. It's much easier to encounter Shakespeare in performance than it is as literature,” Sneed said.
He recommends being patient; it might take a few scenes before your ear and brain get attuned to the language. “Kids have less problems with Shakespeare than adults because they are used to looking beyond the words, to reading meaning from body language, whereas adults get impatient if they don't understand the words,” Sneed said. So he urges parents to bring the kids with them, and for everyone to sit back, relax and be ready for a fun experience.
According to Philip Sneed, artistic director of the Foothill Theatre Company, Shakespeare festivals represent the fastest growing aspect of theater. “People like summer festivals. They're outdoors, they can wear their jeans, bring a picnic, some wine, bring the kids, stretch back and lean on their elbows. It takes away the formal aspect of going to the theatre,” Sneed said.
But what about folks who might feel intimidated by Shakespeare?
Sneed called that “Shakespeare phobia'” and here's his explanation. “People might have had bad experiences in English classes in high school or college that make them afraid of Shakespeare. In fact, the plays were never meant to be written down, they were meant to be performed, to be heard, to be seen. It's much easier to encounter Shakespeare in performance than it is as literature,” Sneed said.
He recommends being patient; it might take a few scenes before your ear and brain get attuned to the language. “Kids have less problems with Shakespeare than adults because they are used to looking beyond the words, to reading meaning from body language, whereas adults get impatient if they don't understand the words,” Sneed said. So he urges parents to bring the kids with them, and for everyone to sit back, relax and be ready for a fun experience.
Sands Hall, an actor and director with Foothill Theatre Company who will direct “A Midsummer Night's Dream” this summer, commented about the experience of seeing the plays outside. “The plays were first done outside in a theater that was open to the sky. There is something magical about hearing that language, those words that have been in the world for over five centuries and that are still working their magic and their power; to hear them outside, that is just beautiful,” Hall said.
At Tahoe, the magnificent lake provides the backdrop; in Grass Valley, majestic pines tower over the stage. The plays begin in the evening light and then the stars come out. What a setting!
Why go and see a Shakespeare play? “He has great, wise and fun things to say about living. It never gets old,” Hall said. “People from all walks of life can respond to his brilliant use of metaphor,” she said. A good director will make the story clear through the action, body language and try to unfold the story as clearly as possible for the audience. “Hey, it's fun, it's not like school. Admire the beautiful costumes, listen. Just go and see some, take your picnic and sit down ready to have a great time,” Hall said.
The Lake Tahoe plays sell out many nights. Audience size varies from 600-1,400 people and the performances go on six nights a week. In Grass Valley, the smaller amphitheater can seat 250 and the shows run three nights and one afternoon a week. By the time the shows come to Grass Valley, they have been performed in front of 25,000-30,000 people in Tahoe. Talking about the audience differences between Tahoe and Grass Valley, Hall said, “At Tahoe, with the big audiences, people want the big laughs. Here with the smaller audiences, people are more thoughtful and are tremendously appreciative of the subtlety of the plays,” she said.
At Tahoe, the magnificent lake provides the backdrop; in Grass Valley, majestic pines tower over the stage. The plays begin in the evening light and then the stars come out. What a setting!
Why go and see a Shakespeare play? “He has great, wise and fun things to say about living. It never gets old,” Hall said. “People from all walks of life can respond to his brilliant use of metaphor,” she said. A good director will make the story clear through the action, body language and try to unfold the story as clearly as possible for the audience. “Hey, it's fun, it's not like school. Admire the beautiful costumes, listen. Just go and see some, take your picnic and sit down ready to have a great time,” Hall said.
The Lake Tahoe plays sell out many nights. Audience size varies from 600-1,400 people and the performances go on six nights a week. In Grass Valley, the smaller amphitheater can seat 250 and the shows run three nights and one afternoon a week. By the time the shows come to Grass Valley, they have been performed in front of 25,000-30,000 people in Tahoe. Talking about the audience differences between Tahoe and Grass Valley, Hall said, “At Tahoe, with the big audiences, people want the big laughs. Here with the smaller audiences, people are more thoughtful and are tremendously appreciative of the subtlety of the plays,” she said.
Seven years ago, Sneed noticed that Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival was looking for a theater company to perform the plays.
Foothill Theatre Company joined forces with them and it has been a successful union. “It has given us increased exposure and income and has helped us to fund new year-round staff positions,” Sneed said.
Carolyn Howarth, casting director for Foothill Theatre Company, has acted in and directed plays for the past six Shakespeare Festivals. “This is top-quality professional theater. We hire the best actors in the field, from all of the leading regional theaters,” Howarth said. “We've really grown from the first year until now, and it keeps getting better and better every year,” she said.
Tahoe Shakespeare Festival plays July 17 through August 24. Call 1-800-74SHOWS for ticket information. Sierra Shakespeare Festival in Grass Valley runs August 29 September 21. Call the Foothill Theatre Box Office at (530) 265-8587 for tickets.
We're fortunate to have such high-caliber theater right in our own beautiful backyard. This summer, pack your picnic and take the kids (their tickets are half price). The shows are designed so that families can attend together and there is room for the kids to play while they absorb some culture and everyone experiences the magic of live theater. Sands Hall sums it up: “Theater is not like a movie, it's a live performance. You can't go get the video. When it's over, it's over. The show opens, the show closes, that's it,” Hall said.
So don't miss out on this year's fun. See you there, out under the stars.
Foothill Theatre Company joined forces with them and it has been a successful union. “It has given us increased exposure and income and has helped us to fund new year-round staff positions,” Sneed said.
Carolyn Howarth, casting director for Foothill Theatre Company, has acted in and directed plays for the past six Shakespeare Festivals. “This is top-quality professional theater. We hire the best actors in the field, from all of the leading regional theaters,” Howarth said. “We've really grown from the first year until now, and it keeps getting better and better every year,” she said.
Tahoe Shakespeare Festival plays July 17 through August 24. Call 1-800-74SHOWS for ticket information. Sierra Shakespeare Festival in Grass Valley runs August 29 September 21. Call the Foothill Theatre Box Office at (530) 265-8587 for tickets.
We're fortunate to have such high-caliber theater right in our own beautiful backyard. This summer, pack your picnic and take the kids (their tickets are half price). The shows are designed so that families can attend together and there is room for the kids to play while they absorb some culture and everyone experiences the magic of live theater. Sands Hall sums it up: “Theater is not like a movie, it's a live performance. You can't go get the video. When it's over, it's over. The show opens, the show closes, that's it,” Hall said.
So don't miss out on this year's fun. See you there, out under the stars.
