Captivating scenery, an open-air venue perched over the magical waters of Lake Tahoe, and the familiar hilarity and drama of Shakespearean theatre will commence once again this summer at Lake Tahoe’s Sand Harbor State Park. The 36th season of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival offers performances of three different productions between July 10 and August 17. The new in-house production team has been working overtime to perfect all elements of ‘Richard III,’ ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ and ‘CAMBIO,’ a musical set to the vibrant scenes of the nightlife in downtown Havana.
Expect this season’s Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival to be not only remarkable but one-of-a-kind. With new artistic director Jan Powell in charge of casting and directing in all three plays, the new creative look and feel of the festival promises to capture the essence of Shakespearean drama at its finest. Jan has brought unique and innovative touches to the set and cast selection this season, as well as implementing the exotic, soulful rock and Latin rhythms of Omar Alexander in ‘CAMBIO’ and the inspirational sounds of flutist Kelvin Mockingbird in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’
With two Shakespearean classics and a new musical capturing the politics and vivacious essence of Cuban society in ‘CAMBIO’ – co-written by Jan and acted by an extremely dedicated and talented 31-member company – the 2008 season will be one to watch. ‘We are changing the set quite a lot in this season. We will have a completely different look between two shows, which is a first for the festival. The quality of the actors/actresses and the musicians from Omar to Kelvin and the band are superb,’ Jan said.
Jan has been directing Shakespeare for the past 20 years, and she jumped at the opportunity to become artistic director of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. ‘I was working on my doctorate in Portland, Oregon, saw this posting, and decided to look into it. I got a call and thought about it for about negative 15 seconds before accepting the position,’ Jan said.
The opportunity to direct in the open air and against the back drop of Lake Tahoe inspired Jan to test the waters, and she says she is here to stay. Guest director Michael Walling also finds immense inspiration in the scenic beauty of the venue itself. Michael, who has extensive theatre experience in London, is the guest director for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. ‘Being a foreigner, I am fortunate to be able to stand outside it and look at it in a different way. It is also the first time I have ever directed in open air. Shakespeare wrote his plays to be performed in the open air, and being here in Tahoe, I am beginning to understand why,’ Michael said.
Both Jan and Michael are drawing from the natural beauty of the landscape, allowing their creative energy to flourish. ‘Because we are situated where we are, Kelvin’s role in A Midsummer Night’s Dream really captures the spirituality and magic of nature,’ Michael said, referring to the Grammy-nominated Native American musician whose flute playing brings a new dimension to the play. ‘His art is deeply rooted in his culture which is authenticated by him and the instrument itself, from the natural wood to the use of breath,’ Michael said.
Michael has also been impressed with the caliber of the acting talent, noting that, ‘These American actors speak the verse better than they do back in England.’ Jan helped hand-select the cast through nationwide auditions, and is thrilled with the phenomenal line-up her crew has assembled. ‘I have had lovely experiences with the actors/actresses during rehearsals,’ Jan said. During one rehearsal of ‘Richard III,’ Diane Ciesla, playing Queen Elizabeth, did not see the grieving and loss over the wars the same way Jan did; they improvised and came to the kind of communion that truly captured the scene on a higher level, she said.
As for ‘CAMBIO,’ the interpretation and sensibility Omar brings to the play provides a more precise theatrical representation of Cuban society than Jan thought possible. ‘Omar has written specific music for the show which has introduced more sensibility, heart, and soul to the play,’ Jan said.
Both Jan and Michael are excited to be a part of this new chapter of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. ‘This is the beginning of a long body of work creating an intimate theatre conversation with the constituents of the community. We are sinking our roots into the community, and hope to see more people come out and enjoy all the festival has to offer,’ Jan said. Michael added, ‘The hilarity of these plays is so profound; it is so great to see.’
On July 10 and 11 the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival will be hosting their annual locals’ night, with discounted tickets starting at $14 for either of the two Shakespeare plays. Regular season tickets are $22 for open-tier seating and up to $67 for premier seating. They are now available online at laketahoeshakespeare.com with reduced handling fees for all online purchases or by calling 888-327-4692.
Taking Shakespeare for a Spin
For those who may be looking for more innovative spins on Shakespearean classics and perhaps a little more hilarity, be sure to catch Carson City’s Brewery Arts Center Summer Stock Theater line-up, from July 24 through August 10 with two shows: ‘Smokey Joe’s Café,’ and ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged).’
Imagine taking in Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ as a rap song, or ‘King Lear’ staged as a football game. Karen Chandler, the Summer Stock Theater’s artistic director, has come up with innovative twists to modernize the hilarious nature of Shakespearean theatre.
The Brewery Arts Center is located at 511 W. King St. in Carson City, and further details may be obtained at breweryarts.org or by calling the BAC at 775-883-1976.
