Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival Premiers First Non-Shakespeare Play July 8 at Bartley Ranch

Jun 15, 2007

Media Contacts

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:        Catherine Atack/LTSF
                           775-832-1616

                            Betsy McDonald/RKPR Inc.
                            775-378-0033

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (June 15, 2007) - The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, known for its lakeside Sand Harbor setting, is again hosting its season premiere in Reno, Nev. at the Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheatre at Bartley Ranch on Sunday, July 8.  For its 35^th season, the Festival is breaking from tradition and is bringing its first non-Shakespearean play, Greater Tuna, to Reno-Sparks audiences. Greater Tuna, a play about the small Texas town of Tuna, is held as part of the "Artown Presents" series on July 8 at Bartley Ranch and will be performed each Monday night during the regular Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival season at Sand Harbor, starting July 12 and running through Aug. 19. 

"Our partnership with Artown and Bartley Ranch has afforded us a unique opportunity to bring our Festival into the backyard of our Reno-Sparks audience for the second time," said Catherine Atack, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. "It's part of our mission to provide cultural benefits to the greater Reno/Lake Tahoe community and we strive to deliver the best in artistic entertainment no matter the venue.  It's exciting for us to be able to premiere our first contemporary, non-Shakespeare play to the Reno-Sparks community that supports us every year."

Greater Tuna is an original comedy first written as a simple party sketch more than 20 years ago by playwrights Joe Sears, Jaston Williams and Ed Howard. Featuring hilariously fast-paced costume changes and a plethora of bad female impersonations, there are just two actors that portray all the citizens of Texas' third smallest town of Tuna - men, women, children and animals. The play, a satire on life in rural America, has been entertaining audiences since its inception in 1985, at one time becoming the most produced play in the United States with schools, colleges and community and professional theatres. 

Seating for Greater Tuna at Bartley Ranch is limited. Lawn, general and reserved options are available and the Festival's official food vendor for Shakespeare's Kitchen, Brimm's - A Catering Company, will be on-site serving up a variety of treats for theatergoers. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are available online at www.LakeTahoeShakespeare.com/tickets or by calling 800-74-SHOWS (800-747-4697).

The 2007 season of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival features a brand new lineup of performances including Romeo & Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew.  Tickets start at $22 for open seating tiers and range in options up to the premier Reserved Seating section from $67.

The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established for the cultural benefit and enjoyment of all residents and visitors to Lake Tahoe and Reno. The annual Festival advocates the finest cultural events in the area while educating future generations on the importance of the arts, theater and music.  Presenting sponsors for the 2007 Festival include Harrah's/Harvey's at Lake Tahoe, offering first class accommodations and gaming choices at Lake Tahoe's South Shore, the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA) representing Reno-Tahoe, America's Adventure Place and Microsoft Licensing, GP.  

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