A Guide to the Festival

1. What is the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival and where is it located?

The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. This annual Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival is presented at the Warren Edward Trepp Stage located at Sand Harbor State Park in Incline Village. Get Driving Directions. The Festival runs seasonally from July through August. Each year's playbill changes and consists of a series of Shakespeare's plays.

2. What time should I arrive and when do the plays typically end?

Performances begin at 7:30pm every-night of the week. Shows end roughly 2-1/2 hours later at around 10:00pm and include a 15 - 20 minute intermission. As a helpful reminder, it is very dark after the performance when getting back to your vehicle in the parking lot, so bring a flashlight to help you find your car.

3. What's the difference between "Reserved", "Globe", "Lower Gallery" and "Upper Gallery" seating?

• Reserved tickets include a pre-set Adirondack chair in the first seven rows of our theatre directly in front of the stage. This seating section is also staffed with wait service to offer you a truly first-class experience at our theatre. Food and beverages from  Shakespeare's Kitchen are delivered directly to patrons up to a 1/2 hour before the start of the performance and then again during intermission. Dinner, drinks and gratuity are not included in ticket price. Please note: Cooler size is limited in this section to 14" long x 9" high x 10" wide.
• Lower Gallery is an open seating section in the middle of the theatre behind the Reserved Seating section and in front of Upper Gallery seating. In 2008 this seating section has been upgraded to INCLUDE a pre-set beach chair. Please note: Cooler size is limited in this section to 14" long x 9" high x 10" wide.
• Upper Galley is our second open seating tier located behind the Lower Gallery section; the uppermost section of the amphitheatre. You may rent a chair from us for $3 or bring your own low-back sand chairs and/or blankets to sit on in this section.
• Globe tickets include shuttle transportation from Incline Village or Reno to ease parking congestion at Sand Harbor State Park. Tickets include a pre-set, assigned chair set up directly to stage left of Reserved Seating. Globe patrons must ride the shuttle and will receive admission tickets only when boarding the shuttle.

4. Is it open seating once you enter the bowl?

Seating sections are assigned inside the theatre depending on the type of ticket you purchased. Lower and Upper Gallery tickets are both open sections of our venue, where seating is designated on a first-come-first-served basis. The theatre is an open, natural, sand amphitheatre overlooking Lake Tahoe. While chairs will now be preset for patrons in the Lower Gallery, Upper Gallery patrons may choose to bring their own chairs, towels or blankets or rent chairs at the theatre. Reserved and Globe admission tickets are limited admission sections that provide assigned seating in the theatre. There are no bad seats in the house due to the curved slope of our beautiful natural amphitheatre!

5. How are the weather conditions during late summer?

Typically, July and August present ideal conditions for outdoor theatre. However, weather changes quickly in the Sierras. Temperatures in the summer months range from highs in the 80-90's and lows in the 45-60 degree ranges. The evenings can become chilly in late August. Be sure to bring some warm clothing. Check the current weather conditions before starting out for the performance site.

6. What if it rains?

The show will go on in light rain, please plan and dress for the weather.  In the unlikely event that a performance may be delayed or rescheduled due to weather, every attempt will be made to honor that evening's ticket at another performance in the same season.  If you are unable to use your tickets, you can receive a tax deductable contribution for their value by calling our Box Office at 1-800-74-SHOWS. 

7. Are food and beverage available? Can we bring our own food and beverages?

Shakespeare's Kitchen features a fabulous selection of entrees, appetizers and snacks for every price range including BBQ, hot & cold deli, meal-sized salads, home-made soups, fresh fish and southwestern-style favorites. We also offer a full bar providing fine wines, beer, cocktails and soft drinks. Reserved seating patrons enjoy having wait service in their seating section to offer a truly first-class theatre experience. Orders are taken and food from Shakespeare's Kitchen is served. Due to limited space in Reserved Seating, coolers are not permitted. The Festival encourages its patrons to make their evening at Sand Harbor a special event and dine at our on-site restaurant, Shakespeare's Kitchen.   However, if you do bring a small cooler we strongly encourage guests to limit glass or "breakable" items when visiting the beach. 

8. Can I bring a cooler?

Seating is theatre-style in the reserved, lower gallery and globe sections, therefore coolers are  limited to 14” long x 9” high x 10” wide or a bag (backpack) that would fit between your feet while seated.

9. Are the seats padded and comfortable?

The amphitheatre is a natural sand bowl, and the Reserved, Globe, and Lower Gallery sections include designated seating. The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival has low-backed basic beach chairs to rent for $3 each for the Upper Gallery. These are NOT padded. Reserved seating provides a more substantial, wood-frame Adirondack chair that is very comfortable and padded. The lower Gallery chairs are pres-set, high-backed beach chairs with sling padding. We can make special arrangements for those with unique needs. Contact our box office at (800) 74-SHOWS. As an alternative many patrons choose to bring a blanket or sleeping bag to use to pad the seat or keep warm after the sun goes down. Patrons in the Upper Gallery may also bring their own low back sand chair. The legs must be approximately four inches or less in height and the backs cannot exceed the shoulder. High back camp chairs are not permitted.

10. What if I have special needs for seating?

Wheelchair and other special needs seating is available, as are assisted listening devices for our hearing impaired patrons.  Please call the Box Office to order your tickets and make these special arrangements at (800) 74-SHOWS. 

11. Are there any "little details" I might need to know?

• Even though we are an outdoor venue, no smoking is allowed in the theatre area. There is a designated area for smoking, outside the entrance to the theatre. Please note that from time to time the Sand Harbor State Park may ban all smoking entirely if there is a igh fire danger warning in effect.
• Parking at the State Park is $8 during the daytime and free after 5pm for our patrons. This is subject to change. Parking is limited. We STRONGLY encourage  carpooling.
• Cameras are ok, however, taking photos during the performance is strictly prohibited due to Equity actors rules.
• We recommend you bring a flashlight in order to return to your car safely after the performance.
• There is NO ATM or cash back options available at the Festival.  The festival does accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Cards for purchases made at the Box Office, Shakespeare's Kitchen, Shakespeare's Vineyard & the Gift Shop.
• Non-service animals are not allowed at Sand Harbor State Park or at the Festival. Pets may not be brought and left in the car.  For the safety and well being of your pets, please make alternative arrangements for their care.