Buyer Be Aware! Please purchase tickets online via LakeTahoeShakespeare.com, in person at our ticket office, or via phone at (800) 747-4697 ONLY.
- By purchasing directly…
- You won’t pay more than face value for your tickets.
- You will have tickets for seats that really exist.
- We can contact you in the event of a time change, construction, or other news you may need.
- If a performance is rescheduled, we can contact you and issue tickets for a new date.
- Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself.
- If you are purchasing tickets online, find tickets via LakeTahoeShakespeare.com ONLY.
- If you use a search engine to look for tickets, search for Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.
- If you search by the name of a show or performer, be sure to click on the link that takes you to LakeTahoeShakespeare.com. Don’t be fooled by other official sounding names such as “Twelfth Night Tickets” or “Peter and the Starcatcher Tickets.” The first result that comes up is not always the best!
- If a third party ticketing outlet does not indicate an exact seating location, you are engaging with an unauthorized vendor and your seat is not guaranteed.
- If in doubt about tickets that you see online, call us at (800) 747-4697.
- If you discover that you have purchased tickets from an unauthorized third party, contact your credit card company to see if they can decline the sale for you.
- What are the risks of buying from a third party?
- You will pay more than face value for tickets when tickets are potentially available in better locations via LakeTahoeShakespeare.com.
- You could end up with tickets for seats and/or performance dates that do not exist.
- Tickets purchased from unauthorized third party sellers (including Vivid Seats, StubHub, etc.) may not be honored. Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival reserves the right to deny entry for invalid tickets.
- In the rare event that a performance is cancelled, you will have to track down the third party to receive a refund.
Source Language Credit: Denver Center for the Performing Arts & Playhouse Square
How are the weather conditions during late summer?
What if it rains?
The show will go on in light rain, please plan and dress for the weather including a poncho, seat cover and warm/dry clothing. In the unlikely event that a performance may be rescheduled due to weather, every attempt will be made to honor that evening’s ticket at another performance in the same season. If you have questions about this policy please call (775) 832-1616. Management will take into consideration many factors when assessing the situation that presents itself during the evening of the show. Please note the general rain policy that follows. Management reserves the right to alter the policy as necessary. Should there be rain prior to curtain the Festival is prepared to hold for rain up to one half hour. If the rain has stopped to a point where the deck can be dried, the performance will occur. If the rain has not stopped by half hour after scheduled curtain time, after consultation with stage and house management, the show will be cancelled, actors and crew dismissed and patrons will be offered rain checks. There are no refunds due to weather. Please note this is a general rain policy; Festival management reserves the right to alter the policy as necessary.
What are your “smoke” protocols/policies?
The health and safety of our patrons, artists, staff, and volunteers is our top priority. We closely monitor the impact of smoke from regional wild/forest fires on the air quality at our Sand Harbor performance venue via a designated, onsite Air Quality Index (AQI) PurpleAir sensor at Sand Harbor and other similar sensors throughout our region. In addition to monitoring real time measurements, we also track AQI trends over time, as the weather and winds at our Sand Harbor venue are unique to the region. If AQI levels consistently exceed or trend to exceed 150 at our scheduled 5:30 p.m. PT “gates open” time or 7:30 p.m. PT “curtain time,” we may implement a showtime delay and/or announce a performance cancellation. If a performance cancellation is necessary, we will communicate with ticketed patrons directly via email and potential patrons via social media as soon as possible to enable patron travel plan adjustments. If a performance is cancelled, we will share resolution options for existing tickets (exchange, donate, or refund) with all ticketed audience members via email and accommodate requests to the best of our ability.
What time should I arrive and when do the plays typically end?
Our main gate opens at 5:30 pm for access to our concession and theater for pre-performance gathering. There is no need to line up early to secure your seat, as seating is assigned in all sections except Upper and Side Galleries. Upper and Side Gallery guests may want to arrive a little early to get settled in these first come first served sections. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. every night of the week. Show times vary, but typically end approximately 2½ hours later, including a 15-minute intermission. Patrons arriving after a play has begun will be seated at the discretion of the House Manager. 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 return to your car.
Do I have to pay for parking?
A Nevada State Parks Entrance Pass is required to gain access to and park at the venue that Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival (LTSF) calls home for all events. The $10/per vehicle/per day fee (applies to all vehicles when purchased in advance) is required by Nevada law and may be used to access Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park after 5:00 p.m. on the date listed on the Pass only. Please note that the park closes at 8:00 p.m. Patrons may not be able to access the park after that time. Please plan travel accordingly. For Entrance Passes purchased on-site on the day of a scheduled event, the following fee structure applies: $10/per vehicle/per day, in-state license plate; $15/per vehicle/per day, out-of-state license plate. As this is an Entrance Pass as opposed to a Parking Pass, please note that the fee applies to ridesharing services (Uber, Lyft, etc.) and drop-offs within the park. LTSF does not benefit directly from Nevada State Parks Entrance Pass fees.
If I am planning to use a rideshare service (Uber, Lyft, etc.) following a performance, do I need to make any special arrangements?
- Nevada State Parks Rideshare Policies for Festival Patrons (Uber, Lyft, etc.):
- Pre-Performance Arrivals: Park Entrance Pass fee structures apply and are the responsibility of Festival guests ($10/per vehicle for in-state license plate; $15/per vehicle for out-of-state license plate). Rideshare patrons should identify that they are attending a Festival performance upon arrival.
- Post-Performance Departures: It is the policy of Nevada State Parks to close the entry gate to Sand Harbor (our venue) before the end of Festival performances. Guests who plan to utilize a rideshare service to depart our venue following a performance should arrange to meet their rideshare drivers outside the park gates – which are approximately a 5-minute walk from our venue’s entrance. Rideshare drivers cannot gain access to our parking lot and venue following performances. Scheduling your pickup in advance is essential to avoid late night challenges.
Are food and beverage available? Can we bring our own food and beverages?
Shakespeare’s Kitchen
Our longtime partners at Brimm’s Catering have curated another awesome array of amazing eats and drinks for our season. We invite you to arrive early and delight in the deliciousness at Shakespeare’s Kitchen – our alfresco restaurant. Everything is made fresh to accommodate each on-site order! Shakespeare’s Kitchen is open from 5:30 p.m. to 7:20 p.m. and reopens at intermission. (Menu items may be adjusted based on availability.) Check out the menu here! (Please Note: To provide the best patron experience/customer service possible, Shakespeare’s Kitchen will ONLY accept on-site, in-person orders during the 2023 season.)
Can I bring a cooler?
Due to limited space in Premium and Cafe Table Seating, coolers are not permitted in these sections. Small coolers are allowed in our Lower, Upper, and Side Gallery seating sections. Cooler size in these sections is limited to 14″ long x 9″ high x 10″ wide; your cooler or bag/backpack should be able to fit between your feet to allow guests to safely pass in the aisles. Our theater staff will assist you in relocating larger coolers that do not allow for safe passage between the aisles.
Is it open seating once you enter the amphitheater?
The theater is a natural sand amphitheater overlooking Lake Tahoe. Seating is assigned in the Premium & Café Table and Lower Gallery seating sections. The Upper & Side Gallery offers open (or general admission) seating available on a first-come-first-served basis (any GA row/seat number referenced on your ticket is for internal inventory purposes only). Chairs are pre-set in ALL seating sections; personal chairs are not allowed.
How are the sections numbered? (i.e. I'm sitting in seats 2 and 4. Are they together?)
The manner in which the seats are numbered varies depending on the area of the theater you’re sitting in. The Premium and Lower Gallery Reserved sections are separated by odd and even numbers. Odd numbers indicate seats on the left side of the house and even numbers indicate seats on the right side of the house. Therefore, if you have tickets for Row H, Seats 2 & 4, your seats will indeed be next to each other. The Premium section contains Rows A to F. Café Tables are Row G (regardless of the row in which they are located).The Lower Gallery section contains Rows H to X. Seat numbers start at the middle aisle and work out- either left (odd numbers) or right (even numbers). Upper and Side Gallery offer open (or general admission) seating. These sections are not assigned (any GA row/seat number referenced on your ticket is for inventory purposes only). Click here for more information on seating sections. Click Here for seating options page.
What if I use a wheelchair or have a mobility impairment?
Wheelchair and accessible seating is available, as are assisted listening devices. Please call the Box Office to order your tickets and make these arrangements at 1-800-74-SHOWS.
Can I bring my pet?
Pets are strictly prohibited in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park at Sand Harbor. However, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Service Animals which are individually trained to perform tasks for patrons with disabilities are permitted entry to the Park and to the Festival amphitheater. Pets may not be brought and left in the car. For the safety and wellbeing of your pets, please make alternative arrangements for their care. Pets left in cars at the State Park may be removed by State personnel and owners are subject to fine. Therapy Animals and Emotional Support Animals are not considered to be a Service Animal and, therefore, are not permitted entry to the Park or amphitheater. For more information, click here: https://www.washoecounty.us/health/files/ehs/forms/environmental/svc_animals.pdf
What is the ticketing policy for young children/babies?
Children ages two and under who sit in an adult’s lap do not need a ticket as they are considered a “lap child.”
Will I be able to hear the show?
All of our theatrical productions make use of amplified music, sound and lighting effects. We also offer assistive listening devices free of charge to any patron interested.
Do you use lighting and sound effects?
All of our theatrical productions make use of music, sound and lighting effects.
Where is the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival's Box Office?
Prior to the first public performance, the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival’s Box Office is located at the D. W. Reynolds Community Non-Profit Center (948 Incline Way, Incline Village, NV 89451) and is open from 9am-4pm, Monday-Friday. After the first public performance the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival’s Box Office is moved to Sand Harbor at Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, 2005 Highway 28, Incline Village, NV 89451 and is open from 5:00-8:00 pm, seven days a week.
What are the hours of operation for ticket sales and questions via phone?
From September through June, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival’s phone ticket sales and customer service are available from 9am-4pm PST, Monday through Friday. In July and August, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival’s telephone ticket sales and customer service are available daily from 8am-5pm PST. Please call 1.800.74 SHOWS (800-747-4697) to reach a friendly Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival representative to process your ticket purchase and/or answer any questions that you have.
Can my tickets to be mailed to me?
We do not fulfill ticket orders by mail. You may select to pick your tickets at our Sand Harbor Box Office on the night of the performance or receive your tickets by email to print your tickets at home (tickets will be emailed 7 days prior to ticketed performance(s).
I understand that the Festival doesn’t give refunds but what if I want to exchange my tickets for another date? Also, if I cannot go can I give my tickets to a friend?
The Festival permits ticket exchanges for performances within the same season. Ticket exchanges must be made 24 hours prior to the originally scheduled performance curtain times. A $5 per ticket fee will be charged. All exchanges are subject to availability and certain restrictions may apply. Tickets are also transferable; you may give your tickets to a friend if you cannot use them. Tickets returned to our Box Office qualify as a tax- deductible donation if received 24 hours prior to a performance.
What are the current health and safety protocols?
Are there any "little details" I might need to know?
- For the enjoyment of all guests, we do ask that you limit the amount of movement during the performance. Although we will not prevent you from leaving your seat during a performance, we ask that you limit this if possible by waiting until intermission. If you do leave the amphitheater, you may be asked to wait to re-enter until a suitable break in the performance.
- Even though we are an outdoor venue, smoking of any kind (including E-cigarettes) is not allowed in the concession area or amphitheater area. There is a designated area for smoking, outside the entrance to the theater. Please note that from time to time the Sand Harbor at Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park may ban all smoking entirely if there is a high fire danger warning in effect.
- Cameras and photos are ok prior to the performance; however, capturing photos, video, or audio of the performance is strictly prohibited due to Equity Actors’ rules.
- We recommend that you bring a flashlight in order to return to your car safely after the performance.
- There are 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 and the Gift Shop.
