< Back to Community News

Biz Brief: Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival

May 1, 2021 | Madison Schultz

The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival is a longtime staple throughout Tahoe communities. With the mission of this establishment being to provide the highest quality of theater and cultural production for the residents of the greater Tahoe area, it’s safe to say that the Shakespeare Festival holds itself as a beloved entity in the Tahoe regional area.

The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival had a small beginning in the year 1972 near the West Shore of Lake Tahoe. During the first two years of the festival, Shakespeare was performed consistently until the theater production made the venue unsuitable. Several years later, and the North Tahoe Fine Arts Council, also known as NTFAC, moved the festival to a new location in Tahoe City. With the festival moving to a more established community, word about the Shakespeare Festival quickly grew; thus, it grew over the years into the famous Shakespeare Festival Tahoe communities know today.

Several years later, and the NTFAC alongside Nevada State Parks agreed to hold Shakespeare Festival performances at Sand Harbor as it has the functionality to hold these events. Since the move to Sand Harbor in the late 1970’s, the festival has been held there consistently each summer. Now, the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival collaborates with the Idaho Shakespeare Festival and the Great Lakes Theater in Cleveland, Ohio. This ongoing collaboration is designed to maximize return on organizational investments, increase production efficiencies, create long-term work opportunities for artists, and share best practices. Led by a unified management team and supported by a single production staff, the three separate 501c3 regional theaters continue to keep remarkable artistic and economic benefits and have seen the audience grow consistently each year.

Visit the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.

< Back to Community News

New Business Feature: AAUW Tahoe-Nevada

April 24, 2021 | Madison Schultz

The American Association of University Women is a nonprofit organization that has been working to “empower women since 1881.” The organization’s local branch, better known as AAUW Tahoe-Nevada, directly focuses on breaking through educational and economic barriers to allow all females a fair opportunity. 

AAUW Tahoe-Nevada is a new member of IVCBA and works consistently in the North Lake Tahoe community to empower females through education. Janet Usinger, President of the AAUW Tahoe-Nevada branch states that AAUW is “incredibly concerned about the subject of higher education for women.” 

With this concern one of the main focuses of the organization, the women behind AAUW’s Tahoe-Nevada branch work towards raising scholarship funds year-round in the Incline Village/Crystal Bay community to help support young women who are in need of financial assistance for higher education. AAUW Tahoe-Nevada has a direct partnership with Incline High School to directly provide to local students who are in need. Normally, the organization works to fund one to two students annually, and the scholarship money that’s raised directly goes towards the students’ tuition. 

Alongside the empowerment of young females, AAUW Tahoe-Nevada also provides a rich variety of opportunities for members to learn, network, volunteer, lead, and socialize. The Tahoe-Nevada group also has special interest groups such as the Outdoor Enthusiasts (Hike, Kayak, Bike) Club, Book Club, Cooking Club, and even Bunco. 

To join AAUW Tahoe-Nevada branch, donate to the organization, or get further information on upcoming events, visit: https://tahoe-nv.aauw.net/aboutus/

Sign up for our weekly SnapShot newsletter

Translate