Shakespeare festival set to begin on Tahoe stage

The Bard is returning to the lake.

The 37th annual Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival Sand Harbor will resound at Sand Harbor State Park from July 11- Aug. 23.

Close to 30,000 people are expected to attend.

For those whose memories of William Shakespeare recall boring high school readings it is time to reintroduce yourself to the flowing rhythm of words by one of the greatest English language writers.

While he did not Twitter, Shakespeare could quill.

From his pen flowed stories of sex scandals and returning war veterans, love lost and the antics of unscrupulous governmental leaders.

Sound familiar?

As titillating to modern audiences as they were to those during the 16th and 17th centuries two of his best comedies, "Much Ado about Nothing" and "Measure for Measure" will be running alternate nights with the exception of Mondays.

Shakespeare's work is a constant reflection of the human spirit, according to Festival Executive Director Catherine Atack.

"Betrayal, lust and other feelings are still emotions we deal with," she said.

"Ado," in short, is a romantic tale with two sets of lovers, Claudio and Hero and Beatrice and Benedick. The former is a sweet courtly couple and the latter an equally paired duo of witty verbal warriors. Returning from war, soldiers Claudio and Benedick are accompanied by Don Pedro, and his sullen and sneaky brother - Don John, who plots to Claudio and Hero.

This production, directed by Fontaine Syer, takes place in post World War II Messina, Italy where the waters of Lake Tahoe replaces the blue of the Mediterranean. Elizabethan era doublets and tights are substituted with tuxedoes and tight uniforms.

In "Measure for Measure" a sister's love for her wayward brother brings trials and tribulations as she seeks to right his wrongs.

Set in the hedonistic period of 19th century Vienna, director Carole Healey promises a lushness of costume in an aesthetically colorful production.

On Monday evenings, music, not words, flow from the stage. From pops to classical, blues and Latin funk the Urban Village Concert Series every audience member will find a delight for the ears.