Just as the families that frequented the grand, lakeside Heller estate (Valhalla) from the late 1800’s through the roaring 1920’s, visitors and locals alike can revel in the Tallac Historic Site’s serene locale, framed by historic buildings, Lake Tahoe and its surrounding forest. The sounds of waves lapping the shore and breeze wafting through the towering pines will strike a chord with a dynamic festival and special event lineup this summer:
June 27, July 11, 25 and August 1, 7:30 pm – Tahoe Improv Players – Various Valhalla Venues, $12-$16 (no preferred seating)They make stuff up, you laugh. It’s simple! The Tahoe iMPRoV Players have been turning audience suggestions into hilarious scenes made up on the spot for over 20 years. Come see one of the longest performing acts in Lake Tahoe—and one of the first to perform at the beautiful Valhalla Boathouse Theater.
June 30-July 9, 11:00 am – 4:30 pm daily – Artist-in-Residence: Carol Brown – Viking GalleryCarol Brown found her ‘Zen’ when she discovered Japanese Woodblock Printing (moku-hanga). Japanese designs inspire her work. She carves images into woodblocks and prints on Japanese papers. The process is hands-on from beginning to end. Carol’s small editions of hand-pulled, colorful, original prints are signed and numbered.
July 2 and 9, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Woodblock Print Workshop for Beginners with Artist-in-Residence Carol Brown – Viking Gallery – $50Carol Brown will offer a Beginning moku-hanga, Japanese woodblock printing, workshop at Valhalla, South Lake Tahoe, California, Sunday, July 2, and Saturday, July 9, from 10 am – 1 pm. Students will carve, print and take home prints and woodblocks of various colors and patterns. Supplies are included.Please arrive 15 minutes early. Registration ends July 1, 2017 at 10:00 am for July 2, 2017 workshop. Registration ends July 8, 2017 at 10:00 am for July 9, 2017 workshop
July 2, 1:00-3:00 pm – Music on the Lawn: Red Rose – Grand Lawn – FREERed Rose was created by singer/songwriter/playwright/guitarist Will Rose. Will has been creating music and performing for over 50 years. His credits include; “HAIR”, “Taxi”, several European Tours, seven CDs, and six musicals. Will performs with his wife, Sheree Rose, who adds to the beat with her “weapons of mass percussion” and sultry ballads. Together they create a dynamic, fun sound that will groove your body and soothe your soul. They play a variety of original music with strong reggae ties and influences of jazz, blues, rock, and funk. Their cover tunes are handpicked to please all ages.
July 5, 5:30-7:30 pm – Evening Music on the Lawn: Bob Woods’ Swampbilly – Grand Lawn – $10-$20 suggested donationEnjoy guitar-driven Americana solid as the rails under Railroad Money and as sweet as the Sweetheart Of The Prison Rodeo. Bob Woods’ Swampbilly embodies the crossroads of blues, cajun, country, swing, and folk, driven by forty years of playing in beer joints and other honky-tonks. Bob Woods is a steam train engineer when he’s not playing music.
July 6-8, 13-15 and 20-23, 7:30 pm – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee: A Musical Comedy – Boathouse Theatre, $15-$30 How do you spell F-U-N? Six awkward tweens vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime in this fast-paced, Tony Award-winning musical comedy. Spelling their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, the quirky, yet charming students candidly disclose hilarious and touching stories from their home lives while learning that winning isn’t everything. A riotous coming of age story, complete with audience participation and improvisation, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a delightful and poignant crowd pleaser.
Children’s Outdoor Art and Drama Camps with Gina Stowell and Anne Davidson – July 10-14 and 17-21, 9:00 am 1:00 pm and 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm – $200 – $350, ages 5 to 12
Gina’s outdoor camps are designed to allow students to play through painting. They are encouraged to discover the excitement and freedom of painting, and seize the instinctual urge to experiment with color and shapes.
The painting sessions share art in nature, art history, Tahoe history with fun painting techniques, book making and sketching while exploring this beautiful historic site. Students have fun painting on the lawn, making their nature journals and sketching at the lake shore. Thursday the kids team up wearing their tribes face makeup, for the scavenger hunt with fun prizes for all. And of course on Friday, the students use their best manners and host their own ART SHOW for family and friends!
Annie’s outdoor camp are designed to have children experience their world through the dramatic arts and to help them turn their developmentally-driven imaginative plays into more formalized experiences with others. With Lake Tahoe as our natural setting, children will build a play each day, exploring story elements of setting, character, conflict, and solution. Focus is on the artistic process and using our imaginations to deepen our connection to the Earth, creativity, and each other. Each day will use a different theme to construct stories with beginning, middle and end. On Friday, come early to share in the children’s work!To Register for Art Camp: please call Gina Stowell at 530-318-3639. To Register for Drama Camp: please call Annie Anne Davidson at 775-220-7385The Valhalla Art, Music & Theatre Festival continues through October with concerts, theatre, comedy, fine art and much more.
No matter the event, arrive at the Festival in style. Consider taking the paved bike trail to the Tallac Historic Site, or even paddling in via kayak or paddleboard. Allow early admission into the Boathouse Theatre to get the best seat in the house as tickets do not assign seating.Tickets are on sale now at ValhallaTahoe.com.