Break a Leg!by catherine 
It’s here – we’re opening our preview performances tonight, so our 2008 season is officially open! This funny sentiment is something I’m hearing a lot today, so I looked up where the theatre phrase to wish people luck came from, and what do you know, it originates back to Shakespeare’s day and the Bard! Historians know from the time of King James I and Shakespeare’s King’s Men that actors would, on occasion, receive tips on top of their salaries. Rather than receiving tips directly from the company or theatre, tipping was left to the audience. During the final bows or curtain call, audiences would throw money, usually coins, onto the stage depending on how well they enjoyed the performance. In some bad performances they would throw rotten vegetables, but in the good cases, money. Actors would then ‘take a knee’, effectively breaking their leg line, on stage and pick up the money. As a result, when a person wishes someone to ‘break a leg’ it refers to wishing them success in their performance so in the end they would have to kneel down and collect a welcoming tip. Theatre evolved and the tradition of tipping changed to throwing flowers on stage, as well as presenting flowers to the performers for a job well done. This is my sixth summer out at the Festival and it’s amazing the transition that happens for everyone who works here. The build up to this point is ALWAYS hectic and filled with many, many last minute tasks that need to be completed to ensure our customer’s experience is as close to perfect as possible. The big jobs were all completed weeks ago, but the last week before opening is filled with the minute detailed tasks that take oodles of time and, as individual projects, generate little satisfaction. But, driving out to the Festival last night for our public dress rehearsal of Richard – we had about 450 people come to help support local kids charities – there was an amazing sense of calm and completion. It truly was like not a day had passed since we closed the 2007 season. The venue looks incredible; my Senior Operations Manager, Billie Danforth, and her team from Ponderosa Property Maintenance have yet again done an incredible job. The landscaping is spectacular, the seating is superb and much upgraded from years past, the sound system has had a complete overhaul and all actors are now on body mics, the restaurant was on top form and the new Cuban additions to the menu are a real hit. A Midsummer Night’s Dream opens the season tonight….I look forward to hearing of many actors legs being broken! 
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The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival is a 501 C (3) non-profit organization established for the cultural benefit and enjoyment of all residents and visitors to our region. We strive to plan, produce and advocate the finest cultural events at Lake Tahoe while educating future generations on the importance of including theatre, music and art in their everyday lives.
