High-caliber performing arts center in the works
By Kathryn Reed
TAHOE CITY – A multi-theater indoor-outdoor performing arts center in the mountains has a growing audience of supporters. Now organizers need the funds to make the facility a reality.
The Tahoe Regional Arts Foundation is planning to build a center at Castle Peak. A 75-year lease has been signed with Vail Resorts-Northstar.
The 208 acres are near the entrance of the ski resort. The area is accessed by going to the right at the initial roundabout where the parking lots are. These lots would be used for the center.
“At this point the idea is conceptual, and Northstar is very supportive of the Tahoe Regional Arts Foundation’s current efforts to research feasibility, funding possibilities, and community interest levels for bringing a performing arts venue to the Truckee-Tahoe region,” Beth Howard, general manager of Northstar, told Lake Tahoe News.
Keith Vogt, president of the foundation, gave a presentation Jan. 6 to the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association’s Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club at Granlibakken Resort.
“Almost every other mountain community has a theater and we don’t,” Vogt told the group.
The Stages at Northstar is a multimillion performing arts center proposed for Truckee. Photos/Williams+Paddon Architects
In doing research, the theaters in Jackson Hole, Wyo., Telluride, Colo., and Beaver Creek were looked at. All are successful, well designed and bring in diverse entertainment.
The Truckee center will be called The Stages at Northstar.
However, it’s likely the theaters and other aspects of the facility will have other names. Vogt told Lake Tahoe News there are opportunities for at least 20 areas to be named. This is where some of the larger checks are expected to come from.
It’s estimated that $50 million is needed to build the center and establish an endowment fund.
The goal is for it to be a year-round facility. There will be an outdoor amphitheater that will seat 3,500, with the potential for more on the mountainside. There will be two indoor theaters, with the main theater being 33,000-square-feet, with a capacity of 500 people.
It will be a visual and performing arts center. Vogt said the community theater groups need it, the youth deserve it and the public wants it.
The foundation, which received its nonprofit status last year, is run by a board of directors. They foresee offering summer drama programs where students will be part of a residence program.
Multiple studies have been done seeking the public’s input and such a facility keeps rising to the top.
Vogt assured people that while the goal is to be a state-of-the-art center that one day could garner international acclaim, area schools and nonprofits would be able to afford to use the space. He anticipates significant revenue being generated from renting out space for corporations for retreats. That classroom has multiple windows looking out onto the ski slopes of Northstar.
The annual fiscal impact to the area is estimated to be $4 million, Vogt said.
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Notes:
• For more info, email tahoestages@tahoearts.net.
• More info is also available online.
This is what SLT should be planning for Ta-Hole & a Adjacent areas! Instead, we have the ugly Harvey’s outdoor venue. Once again we miss the idea bus… A performing arts center at Ta-hole & amphitheater with lake views would put Slt on the map!
Irish – We will have Hard Rock. Hard drinking tramp-stamped smokers are our target demographic.
Hello people. Did you forget the state of the art theater we already have? It is called TaDa. Why it isn’t being rented out is a good question for administration at LTUSD. We also have the FS amphitheater. Music/theater draw crowds. Pretty simple. Just do it.
TaDa is a real gem – but it is small. Doubtful that the FS would allow many concerts at the Visitor Center unless they fit within their “interpretive” theme for the site. There is the sensitive environmental setting to consider too. The hole in the ground is a logical location. The sand pits, Heavenly parking lot, one of the corners at the “Y” also make sense to me.
Gus what about the High School parking lots for concerts, beats the heck out of an athletic field.
aaaaaahhh… Telluride!
Irish, I tried multiple times to make a comment about the project on No.Shore butI keep getting blocked. Suffice it to say ,I’m in agreement with you. OLS
Plenty of room for a performing arts center at the rear of the Barton Ranch at the “Y”. Preserve/restore/repurpose the salvageable ranch buildings to complement the new community asset. Put some vibrancy into the “Y”, give the location a reason to come and stay awhile.
Probably enough grant money from the art and museum world and local benefactors to make it happen.
Gus’ Neighbor, Excellent idea for a location for a performing arts center! Save the Barton Ranch and put up a outdoor events center. I lke it! OLS
While Tahoe has deserved a ‘Tanglewood’ or an ‘Aspen Music Festival’ for decades (i.e., way overdue !). . .South Shore cannot seem to see beyond its’ politically-correct, provincial attitudes (i.e. TRPA must like it) that keeps hampering the very idea of progress, let alone progress itself. . .
As a “Leader” recently said, SLT is now “poised for growth”, as if the addition of a new liquor store, a new auto-parts store (either of which we have others), yet another restaurant shuffle (a BBQ taking over Mexican food; a BBQ turned into a Mexican !). . .will not do anything other than allow ‘locals’ to trade dollars, while hoping that enough visitors patronize them to keep them open. . .
Hard Rock was in financial difficulty before 2008 arrived…
As to TADA, it is problematic for the administration to skirt CA Dept of Education rules, so a 9-5, M-F regime stays in effect. . .
The type of vision a “performing arts center’ needs to be: a free-standing enterprise, absent the type of bureaucratic reliance still prevailing here – to stand on its’ own autonomous two feet. . .to survive continually shaky politics. . .
As the director of Tahoe Arts Project-TAP (performing art presenter in the schools and community of South Lake Tahoe) I struggle with finding venues for our public performances. We are fortunate to be able to use Lake Tahoe Community College Duke Theater, South Tahoe High School TADA and MontBleu Showroom when they are available. I book my performers about a year in advance and cannot ask the above venues for space that far in advance. It makes it difficult when contracting with my groups when I don’t know where they’re going to perform. It would be nice to have a 500 seat theater available for the communities use. Perhaps this venue could have gallery space for all the wonderful Tahoe Art League members. For TAP, it would give us the ability to promote our public shows well in advance and sell season tickets. I would love to see this happen in my lifetime and feel it would be a huge benefit to visitors and locals alike.
It looks like they’re several people here who would like to see a performing arts / events center here on So. Shore. This would be great for the community and would even help local business.
The “Y” would be a great place for this, as there is lodging for our guests, stores , restaraunts… the whole thing. Plus you’re close to the lake and Camp Richardson.
What a revitalization for the the town, local business and a welcoming place for folks coming into town so we have repeat visitors! Any thoughts? OLS
OLS there is a study being done now about a multi purpose event center, though not in city limits
This will be a great addition to our region! Thank you, Vail Resorts for donating land that makes the creation of a cultural arts center possible. With the addition of some public transport for events, this venue will be accessible to all of south shore too. This is good news. We in the South can benefit from the process, and if it is successful, we can transfer what is learned to build a similar and improved South Shore venue. Let’s celebrate this step forward for the Arts in our region.