INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — For the last 11 years, residents have been
entertained by one of the most spectacular shows to hit the local stage,
the Incline Star Follies. The Follies features both local adults and
children from Incline schools on stage dancing and lip synching to great
songs. Some of the dancing is almost unbelievable when you consider
that the show is filled with volunteers. Each year the students seem to
come up with the scene stealing numbers too.

Of course we all have our favorite adult stars too, but when it comes right down to it, the kids do some pretty incredible routines. Since the Follies really is a fundraiser to provide the extra funds needed to help our local
schools, it is only appropriate that the stars are from the schools.

It is almost unbelievable when you add up the number of hours each cast
member dedicates in time and energy for the Follies in order to thrill
us on the stage. Still, year after year, many of the adult stars return
to appear on stage. When they ask the school children to participate
they must actually turn away students because too many want to
participate. Yes, students really do look forward to this annual
fundraiser. Did you know it takes 150 community members to do a Follies? That includes all of those that do behind the scenes projects as well as the cast members.

In its first seven years the Follies has raised more than $650,000 for our local schools. Now more than ever the schools need the extra funds. If you want to know what has been provided because of the Follies, go to the Incline Star Follies website www.inclinestarfollies.org and check it out.

Again this year the Follies will be in the Frank Sinatra Ballroom at the Cal Neva. There just is nothing better than being in the audience and watching live entertainment on that famous stage.

Tickets are now available and can be purchased at the Potlatch (775) 833-2485. Show times are 6 and 8:30 p.m. both Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1, in the Frank Sinatra Showroom of the Cal Neva Resort. For information call Ron Stichter at (775) 831-1515.

Make the Follies special by attending!

— Jean Eick is community editor of the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza. She can be reached at jeick@tahoebonanza.com.

more info

(event)

IES Follies Rehearsal

Start: 3:15 pm

End: 4:45 pm

IES Follies Rehearsal in IES MPR

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(event)

Follies Rehearsals at IES

Start: 5:00 pm

End: 8:30 pm

5:00pm - 6:00pm The Riviera

6:00pm - 7:00pm Hello Hello

7:30pm - 8:30pm Be Italian

8:30pm - 9:30pm Cinema Italiano

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Tuesday April 20, 2010

(event)

IMS Follies Rehearsal

Start: 2:30 pm

End: 4:00 pm

IMS Follies Rehearsal at Rec. Ctr.

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(event)

IHS Follies Rehearsal (Costume Check)

Start: 5:00 pm

End: 6:30 pm

IHS Follies Rehearsal in IES MPR

BRING ALL COSTUMES!

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Wednesday April 21, 2010

(news)

Incline Star Follies back for an 11th year with new faces, plenty of children stars

Start: 9:00 am

North Tahoe Bonanza, by Jean Eick

ENLARGE

The Incline Middle School students practiced for the upcoming production of the Incline Star Follies Tuesday at the Incline Village Recreation Center. Back row from left:
Jennifer Medina, Rachael Colarchik, Mariposa Gollery. Center from left:
Caroline Max, Mia Harbaugh, Yuquetzi Hernandez, Abigail Floam, Front row from left: Natalie Bolanos, Selena Rodriguez, Kate Ballan, Linnea Fox, Trisha Lincoln.

Bonanza Photo - Jean Eick

Incline Star Follies

Shows at: 6 and 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1

Where: Frank Sinatra Showroom at the Cal Neva

Tickets: On sale at Potlatch

Prices: $25 for theater seats; $50 or $35 for adult seating at a table or booth; $10 for students anywhere in the showroom

Numbers in the show: “You've Got a Friend in Me,” “Pants
on the Ground,” “ABC,” “America,” “Gee, Officer Krupke,” “School's Out
for Summer,” “42nd Street Finale,” “The Riviera,” “Mercy,” “Hey Mambo,”
“Cinema Italiano,” “Copacabana,” “Hello Hello,” “Thriller,” “Blue Moon,”
“Be Italian,” “I've Got a Feeling,” “Calendar Girl,” “I've Got the
Music in Me,” “Bandstand Boogie,” “Fame,” “Proud Mary”

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — When the Incline Star Follies roll around, the catcalls and whoops for Incline's locals dressed in drag and performing, at times, ridiculous dance numbers, can drown out the music.

But just as important a part to Incline's popular lip-synching event is the
whole bunch of young stars making their first-ever stage appearance.

“This is my first time in follies,” said fifth grader Karen Eduardo. “I
thought the shows were really fun when I would go see them so decided to sign up this year. My favorite number is ‘Thriller.'”

Students from Incline Elementary School, Incline Middle School and Incline High School are selected each year to participate in the annual fundraiser, along with a cast of adults. The show, now in its 11th year, raised more than $650,000 for local schools in its first seven years.

Each year when the auditions are held, many students audition. The students must be in fifth grade in order to participate — and not all are
selected due to an influx of performers.

“We always turn down more fifth graders,” said Karen Osborne choreographer. “I would take them all if I could.”

Many must wait for a chance to participate until they are older.

“This is my first year,” said Jennifer Medina now in middle school. “I started signing up when I was in fifth grade and this is the first time I made it.”

Many adults have perfected their own on-stage careers by being cast members for the yearly productions. Dr. Johanna Koch will again be on stage, where she has appeared for all 11 years. Koch did not have previous stage experience before joining the first follies cast. She considers the experience an enhancement to her own life and said it helped her to become a confident public speaker.

Other familiar faces returning this year include Dr. Vincent D'Ascoli, George LeBard, Lorri Waldman, Dr. Jonathan Smith and Incline High School Principal John Clark. Clark, who is retiring from IHS at the end of this school year, is always a favorite star. And be sure to watch for some crowd favorites in the “Calendar Girl” number.

Some new faces will appear this year as well. The entire Todd family will be cast for their first on-stage performances this year. Patty is in the cast of fifth graders and her mother Marjorie and father Duncan will be in the adult cast. Other new faces to watch for in the cast will be Gene Brockman, Susan Goldenberg and Mike Chamberlain.

“It is really fun to work with so many community people,” said Marjorie Todd.

For Marjorie, the tap dancing numbers have been her biggest challenge as she had no prior tap experience. But for her daughter, who is also tap dancing in the production, it was not a problem since she already had the tap experience.

Picking the numbers for the students is always a challenge for the choreographers. Osborne said that after so many years it is hard to find the right music year after year to keep the students interested.

But year after year, they continue to bring crowd cheers with the songs selected.

“I think the student numbers will be crowd favorites,” said show organizer Kathie Goldberg. “In addition, I think the audience will really love ‘Be Italian' and ‘Proud Mary.' And they should be watching for some beautiful pin up ‘girls' in ‘Calendar Girl.'”