North Lake Tahoe Bonanza: There's a new show in town, and although it may not rival Star Follies, it's not one to miss.

The Incline After School Organization is sponsoring the community's first interschool Incline Village talent show. Auditions for the performance will wrap up this week.

The show, the idea of Margarita Salazar, who graduated in the IHS class of 2005 and now attends UNR, was picked up by Chris Laramore, founder and director of the Incline After School Organization, a non-profit formed to provide Incline students with a variety of free after school activities from kayaking to video production to webdesign.

"Everyone I asked thought it was a good idea," Laramore said. "I thought it would be a great way for the kids to share their talents with the community, that could, over time, be a fundraiser for the organization."

Judging by the almost 100 students who collectively signed up between the Incline elementary, middle, high school and the Lake Tahoe School, the idea is already taking off.

"This (talent show) gives them an opportunity to perform," said talent show organizer Dana Berger. "There is lot of talent here."

Wednesday students at Incline Middle School waited nervously for their turn to be called into the auditioning room where John Muller, band and orchestra teacher at the middle school, Marsha Tejada, choral music and drama teacher, and Dana Berger sat waiting to pick out acts.

"We've had a couple pianists, a jazz dance, ballet and singers," Berger said.

Tori O'Conner, 11, said she and four of her friends are planning a dance routine for the show.

"We've been practicing at the recreation center and after volleyball (practice)," O'Conner said.

In the spirit of collaboration that has been the trademark of several recent events around Incline, the Incline Village General Improvement District designed banners that will announce the event. Tickets are available at the Potlatch. Tickets are $5 for youth and $15 for adults. All proceeds will go to Incline After School Organization.

Showtimes are Friday, March 3 at 6 p.m. and Saturday March 4 at 3 p.m. The performance will be held at the 3-5 Incline Elementary School multi-purpose room.

Patricia Hickson
Bonanza staff writer