North Lake Tahoe Bonanza: When I ask Star Follies board president Ron Stichter to describe this year's show in three words, he does it in two: Best Ever.
"And you know what?," he asks. "That's what I've heard all over town."
We'll I've heard that too, and a lot more.
"Hey Erin, where'd you learn to shake it like that?"
"Erin, those were some nice moves."
"Erin, you looked good on stage, but don't quit your day job."
Don't worry, I won't.
My favorite story comes from Project MANA's George LeBard. The day after dress rehearsal in a long line at Raley's, George ran into his newfound friend Dana Berger who shimmy shimmy shook it for her lead in "You Can't Stop the Beat."
"Hey Dana, you were great last night," George blurted without thinking.
Everyone in line looked up at poor George and Dana and snickered.
"Well I didn't mean it like THAT," George said.
As one of the about 20 cast members new to the production this year, I have to say I had more fun than I ever imagined in the lip-synch show that raised almost $100,000 for Incline's schools. Yes, rehearsals were long, dance moves were tiring and finding lace bloomers to wear under my can-can dress was difficult, but overall, I think everyone from cast to crew to audience members had a good time for a good cause.
"This isn't just a Star Follies show, this is Star Follies season," Wayne Cameron and Bruce Soli liked to jokingly remind me when I started to fade around 11 p.m. on a weeknight at the Cal-Neva. "We go into training for this - you have to keep up."
Star Follies is more than just a fundraiser. It is a community event that brings together people who may never meet otherwise. Doctors, lawyers, beauty queens, cheerleaders, journalists, parents, teachers, principals, and, of course, our kids all come together for education.
What I thought was just going to be a fun show where I could dress up and dance around, Star Follies proved to me to be about community togetherness.
Besides, as our kids watch the adults in their community act as silly and they do, they watch us give back and hopefully realize the value of community service.
I felt honored to be a part of such a special and important event, and I can't wait until next year. Thanks for the memories!
Erin Roth
Bonanza Editor
