This month the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival proudly presents the D.G. Menchetti Young Shakespeare Program — celebrating its 10th anniversary of entertaining families and connecting young audiences to the classics.

An interactive, free and family-friendly performance adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” designed to complement the festival’s main stage production – with the young audience member in mind, the D.G. Menchetti Young Shakespeare Program runs through Aug. 11 at Sand Harbor State Park and at venues throughout Tahoe-Reno.

Co-directed by Joe Atack and Michelle Calhoun-Fitts, this season’s production features a fun-filled adventure set in the early 1900s. “Twelfth Night” tells the tale of young Viola who, after being shipwrecked on an island and having lost her twin brother Sebastian, must disguise herself as a man to survive in a unknown, new world. Widely regarded as one Shakespeare’s greatest comedies, “Twelfth Night” brims with mistaken identity, larger than life characters and swashbuckling swordplay. Audiences will be involved in the action as well when an extraordinary company of professional and young actors, acting side-by-side on stage, bring many of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters to life.

The D.G. Menchetti Young Shakespeare Program serves as an internship program for young and aspiring actors/artists. The program is modeled after a fully professional production process, complete with a rigorous rehearsal period and a full company of professional actors, designers and production team members. Each young actor is mentored by a professional artist beginning in rehearsal and carrying through to performance – receiving hands-on instruction in acting, movement, stage combat and voice – with an emphasis on Shakespeare’s language.

All performances of the D.G. Menchetti Young Shakespeare Program’s production of “Twelfth Night” are free to young people of all ages and their chaperones. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and reservations are required. Please note that the parking fee at Sand Harbor State Park performances is $10 (in-state) and $12 (out-of-state) per vehicle. Call (775) 831.0494 to reserve parking and make arrangements for buses.

To reserve tickets, go online.

Program calendar:

Aug. 2-4: Warren E. Trepp Stage (Sand Harbor State Park),10am

Aug. 5: Tahoe Tallac Site, Boat House Theatre (South Lake Tahoe) ate 11am and 2pm

Aug. 8: Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheatre (Bartley Ranch, Reno) at 7pm

Aug. 9-11: Warren E. Trepp Stage (Sand Harbor State Park) @ 10am.