26 YEARS IN YOSEMITE!

Greetings, good people,

The year 2008 represents, amazingly enough, the beginning of our 26th theater season in Yosemite Valley, which opened on Muir’s birthday, April 21st, 1983. That production, “Conversation with a Tramp,” revolving around Muir’s last great battle to preserve our “other Yosemite Valley” – the Hetch Hetchy – played to large and enthusiastic crowds that summer, and remains the centerpiece of the many other productions we have created there since.

The regular season for 2008 begins on Tuesday, May 6th, and will be presented on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 PM throughout the summer at the Visitors Center in Yosemite Valley.

NEW THIS YEAR! is a presentation entitled “John Muir Is Back, and Boy! Is He Ticked Off!” Offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in this unique medley of his famous scripts, Lee portrays the spirit of Muir as sometimes angry and frustrated. Having spent his life battling dams, deforestation, and the ruthless extinction of nature’s glorious plant people and our fellow mortals, he rails against those who would slay forests and passenger pigeons for the almighty dollar. The conservation movement lives on in this often hilarious and sometimes passionate plea to keep the spirit of John Muir alive.

On Wednesday evening, “Conversation with a Tramp” which revolves around the ‘other Yosemite Valley’ - the Hetch Hetchy ­- depicts John Muir in the sunset of his life, recalling his astonishing adventures in the Sierra Nevada, while he and his guests await a decision, the outcome of which will always be remembered as the first great battle for environmental integrity.

The summer schedule may have some ‘holes’ in it, and to be certain that a show is being presented on the dates of your visit to the Park, you might want to make advance reservations by calling the Concession Services tour desk at (209) 372-1240.

For interested groups, Lee (and the Old Tramp) can be available for private shows, campfire chats or saunters through the Valley as well. Contact Lee directly at 209 742-7838, or by email at leestetson@sti.net.

TOURING in 2008

We expect to do a good deal of touring in 2008, presenting Mr. Muir to audiences throughout the country. Lee could have never imagined a run of this length, but Muir’s accomplishments, humor, astonishing adventures, and wilderness philosophy - so remarkably relevant today - have been compelling reasons to continue telling his story. Recent years have had us touring in many delightful places for organizations and communities throughout the Country. We've had a working tour of Japan's National Parks, been to Scotland twice, and to Alaska on several occasions, among other wonderful spots.

SIERRA NEVADA TOURING

But our roots run especially, and naturally, deepest in the Sierra Nevada.  It is easy to be grateful for this inspiring landscape, and it is among the Sierra Nevada communities and organizations that Lee hopes to tour extensively this year.

For wilderness and environmental causes, he is available for both fund-raising and consciousness-raising efforts, and will be glad to help smaller organizations and communities in more remote areas to combine their efforts.   

We look forward to being in your community some day soon.

We continue to enjoy Mariposa, the mountains, dogs, cats, the garden and good health.  Hope you’re doing similarly, and hope to see you soon,

down trail,

Lee & Connie

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