Theater

Tony Award®-nominated musical Waitress offers a unique recipe for finding happiness in unexpected places. Jenna, an adept pie maker and waitress at the local diner, finds herself trapped in a small town and an unfulfilling marriage. Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, Jenna worries that her dream of opening her own pie shop may slip away. However, a baking contest in a nearby county and the arrival of the town’s charming new doctor provides her with a tantalizing recipe for happiness. Featuring music and lyrics by Grammy Award®-winner Sara Bareilles, this regional premiere of Waitress is a hit musical that’s “a little slice of heaven” (Entertainment Weekly).

Kimberly is about to turn 16 and recently moved with her family to a new town in suburban New Jersey. In this “howlingly funny heartbreaker of a show” (The New Yorker), Kim is forced to navigate family dysfunction, a rare genetic condition, her first crush … and possible felony charges. Ever the optimist, she is determined to find happiness against all odds and embark on a great adventure.

Cat Kid and Molly Pollywog have started an epic club to teach 21 rambunctious baby frogs how to make their own comics! Their fishy father Flippy is overjoyed that his kids will learn to unleash their creativity, but when the frogs’ constant bickering and outrageous imaginations send their comics comically off the rails, Flippy flips out! Will the club survive? Will the frogs ever get along? And will creativity finally save the day? All will be answered in this madcap musical based on Dav Pilkey’s irreverently hilarious Dog Man spin-off series, Cat Kid Comic Club.

The holidays at the Shealy household are always a wild family affair. This year, however, Dotty and her three adult children are exchanging more than just gifts. As Dotty struggles with challenges of dementia, her children find themselves in a delicate juggling act—caring for their mother while also attending to their own needs. Described as “a thoroughly entertaining comedy-drama” from The New York Times, this fresh and amusing play takes on the complexities of aging parents, midlife crises and the essence of a West Philadelphia community with a blend of wit and candor. Disclaimer: Contains adult language and situations.

For as long as he can remember, The Old Man has taken care of The Old Moon by climbing a ladder each night to refill its light. When a mysterious melody beckons away his wife, the Old Man finds himself torn between the familiarity of duty and routine and the allure of love and adventure. With music evoking memories of their shared history, the Old Man decides to abandon the moon and embark on a quest to bring back his wife. Highly creative storytelling allows audiences to experience The Old Man’s epic journey over land and sea. Described by Time Out New York as “a transcendent theatrical experience for all ages,” this original musical folktale speaks to the child in all of us and reminds us of the unwavering power of love and the most formidable obstacle of all—change.

Nickelodeon and VStar Entertainment Group proudly present PAW Patrol Live! “A Mighty Adventure.” This all-new live stage show picks up where Paramount Pictures’ #1 box office hit PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie left off, promising a high-stakes super-powered adventure for fans of all ages. Audiences will join the “PAW-some” pack in Adventure City and witness the pups charged up like never before, as they work together to super-save the day. With heroic action, catchy tunes, and “bark-loads” of interactive fun, this electrifying new experience is sure to leave tails wagging and audiences cheering!

Welcome to HADESTOWN, where a song can change your fate. Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy Award® for Best Musical Theater Album, this acclaimed new show from celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and original director Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) is a love story for today... and always. Intertwining two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — HADESTOWN is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go.

Milo is on a long subway ride with his older sister. To pass the time, he studies the faces around him and makes pictures of their lives. There’s the boy in the suit with the bright white sneakers; Milo imagines him arriving home to a castle with a drawbridge and a butler. But when the boy in the suit gets off on the same stop as Milo—walking the same path, going to the exact same place—Milo realizes that you can’t really know anyone just by looking at them.

Set in Chicago when Prohibition has everyone thirsty for a little excitement, SOME LIKE IT HOT is the “glorious, big, high-kicking” (Associated Press) story of two musicians forced to flee the Windy City after witnessing a mob hit. With gangsters hot on their heels, they catch a cross-country train for the life-chasing, life-changing trip of a lifetime.

For Pete the Cat, life is an adventure no matter where you wind up. So the minute the groovy blue cat meets The Biddles, he gets the whole family rocking. That is, except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader on planet Earth. But when Jimmy draws a blank in art class during the last week of school, it turns out Pete is the perfect pal to help him out. Together, they set out on a mission to help Jimmy conquer second grade art, and along the way, they both learn a little something about inspiration. Join Jimmy and Pete on an adventure of friendship, all the way to Paris and back in a Volkswagen Bus!

Welcome to Margaritaville! Tully, a charismatic individual juggling roles as a part-time bartender and part-time singer, is convinced that he has life completely sorted out. However, his world takes a turn when a captivating career-driven tourist captures his heart, making him question everything he thought he knew. Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville is a musical comedy featuring the most-loved Jimmy Buffett classics such as “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Margaritaville,” “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” “Fins,” “Volcano” and many more. This hilarious, heartwarming musical is “the party you’ve been waiting for that will knock your flip-flops off” (Entertainment Weekly)!

The Young Playwrights Festival showcases the work of some of the best teenage writers in the Omaha area. Most of the scripts featured in this production are created as part of The Rose’s yearlong Young Playwrights class, which is led by The Rose’s award-winning Playwright-in-Residence, Brian Guehring. Written entirely by teens, the works are filled with comedy, tragedy, hopes, fears, romance and all-out fun.

Lucha spends her days caring for her ailing mother, but longs for something more. When a forgotten record album sparks her mother’s memory, Lucha and her cousin strike upon a radical idea to defy social norms and create an all-female mariachi band. But it’s the 1970s, girls can’t be mariachis…or can they? Infused with vibrant, infectious live mariachi music, this regional premiere of American Mariachi is a “big-hearted, musical tug at the heartstrings” (Denver Post) that reminds us how the power of music and love can help overcome obstacles and make the seemingly impossible come true.

HAMILTON is the epic saga that follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor, love, and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation. Based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography and set to a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. HAMILTON features book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire. In addition to its 11 Tony Awards®, it has won Grammy®, Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.

Titanic The Musical captures the stories of the officers, crew members and passengers of the ever-fascinating catastrophe of the most luxurious ocean liner in the 1900s. From crew in the boiler room to first-class passengers, from the poorest families who scraped together their life savings to purchase third-class tickets, to some of the wealthiest men of the Victorian age, Titanic captures the entire range of humanity aboard the ship. Showcasing the grand and majestic ship herself with moments of heartbreaking intimacy, don’t miss this five-time Tony Award®-winning musical that ran over 800 performances on Broadway in 1997.

Disney Pixar’s Finding Nemo Theater for Young Audiences is a vibrant, puppetry-filled, musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 movie. This show features spectacular songs written by the creators of Frozen and Coco. Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clownfish, lives in the Great Barrier Reef with his kid Nemo, who longs to explore the world beyond their anemone home. But when Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean. With the help of lovable characters such as optimistic Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush and the supportive Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves.

The cast will be made up of a mix of talented performers from multiple Omaha-area high schools, supported by the University of Nebraska Omaha Theatre Department. Come early to secure your spot on the lawn beginning at 3 PM The performance will kick off an exciting holiday week of offerings presented by The RiverFront!

Popcorn Productions, LLC and Eugene T. Mahoney State Park present three melodramas this summer: “Peril of the Storm,” “Baron’s Revenge” and “Troll of Trafalgar.” Performances take place at the Denman and Mary Mallory Kountze Memorial Theatre inside the park.

The only thing dragons love more than parties are TACO PARTIES! If you want dragons to come to your party, serving tacos is the way to go. But do not, under ANY circumstances, serve dragons spicy tacos. Join Robbie and his dog Kodi as they throw the biggest party of the year, with tacos that have NO spice…or do they? Featuring catchy original songs, vibrant characters, and a slew of dragons, this show brings Adam Rubin’s hilarious book to the stage. Will Robbie succeed in throwing the ultimate taco party without any fiery mishaps?

The Wiz returns “home” to stages across America in an all-new tour, direct from Broadway. The Baltimore Sun raves “Powerhouse performances. Stunning choreography. Visionary sets” and the Chicago Sun-Times proclaims The Wiz is “An eye-popping and high-intensity revival!” Writer Amber Ruffin, originally from Omaha, is part of the creative team that updated the show for contemporary audiences.  

With no houses to paint till next spring, Mr. Popper is stuck at home daydreaming of adventures in far-off lands, while Mrs. Popper must scrimp and save just to put beans on the table. But with the unexpected arrival of a spirited penguin named Captain Cook and his entire family of feathered kin, a new opportunity opens up before the Poppers. Suddenly a vaudeville song and dance act unlike any other starts captivating…or waddling through the United States. But will Captain Cook and his family of flippered hatchlings ever make it back home? Come see in this comedy adventure based on the classic book.

Morris likes lots of things: doing puzzles, painting pictures, pretending to be an astronaut. Morris is a kid who just happens to play astronaut using a tangerine dress from his school’s dress-up box because it “reminds him of tigers, the sun, and his mother’s hair.” But some of his classmates think boys can’t wear dresses from the dress-up box because … well, because they’re boys. As Morris asks the jungle characters in his vibrant dreams if there is a wrong way to play astronaut, we see the perfect wonders of how children play pretend. This beautiful show celebrates the many places our imaginations take us to, even the ones that are unconventional and wholly original.

Ms. Greer’s classroom includes three inquisitive out-of-the-box thinkers. Rosie Revere has big dreams. Iggy Peck has a relentless passion for architecture. And Ada Twist’s curiosity can lead her to solve any problem. On a field trip gone awry, they are faced with the ultimate test of their problem solving skills, one that can only be conquered with teamwork. A fun musical based on the Netflix series and the bestselling books Rosie Revere, Engineer; Iggy Peck, Architect; and Ada Twist Scientist by Andrea Beaty, which makes STEM concepts (focusing on science, technology, engineering and math) come to life.

Step into the secret annex and witness the extraordinary courage of Anne Frank and her family. In a time of unimaginable darkness, their story shines a light on hope, resilience, and the enduring power of the human spirit. Experience the raw emotion and poignant honesty of Anne's diary as her words transport you to a hidden world where dreams and fears collide. This is a powerful, unforgettable journey that will leave you profoundly moved.

Buckle up for a wild ride filled with campy fun and musical nostalgia! A 1970s cruise turns from boogie fever into chaos with tornadoes, earthquakes, and infernos, all set to your favorite disco hits! This hilarious, over-the-top musical is packed with fabulous retro hits like “Hot Stuff”, “I Will Survive”, and “Hooked on a Feeling”. A wildly entertaining show guaranteed to leave you feeling buoyant and singing all the way home! Contains mild adult content and themes.

From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over!

Born from the creative spark of four passionate Generation X creators, GenX Takeover celebrates their generation’s pride and good times through hilarious standup and live tours all across the US. The vibrant voices in GenX Takeover include The Real Slim Sherri, Jon Wellington (The Dadbod Veteran, DBV), Nick Harrison (The Professor), and Kelly Manno, your best friend in your head.

You may know your Chinese Zodiac animal, but do you know how the 12 animals were chosen? Discover the magical origin story in The Great Race, a whimsical world premiere puppet play adapted from Chinese mythology. When three young neighbors have a friendship-ending argument, a wise Chinese grandmother uses the power of storytelling to transport them into the legendary tale of the Great Race. As they experience the thrilling competition that determined the order of the zodiac, they learn valuable lessons about teamwork, understanding, and the bonds that unite us.

Jealousy, deception, and murder. A nail-biting, edge of your seat thriller. A new adaptation of Frederick Knott’s masterpiece of suspense and 1954 Alfred Hitchcock film. When a husband plots the perfect crime to murder his wife, things quickly spiral into a web of deceit, betrayal, and unexpected twists. This gripping mystery will have you guessing until the final moment. Contains mild adult content and themes.

Shakespeare’s most-beloved romantic comedy springs to life in this delightful ballet! Feuding fairies and mismatched lovers collide in the Forest of Arden, leading to a busy night of comic confusion and dazzling dance, set to Felix Mendelssohn’s enchanting score.  It’s a merry affirmation that with the right kind of magic on your side, true love can conquer all!

A mother. A daughter. 3 possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget! For over 25 years, people all around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story, and the timeless hits of ABBA that make MAMMA MIA! the ultimate feel-good show.