The Rose Theater

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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 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.

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!

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.

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.