Those who know me, know I’ve long been a supporter of the local performing arts scene. I used to review live theater for a living, and I have many friends and family involved in local community theater. Given the success of the Omaha concert calendar I’ve maintained, I’m starting this Omaha theater guide and calendar in hopes that you all can attend more shows if you have enough advanced notice.
If I’ve missed a theater troupe or venue, it’s not intentional. Please let me know in the comments or at Kim (at) ohmyomaha (dot) com, and I’ll get them added to the list!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Calendar of performances
The theater community extends beyond Omaha’s borders, so this list will include performances that are located in other communities in Nebraska and Iowa. Ticketing details and theater information is provided in the section following this theatrical calendar.
Shows in December 2024
- “Anything Goes,” Nov. 21-24 and Dec. 5-8, 2024 at UNO Theatre | Tickets
- “A Christmas Carol,” Nov. 22 – Dec. 22, 2024 at Omaha Community Playhouse | Tickets
- “Silent Night of the Lambs,” Nov. 29 – Dec. 22, 2024 at BLUEBARN Theatre | Tickets
- “Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience,” Nov. 29-Dec. 29, 2024 at The Slowdown | Tickets
- The Old Market Magician Presents “Up Close & Magical,” Nov. 30-March 9, 2025 at Mahoney State Park | Details
- “Peter Pan,” Dec. 3-8, 2024 at the Orpheum Theater | Tickets
- “A Very Special Holiday Special,” Dec. 5-22, 2024 at Shelterbelt Theatre | Tickets
- “A Christmas Story: The Musical,” Dec. 6-22, 2024 at The Rose | Tickets
- “It’s A Wonderful Life,” Dec. 6-22, 2024 at Bellevue Little Theatre | Details
- “Girls Like Us: A Little Naughty, Mostly Nice!” Dec. 6-22, 2024 at Omaha Community Playhouse | Tickets
- Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Show, Dec. 7, 14 & 21 | Tickets
- “A Remarkable Series of Ordinary Events at Holiday Tower,” presented by Benson Theatre and Brigit Saint Brigit, Dec. 12-22, 2024 at Benson Theatre | Tickets
- “White Christmas,” Dec. 12-15 & 19-22, 2024 at Chanticleer Community Theater | Tickets
- “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 13-15 at Orpheum Theater | Tickets
- “Prancer,” Dec. 13-22, 2024 at Wilson Performing Arts Center | Tickets
- “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical,” Dec. 18, 2024 at Orpheum Theater | Tickets
- “When is a Murder?,” Dec. 20 and 21, 2024 at Joslyn Castle & Gardens | Tickets
- “Ugly Seasonal Sweater Soiree,” Dec. 20-22, 2024 at Rave On Productions Studio | Tickets
- “Yuletide Fright Fest,” Dec. 27 & 28, 2024 at Blixt Arts Lab | Details
Shows in January 2025
- “Clue,” Jan. 7-12, 2025 at the Orpheum Theater | Tickets
- “Steel Magnolias,” Jan. 10-12 & 17-19, 2025 at Chanticleer Community Theater | Tickets
- “Secret Kindness Agents,” Jan. 17 – Feb. 2, 2025 at The Rose Theater | Tickets
- “Waitress,” Jan. 24 – Feb. 16, 2025 at Omaha Community Playhouse | Tickets
- “An Evening With Carol Burnett,” Jan. 24-26, 2025 at Wilson Performing Arts Center | Tickets
- “The Girl on the Train,”Jan. 31-Feb. 16, 2025 at Bellevue Little Theatre | Details
Shows in February 2025
- “Appropriate,” Feb. 6 – March 2, 2025 at BLUEBARN Theatre | Tickets
- “The Rake’s Progress,” Feb. 7 & 9, 2025 at the Orpheum Theater | Tickets
- “Kimberly Akimbo,” Feb. 11-16, 2025 at the Orpheum Theater | Tickets
- “Stuck With Lemons,” Feb. 13 – March 6, 2025 in partnership with Great Plains Theatre Commons at Shelterbelt Theatre | Tickets
- “Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical,” Feb. 14 – March 2, 2025 at The Rose | Tickets
- “New Ways, New Works: A celebration of Arts and Performance,” Feb. 20-23 and Feb. 27-March 2, 2025 at UNO Theatre | Tickets
- “Dot,” Feb. 21 – March 23, 2025 at Omaha Community Playhouse | Tickets
Directory of Omaha theaters and performance groups
American Midwest Ballet
Location: Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center, 1001 S. Sixth St., Council Bluffs, Iowa and Orpheum Theater, 809 S. 16th St., Omaha, Neb.
About: American Midwest Ballet inspires people through dance programs of the highest quality: breathtaking performances, enriching education, and uplifting community engagement. The resident professional dance company, bringing work beyond words to audiences in Nebraska, Iowa, and beyond.
Upcoming shows:
- “Momentum,” Oct. 18-20, 2024 at Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center
- “The Nutcracker,” Nov. 23, 2024 at Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center and Dec. 13-15 at Orpheum Theater
- “Alice in Wonderland,” April 12 & 13, 2025 at Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center and April 26 & 27 at Orpheum Theater
Arts Center
Location: Iowa Western, 2700 College Road Arts Center, Council Bluffs, Iowa
About: The Arts Center presents performances by national touring artists as well as students at Iowa Western. Main stage theater has a capacity of 663 and the black box theater has a capacity of 125.
Ticket types: Reserved seats, season subscriptions
Upcoming shows:
- “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown,” Nov. 14-16, 2024
Bellevue Little Theatre
Location: 203 E. Mission Ave., Bellevue, Neb.
About: The only performing arts center in Sarpy County, Neb., Bellevue Little Theatre‘s season consists of five productions: Two musicals and three plays. Their season runs September and June.
Ticket types: General admission, season tickets
Typical showtimes: Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Upcoming shows:
- “It’s A Wonderful Life,” Dec. 6-22, 2024
- “The Girl on the Train,”Jan. 31-Feb. 16, 2025
- “The Sound of Music,” March 28-April 13, 2025
- “Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty,” June 6-22, 2025
Bennington Community Theatre
About: Founded in 2023, Bennington Community Theatre is driven toward creating and implementing cultural and educational activities for the public benefit by providing theatrical arts opportunities for community participation.
Upcoming Shows:
- TBA
Benson Theatre
Location: 6054 Maple St., Omaha, Neb.
About: Benson Theatre‘s mission is to engage, enhance and enrich the community through educational and artistic experiences. The theater host stage plays, musical concerts, film events, workshops, seminars, networking events, forums, fundraisers, creative performances, receptions, private events and more.
Upcoming shows:
- “A Remarkable Series of Ordinary Events at Holiday Tower,” with Brigit Saint Brigit, Dec. 12-22, 2024 | Tickets
BLUEBARN Theatre
Location: 1106 S. 10th St., Omaha, Neb.
About: BLUEBARN Theatre is a professional contemporary theatre company bringing shows to the Omaha stage that are entertaining as well as thought-provoking. It’s an intimate venue, seating is for 96 people.
Ticket types: General admission, season tickets
Typical showtimes: Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 6 p.m.
Upcoming shows:
- “Silent Night of the Lambs,” Nov. 29 – Dec. 22, 2024
- “Appropriate,” Feb. 6 – March 2, 2025
- “The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me,” March 27 – April 19, 2025
- “The Wild Party,” May 22 – June 22, 2025
Brigit Saint Brigit Theatre Co.
Location: No permanent home, various locations in Omaha, Neb.
About: Brigit Saint Brigit has a mission to present “the highest quality, professional theatre, meant to engage, educate and entertain, stimulating both feeling and thought.”
Upcoming shows:
- “The Holiday Room,” Dec. 5-15, 2024 at Benson Theatre
Chanticleer Theater
Location: Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center, 1001 S. Sixth St., Council Bluffs, Iowa
About: Chanticleer Theater‘s mission is “to provide an educational, entertaining, cultural, and historic experience for the greater Council Bluffs Community through the performing arts.” It recently relocated to the new Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center.
Ticket types: General admission, season tickets
Upcoming shows:
- “White Christmas,” Dec. 12-15 & 19-22, 2024
- “Steel Magnolias,” Jan. 10-12 & 17-19, 2025
- “She Kills Monsters,” March 13-16 & 20-23, 2025
- “Curtains,” May 8-11 & 15-18, 2025
CHI Health Center Omaha
Location: 455 N. 10th St., Omaha, Neb.
About: CHI Health Center Omaha typically hosts large concerts and sporting events, but occasionally, there are large productions and ice shows. Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster. Save on online ticketing fees by purchasing tickets in person at the box office.
Upcoming shows:
- TBA
Circle Theatre
Location: Various venues in Omaha, Neb.
About: Circle Theatre‘s mission is to “engage individuals of all abilities in creative opportunities on and off stage.”
Upcoming shows:
- “Capture The Moon,” Nov. 23 & 24, 2024 at Alan J. Levine Performing Arts Theatre at the Omaha Jewish Community Center
- “Wizard of Oz: Young Performers Edition,” April 6 & 7, 2025
Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Show
Location: Double Tree by Hilton Omaha Southwest, 3650 S. 72nd St.
About: Performers are dressed just like everyone else, leaving all of the guests to suspect who is a part of the show and who is not. The murder mystery show is paired with a four-course plated dinner. Coffee and tea are included, and there is a cash-only cash bar available as well. Note: Strict age limit of 15 years old, due to mild adult content, loud noises, and swearing.
Ticket type: General admission tickets
Upcoming shows:
- Aug. 24, Sept. 7, Sept. 21, Sept. 28, Oct. 5, Oct. 26, Nov. 9, Nov. 16, Nov. 23, Dec. 7, Dec. 14, Dec. 21
Elkhorn Community Theatre
Location: Elkhorn Valley Community Theater, 101 E. Gardiner St., Valley, Neb.
About: According to the theatre, “Elkhorn Community Theatre was founded on the objective to involve as many members of the community of Elkhorn as possible by participation in committees, by performing, or by attending the productions.”
Upcoming shows:
- TBA
Flatware Shakespeare Co.
Location: Based out of Lincoln but performs in various communities
About: The Flatwater Shakespeare Co. is a nonprofit with a mission to entertain and educate audiences in Lincoln and surrounding communities through Shakespeare and other high quality theater productions. Their summer production is designed to tour and is performed in some Omaha locations.
Upcoming shows:
- TBD
Florentine Community Theater
Location: Florence City Hall, 2864 State St., Omaha, Neb.
About: The Florence Community Theater – home to The Florentine Players – has been staging productions in the Florence area since 1964. Known for the annual melodrama, the nonprofit theater stages four major stage productions per year plus a number of other community entertainment events such as the Annual Battle of the Improv All Stars and Breakfast With Santa.
Ticket types: General admission tickets are $12
Upcoming shows:
- “A Great Plains Business Compadre: Christmas Jamboree,” Nov. 29 & 30, 2024
Great Plains Theatre Commons
Location: Various locations
About: The mission of the Great Plains Theatre Commons is to strengthen community by supporting the creation and sharing of diverse new stories.
Ticket types:
Upcoming shows:
- Workshop production of “A Body in the Grass,” Nov. 13 & 14, 2024 at Yates Illuminates | Tickets (FREE)
Grist Mill McCready Theatre
Location: 313 Main St., Macedonia, Iowa
About: Grist Mill Fine Arts Council was formed in 1977 to provide a means to bring the arts to southwest Iowa.
Upcoming shows:
- TBA
Lofte Community Theatre
Location: 15841 Manley Road, Manley, Neb.
About: Lofte Community Theatre and Born-In-A-Barn Players are dedicated to providing opportunities for all ages to participate in the creative process and to enjoy the social, artistic, and educational benefits of all art forms.
Upcoming shows:
- “Dickens’ Christmas Carol,” Dec. 6-8, Dec. 13-15, and Dec. 19-22, 2024
Mills Masquers
Location: 56543 221st St., Glenwood, Iowa
About: Mills Masquers is a community theater based in Glenwood, Iowa
Typical showtimes: Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Upcoming shows:
- “Cyrano De Bergerac,” Fall TBD
Omaha Community Playhouse
Location: 6915 Cass St., Omaha, Neb.
About: The mission of the Omaha Community Playhouse is to enhance quality of life through live theatre, professional touring, and arts education. The nonprofit is dedicated to enriching the lives of audiences and participants through entertainment, thought-provoking stories and first-hand involvement.
Ticket types: Reserved seats, season subscriptions
Typical showtimes: Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Upcoming shows:
- “A Christmas Carol,” Nov. 22 – Dec. 22, 2024
- Reading, talkback & Q&A of “Kings, Queens and Unruly Peasants,” Nov. 23, 2024
- “Girls Like Us: A Little Naughty, Mostly Nice!” Dec. 6-22, 2024
- “Waitress,” Jan. 24 – Feb. 16, 2025
- “Dot,” Feb. 21 – March 23, 2025
- “The Old Man and The Old Moon,” March 7-30, 2025
- “Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville,” April 18 – May 11, 2025
- “American Mariachi,” May 2 – June 1, 2025
- “Titanic The Musical,” May 30 – June 29, 2025
Omaha Fringe Festival
Location: UNO Mainstage, UNO 006, Blackstone Theater, Benson Theatre
About: The Omaha Fringe Festival strives to bring the different members of the Omaha theatre community together for one open access and inclusive festival where theatre artists can experiment with new works and audiences can experience new theatrical movements. The 2024 festival will run Aug. 8-11, 2024.
Ticket type: The Fringe Button and All Fringe Pass
Omaha Performing Arts’ Broadway Series & Season Specials
Location: Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St., Omaha, Neb.
About: Omaha Performing Arts (O-pa) brings Broadway shows, live music, comedy and more to the Holland Performing Arts Center, Orpheum Theater and Steelhouse Omaha (opening May 12, 2023). The nonprofit also offer a broad range of education and community engagement activities that reach a wide and diverse audience across the state. Ticket Omaha is the official ticket retailer.
Ticket types: Reserved seats, season subscriptions. ** Purchase tickets through TicketOmaha.com, not through third party ticket re-sellers.
Upcoming shows:
- “Funny Girl,” Nov. 12-17, 2024
- “Peter Pan,” Dec. 3-8, 2024
- “Clue,” Jan. 7-12, 2025
- “Kimberly Akimbo,” Feb. 11-16, 2025
- “Hadestown,” March 14-16, 2025
- “Some Like It Hot,” March 25-30, 2025
- “Hamilton,” May 7-18, 2025
- “MJ: The Musical,” June 10-15, 2025
Opera Omaha
Location: Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St.
About: Opera Omaha‘s mission is to produce opera performances in multiple formats and styles and co-creating artist-led programs for a variety of community service organizations.
Ticket types: Reserved seats, season subscriptions
Upcoming shows:
- “Don Giovanni,” Oct. 18 & 20, 2024
- “The Rake’s Progress,” Feb. 7 & 9, 2025
- “Giulio Cesare,” May 1, 2025
- “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” June 5-8, 2025
Papillion Area Community Theatre
Location: SumTur Amphitheater, 11691 S. 108th St., Papillion, Neb.
About: The Papillion Area Community Theatre aims to produce high quality productions in unique settings, which will enrich the Papillion, La Vista, and surrounding communities.
Upcoming shows:
- TBA
Popcorn Productions Melodramas
Location: Kountze Memorial Theatre located inside Mahoney State Park, 28500 W. Park Highway, Ashland, Neb.
Ticket types: Individual tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for children (ages 12 and under); Family Package is $28 (2 Adults, 2 Children). Tickets can be reserved by calling (402) 944-2957.
Typical showtimes: 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (in the summer); 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays (the rest of the year)
Upcoming shows:
- “B Mine Forever,” May 24 through Aug. 25, 2024
- “Gary Botter and the Divining Sphere,” May 25 through Aug. 24, 2024
- “Phantom of Dark Grove,” May 26 through Aug. 24, 2024
- “The Night of the Knave Knight,” Aug. 30-Oct. 20, 2024
- The Old Market Magician Presents “Up Close & Magical,” Nov. 30-March 9, 2025 (performances are Nov. 30; Dec. 1, 28 & 29; Feb. 1 & 2, and March 8 & 9)
Ralston Community Theatre
Location: Ralston Performing Arts Center located inside of Ralston High School, 8969 Park Drive, Ralston, Neb.
About: Ralston Community Theatre is a performing arts organization operating to provide quality entertainment at competitive prices. RCT’s specific intents are to further the Ralston and Greater Omaha community’s involvement in theatre, to provide an extension of the Ralston Public Schools performing arts program, and to foster public relations for the Ralston community.
Typical showtimes: Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Upcoming shows:
- TBA
Rave On Productions
Location: Various venues around Omaha
About: Rave On Productions created the Omaha Series to produce unique theatrical shows in untraditional venues. They also founded the McGuigan Arts Academy for students of all ages to learn about theatre, art and music through hands-on studies with professional teaching artists.
Ticket types: General admission tickets, reserved seats
Upcoming shows:
- “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” Oct. 24-26, 2024 at The Slowdown
- “Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience,” Nov. 29-Dec. 29, 2024 at The Slowdown
The Rose Theater
Location: 2001 Farnam St., Omaha, Neb.
About: The Rose Theater is committed to inspiring young people and their families to discover the magic of theater, to find their voices and to enrich their communities.
Ticket types: General admission tickets, premium show tickets with reserved seats, subscriptions (includes four tickets to each of the six member shows)
Typical showtimes: Fridays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays & Sundays at 2 p.m. (but not always)
Upcoming shows:
- “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical,” Sept. 6-22, 2024
- “Coraline,” Oct. 11-27, 2024
- “A Christmas Story: The Musical,” Dec. 6-22, 2024
- “Secret Kindness Agents,” Jan. 17 – Feb. 2, 2025
- “Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical,” Feb. 14 – March 2, 2025
- “Milo Imagines the World,” March 21 – April 6, 2025
- “Pete the Cat: The Musical,” April 18 – May 4, 2025
- “Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo TYA,” June 6 – 29, 2025
Shelterberlt Theatre
Location: 4383 Nicholas St., Suite 204, Omaha, Neb.
About: The theatre’s mission is “to provide a safe and nurturing environment in which to focus the development of original work and to provide for the practical education of writers, performing artists, creative and technical staff, and the general public in the art and science of moving an idea from the mind to the stage.” They work to develop, workshop and produce new works by local and regional playwrights.
Ticket types: Three tiers of tickets: Patron (suggested $25 for regular shows, $35 for musicals); Pay What You Can; and Pay It Forward (Add some additional funds to help keep theater accessible to all)
Showtimes: Thursday and Friday performances are at 7 p.m., Saturday performances are at 2 p.m., and Sunday performances are at 6 p.m.
Upcoming shows:
- “Democracy Sucks * Unless We Can Fix It,” Aug. 22-Sept. 8, 2024
- “Lizzie,” Oct. 11-31, 2024
- “A Very Special Holiday Special,” Dec. 5-22, 2024
- “Stuck With Lemons,” Feb. 13 – March 6, 2025 in partnership with Great Plains Theatre Commons
SNAP! Productions
Location: Ghost Light Theatre, 2221 Thurston Circle, Bellevue, Neb.
About: Originally founded to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, SNAP! Productions has grown to become a respected institution in the city’s cultural landscape. Their mission is to produce thought-provoking, socially relevant theater that challenges both performers and the audience. In 2023, they rebranded as Ghost Light Theatre, home of SNAP! Productions.
Ticket types: Individual tickets
Upcoming shows:
- “American Psycho: The Musical,” Sept. 13-29, 2024
- “Freakshow,” presented by Snap! Productions Nov. 8-23, 2024
Southwest Iowa Theatre Group
Location: Park Playhouse, 604 Sportsman Park Road, Shenandoah, Iowa
About: The mission at the Southwest Iowa Theatre Group is to continue the tradition of producing quality amateur theatrical productions, and to promote all of the arts for the entertainment, education, and development of patrons and participants.
Ticket types: Individual tickets, season tickets
Typical showtimes: Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Upcoming shows:
- TBA
UNO Theatre
Location: University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6505 University Drive S., Omaha, Neb.
About: At the UNO Theatre, all productions involve both University of Nebraska at Omaha students and others from the greater metropolitan Omaha area. The theater deliver performances live on stage, as well as on different virtual platforms including video and streaming video on demand.
Ticket type: Individual tickets (students receive free tickets)
Upcoming shows:
- “Dracula,” Oct. 3-6 and Oct. 10-13, 2024
- “Anything Goes,” Nov. 21-24 and Dec. 5-8, 2024
- “New Ways, New Works: A celebration of Arts and Performance,” Feb. 20-23 and Feb. 27-March 2, 2025
- “Alice in Wonderland,” April 17-19 and April 24-27, 2025
The Union For Contemporary Art
Location: 2423 N. 24th St., Omaha, Neb.
About: The Union for Contemporary Art strengthens the cultural and social landscape of the community by using the arts as a vehicle to inspire positive social change. The Union uses the term “social change” as a broad umbrella to encompass a range of social and civic outcomes from increased awareness and understanding, to attitudinal change and increased civic participation.
Recognizing that change on the individual level is directly linked to the building of public will and the development of policy that corrects injustice, The Union embraces the opportunity to foster social change every day through programs, partnerships, and commitment to North Omaha.
Upcoming shows:
- TBA
Voices in Alliance
Location: Flixx, 1019 S. 10th St., Omaha, Neb.
About: The mission of Voices in Alliance (VIA) Theatre Company is to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride through inspiring, inclusive, diverse, provocative, and complex stories that explore both the ordinary and extraordinary of the queer experience.
Upcoming shows:
- “Collective Rage: A Play In 5 Betties,” Nov. 7-17, 2024
Wilson Performing Arts Center
Location: 300 Commerce Drive, Red Oak, Iowa
Upcoming shows:
- “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” Oct. 11-20, 2024
- “Prancer,” Dec. 13-22, 2024
- “An Evening With Carol Burnett,” Jan. 24-26, 2025
- “Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” June 13-22, 2025
Omaha and the surrounding areas offer a diverse range of theater experiences for both locals and visitors. From large-scale productions in renowned venues to intimate performances in community theaters, there is no shortage of opportunities to experience the magic of live theater. Whether you’re a fan of musicals, dramas, comedies, or experimental theater, you’re sure to find something that speaks to you.