Every so often, a show comes to Omaha that has Girls Night Out stamped all over it.

The latest show to fall into this category is “Dirty Dancing.”

Johnny and Baby in the touring production of “Dirty Dancing.” I have heard that Johnny is not shirtless the entire show. Sorry.

I can say “Nobody puts Baby in a corner” to Mr. Wonderful and all I get in return is a blank stare.

Say the same thing to a girlfriend? Knowing smiles all around.

Which is why I’m excited that I’ll be making a Girls Night Out of seeing “Dirty Dancing” when it opens at the Orpheum Theater on Nov. 17. There will be singing along to the music with my group. I will have no problem belting out “Hungry Eyes” with fellow fans of the movie.

What’s it about

“Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage” really doesn’t need a description. If you’ve seen the movie, you know the plot. You know the characters – Johnny, Baby, Penny… they’re all there.

The staged production of “Dirty Dancing” was written by the same screenwriter who wrote the film.

And you know the music and the dance scenes.

And you can quote every line from the movie.

It’s pretty faithfully recreated for the stage. The same person who wrote the screenplay wrote this adaptation for the stage. The only difference, I’ve been told (Disclaimer: I work for Omaha Performing Arts, who is presenting this touring production, and thus, I have co-workers who’ve already seen the show and spilled the beans), is that there are added songs that the screenwriter couldn’t get into the movie but could get into this stage show.

“Dirty Dancing” is at Omaha’s Orpheum Theater Nov. 17-22, 2015.

So, basically, if you didn’t like the movie (ahem, Mr. Wonderful), then you might want to pass on this show. If you did like the movie – if you obsessed about this movie – then you’ll want to snag a ticket soon.

Follow #DirtyDancingGNO on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook on Nov. 17 – I’ll be sharing fun Girls Night Out  moments throughout the evening along with some other fellow bloggers thanks to Omaha Performing Arts!

If you go

“Dirty Dancing”

When: Tuesday, Nov. 17, through Sunday, Nov. 22 (various times)

Where: Orpheum Theater, 409. S. 16th St.

Tickets: Get your tickets here.

Tip: Bring canned and non-perishable food items to donate to the Shine the Light on Hunger campaign benefiting the Food Bank for the Heartland. Look for the blue barrel in the Orpheum’s lobby.

Disclaimer: I was provided complimentary tickets in exchange for taking part in the #DirtyDancingGNO promotion. While I am an employee of Omaha Performing Arts, this post does not reflect any opinions of my employer – all thoughts expressed here are my own.

If you’re a child of the 80s, you know who Cyndi Lauper is. You know her music. You know her style.

If you loved her music then, Listen up. “Kinky Boots” is coming to Omaha’s Orpheum Theater next week and she wrote the score!

I haven’t seen it yet – YET! – but I’ve had her music in my head for the past month. I work for Omaha Performing Arts, the presenter bringing this Broadway touring musical to Omaha, so I’ve heard the songs from this show many, many times.

This one especially:

They’re fabulous. They’re so Cyndi. They’re so great, they won the Tony in 2013 for best score.

“Kinky Boots” was so well received in 2013, it took home six Tonys, including Best Musical. It’s that good.

And a warning for people who cry at musicals: One song made me ugly cry and I was just listening to the audio of it. When I hear it performed live, I think I’ll be a total mess.

What is “Kinky Boots”?

Photo by Matthew Murphy

Inspired by true events, “Kinky Boots” takes you from a gentlemen’s shoe factory in Northampton to the glamorous catwalks of Milan. Charlie Price is struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and continue the family business of Price & Son. With the factory’s future hanging in the balance, help arrives in the unlikely but spectacular form of Lola, a fabulous performer in need of some sturdy new stilettos.

The story is inspiring. I saw the movie, and was thoroughly entertained, so I’m pumped to see this live with Cyndi’s music.

If you go

Lola in the Broadway touring production of “Kinky Boots” is played by Kyle Taylor Parker. Photo by Matthew Murphy

“Kinky Boots”

When: Tuesday, October 20, through Sunday, October 25; performances are Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1:30 and 7 pm..

Where: Omaha’s Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St.

Tickets: Get tickets here 

Disclaimer: I’m an employee of Omaha Performing Arts, but I was invited to write this post as a blogger, not as an employee. So this does not necessarily reflect the opinions of my employer – they are my own. I’m being provided complimentary tickets to the performance in exchange for promoting the show.

You’d think by now, having been writing about and promoting* Broadway shows for close to a decade now, I’d be familiar with a Broadway classic like “Pippin.”

 Nope.

When the circus-inspired revival made a huge splash at the Tony Awards in 2013, I took notice. I thought, hmm, that looks fun. And now it’s going to be at Omaha’s Orpheum Theater March 3-8.

 Still clueless what it’s about, but the video looks exciting.

OK, I lie a little. I’m not totally clueless anymore. Fans of the original “Pippin” tell me it’s a  coming of age story within a story, and it’s about a young prince on a death-defying journey to find meaning in his existence. Deep, huh?

I’m pretty stoked to see it. How about you?

Kids Night On Broadway

The cast of “Pippin,” which is at the Orpheum Theater March 3-8. Photo by Terry Shapiro

Looking for a way to save money on tickets? Tuesday, March 3, is Kids’ Night on Broadway®. Basically, you can get half-price tickets for you and a child age 9-18 as a way to make introducing live theater affordable to families. The half-price tickets can be purchased at Ticket Omaha by using the promotion code – KIDSNIGHT. There’s a limit of one ticket per adult and one ticket per child, age 9 to 18. No more than two tickets per adult, per family or per household. Additional tickets may be purchased at regular ticket prices.

Parent Tip: I heard that there is one scene in the show that makes it less suitable for younger children. I mentioned before it was a coming-of-age story… catch my drift? Use your judgement if you want to bring a child under 9.

If you go

Omaha Performing Arts* and Broadway Across America presents “Pippin”

When: March 3-8; performances are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 2.and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 1:30 and 7 p.m.

Where: Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St.

Get tickets at TicketOmaha.com; 402.345.0606; or at the Ticket Omaha box office inside the Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St.

Disclaimer: I’m an employee of Omaha Performing Arts, though all thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are mine. I was provided two complimentary tickets to “Pippin” for writing about the show.