We spoke with Director, Adam Fulbright about Bellevue Little Theatre's production of "Other Desert Cities" which opens January 16th and runs through February 1st!

With a cast of five, this play was written by Jon Robin Baitz and premiered off-Broadway in 2011 and then transferred to Broadway November 2011. It was a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Though it can also be considered a dark comedy, this play explores the dynamics of a family and differing political beliefs, and a family secret is revealed when one of the characters decides to write a memoir about their life.

Find out all about it here and don't miss this timely play.

Tickets and Website:

Bellevue Little Theatre, 203 W Mission Ave, Bellevue NE 68005

We spoke with Jessica Johnson, Katt Walsh, Actors in the play "Log Cabin", and their Director, Justin Parsley about this comedy written by Jordan Harrison. Though it is a comedy, it explores the dynamics of a tight-knit group of married gays and lesbians and their transgender friend.

Listen in to our conversation about this play that is full of plot twists and important conversation about LGBTQ politics.

This production opens January 16th and runs until February 1st, 2026.

TIckets and Website: https://www.snapproductions.com/

SNAP! Productions at Ghost Light Theatre, 2221 Thurston Circle, Bellevue, NE

We spoke with Vincent J. Orduna, Artistic Director, and Mary Carrick, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at the Omaha Community Playhouse about their production of "The Piano Lesson." This production opens January 16th and runs until February 8th, 2026.

This is August Wilson's fourth play in his ten-play Century Cycle, which explores the African American experience. This play has some unusual twists and turns, and explores family conflicts, and the tension between the generations of past and the future.

Listen in to find out more about this production!

"The Piano Lesson" had many awards and nominations, but most notably, it received the 1990 Pulitzer Prize Award for Drama, and also won the New York Drama Critics Circle award, as well as five Tony Award Nominations. It was also adapted into a television film which earned a Peabody Award.

For Tickets: www.omahaplayhouse.com

Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass Street, Omaha, NE

Kimberly Faith-Hickman presents YES! - Your Empowerment Studio, and their first full production "A Krampus Carol" co-produced with SNAP! Productions, December 19-21st.

We spoke to some of the delightful cast, Brinlee Roeder, Junie Scherr, and Pieper Roeder! Hear how these talented youth approach an unconventional Krampus meets "A Christmas Carol" and how much fun they are having with this production.

A Krampus Carol is a 60 minute play written by Brent Holland in 2022. This is a fun comedy based off the legend of Krampus who punishes children for their bad behavior, vs. the Dickens classic redemption tale.

For YES! and SNAP! Productions Ticket Information: https://www.snapproductions.com/tickets

We have legislative updates on the previous funding cuts, as well as learning about NFTA's "Arts and Culture Day" on February 4th, with evening opportunities to network on February 3rd! This is a great opportunity to learn how to advocate for support and funding for the Arts in Nebraska!

We spoke with Lance Nielsen, Executive Director, who checked in with us again to give us the scoop on all of the progress and advocacy they have been able to make with our legislature. Join us for this important conversation!

NEBRASKANS FOR THE ARTS CONTACT INFO:

Arts and Culture Day - February 4th - Registration is open!

Nebraska Arts Advocacy Network Action Alerts - Get up to date on how you can contact your local Senator.

Begin or Renew Your Nebraskans For The Arts Membership

We spoke to Director, Gary Bosanek and Hannah Goodrich, Actor (Esther) about their Christmas musical production "Meet Me In St. Louis" at the Hoff Center at Pottawattamie Arts/Culture Entertainment, produced by Chanticleer Community Theater!

This musical production promises familiar old standards, music, dancing, a live orchestra and beautiful costumes. With a cast of all ages, together they bring the magic of all four seasons with the Smith Family.

"Meet Me In St. Louis" began as a book written by Sally Nelson in 1942. It was developed into a film in 1944 and Judy Garland played the leading lady, Esther. It was then made for TV in 1959 and again in 1966. And in 1989 it became a Broadway Musical and closed in 1990 after 252 performances.

Join us for a delightful conversation about this nostalgic classic! Get your tickets today!

CONTACT INFO: Chanticleer Community Theater at the Hoff Center at the Pottawattamie Arts/Culture Entertainment Center

Tickets & Website: https://www.paceartsiowa.org/theater/chanticleer-community-theater

Sara Scheidies Directs (and Costume Designs) the Bellevue Little Theatre's production, "Miracle on 34th Street" and we talked to her about Directing her first Musical! We also talked to Riley Pope, who focuses on Props and Marketing for this show, but both of these women are multi-faceted and picking up wherever things are needed! We hear about this cast of 30+ people and talk about a beloved Christmas classical story.

Join us for our first Christmas show podcast of the Season and don't miss this nostalgic and heart-warming play.

BELLEVUE LITTLE THEATRE CONTACT INFO:

Tickets: https://blt.simpletix.com/

Website: http://www.theblt.org/

203 Mission Avenue, Bellevue, Nebraska

402.291.1554

Chris visited SNAP! Productions during their rehearsals and spoke to three of the actors from their upcoming musical "Spring Awakening." We spoke to Jamie Orton who plays Wendla, Jaden Nguyen, Melchior, and Peyton Casey, who plays Moritz.

This play was originally written back in 1891 in Germany by Frank Wedekind. It has been a controversial drama about the consequences of sexual and religious repression on teenagers during that time - yet it is still relevant today. It has been adapted throughout the years to make it more contemporary, most recently adding rock music to it (Book and Lyrics by Steven Sater and rock music by Duncan Sheik).

"Spring Awakening" opens November 7th and runs until the 23rd.

Industry Night - Pay What You Can will be November 10th.