The city of Omaha, Nebraska is known for its sports fans, beer culture, amazing food, and rocking concerts but when one becomes accustomed to such a lifestyle, life itself can get repetitive. What does one need to do when they desire a little culture now and again? The City of Omaha may surprise you with its hidden jewels in the entertainment district. The city has no shortage of love for the arts and here we will show you the best places to find your more sophisticated self while also having the best time of your life.
Orpheum
The Orpheum along with its twin the Holland Center has been entertaining the people of Omaha for only a short 16 years. But don’t get discouraged, they have honorably served over 3 million world wide visitors and have given over 220,000 students the opportunity to study under them. This theatre offers world class performances starting from Broadway all the way to Showcase arts. Jazz is actually a popular choice amongst the Omaha population and many shows are given monthly on the music genre. This opera will suit anyones needs from classy opera to fun sing-a-longs from your classic favorites such as Grease.
The Rose Theatre
As part of the Omaha Theatre Company, The Rose Theater has been serving young audiences for over 70 years. This is a place to bring your children for some family fun. Their mission is to enrich children and families through the power of theater and they have yet to disappoint. They perform kids friendly shows that you may never have known existed but also stick to the classics like Peter Pan. They also do movie adaptations and put it flawlessly into the theatre environment just for your enjoyment. More importantly, the Rose Theater supports its community by offering theater camp and and theatre classes.
Omaha Community Playhouse
Founded in 1924, Omaha Community Playhouse has served as a entertaining and enlightening source for the public. This theater has humble beginnings and in recent years has been breaking its own records in attendance and revenue. Omaha Community Playhouse currently has three stages: the 558-seat Howard stage, same size Rhonda Hawks Mainstage, and the newer Howard Dew Theater which seats between 200 to 250. The Howard Dew Theater “black box” is used to performing the more progressive stage productions. Like most top notch theaters, Omaha Community Playhouse offers educational opportunites for people of all ages.
Film Stream
In 2005, Film Stream was founded as a non-profit movie theater. This theatre specializes in showing movie classic that have made a significant impact in the world of movies. The theater was so popular it opened a second non-profit chain called the Ruth Sokolof Theater only two years later. Being a avid contributor to the community, they have dedicated every first Monday of the month to free screenings for full time students. Many schools have also made field trips to these two theatre in order to learn about their subjects through the power of the movies. Because the theatre is a non-profit they depend completely on the community for volunteers and financial support.
Joslyn Art Museum
In 1935, resident of Omaha Sarah H. Joslyn decided to create a memorial for her departed husband George A. Joslyn and the result was Joslyn Art Museum. This museum of art boasts a strong, elegant and permanent collection which features all forms of artwork from oil on canvas to bronze or stone statues. About every two months the museum will rotate its mobile exhibits to other museums to continue to keep an interest in the public mind. They are most proud of their William Merritt Chase collection which features their most popular painting Sunlight and Shadow on oil canvas. The Joslyn Art Museum also presents three different sculpture gardens: Peter Kiewit Foundation Sculpture Garden, Discovery Garden, and The Parking Garden. Peter Kiewit Foundation Sculpture Garden features spires that arise from a pond and other outdoor beauties. The Discovery Garden presents interactive sculptures that are meant to inspire children through art and educate them on art culture. The Parking Garden shows larger sculptures that are around a parking lot.
Benson Theatre
Here is a YouTube video of a virtual tour of one of the newest theatre’s in Omaha.
Whether you live in Omaha or just driving through to see the sights at least one of the wonderful places mentioned should be a destination detour for your journey.