Mouthwatering Performing Arts in Omaha

BLUEBARN Theatre

★★★★★ 4.8 (10)

"With productions based on some of the works of David Sedaris (SantaLand Diaries), this place has got to be great. It's been around since the 1980s and has produced alot of good stuff. In addition to their plays, they also host other events. I've been to some pretty great improv events here."

Shelterbelt Theatre

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"I went to a wonderful play Untitled - that is running until Mid February- I love the neighborhood and the Shelterbelt itself. the play was excellent and the people there included you instantly and made you welcome and part of the Omaha theater community right away. the theater itself they just repainted and it was lovely seeing the history of the building honored. it was a fantastic evening as the play rolled out in front of me- with the rest of the house laughing. they support local artists and I believe that is very important. Please patronize the Shelterbelt and other local Omaha venues. we want them around for generations to come! I also had dinner at California tacos and more.. fantastic Saturday night!"

Bellevue Little Theater

★★★★★ 4.6 (7)

"The Bellevue Little Theater enters its' 45th year of operation during 2013/2014.The venue is in Old Bellevue on Main Street. The theater holds an audience of around 200. The entry way and foyer are tight prior to the doors to the main auditorium being opened.We went to see a Sunday Matinee of the musical Brigadoon. Prices for an adult ($18) and student ($9) were reasonable for the quality of the production presented.The performers for the musical were very good and while Brigadoon is from 1947, the show was very enjoyable to both of us.We'll definitely hit this community theater again during this year."

Theatre To Go

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"We had an absolute blast at the holiday Ho Ho Homicide event at the Joslyn Castle. Looking forward to attending more of this traveling murder mystery/theater performances in the future. Each cast member was fabulous and the castle was a beautiful venue for this type of event."

The Rose Theater

★★★★★ 4.7 (3)

"We saw a concert put on by Fever Candlelight Concerts that featured a stringed quartet. It was a lot of fun! This review is more about the venue than the show, as the show was a one-night event. Reviewing that would be useless.Seats: There's not really a bad seat in the house. A small balcony overlooks roughly 15 rows of seats. The venue is fairly intimate with the stage. Seats are comfortable and there is a good amount of legroom. Acoustics: Our event did not use amplification or microphones. The sound in the 4th row was pretty weak when the violinists began playing. Acoustics were not great, but passable.Ambiance: The interior and much of the foyer is a modern attempt to recreate a Roman or Greek amphitheater. It's interesting.Check in: There's no real ticket window, so people tend to gaggle toward whatever tables are set up for check in. Food/drink: There's no real concession setup. The team at the theater had coolers for drinks. We ordered a beer, Coke, and water for $15. The beer was Coors, the Coke was warm, the water was a mini water and warm. Pretty poorly executed.Policy: They posts signs requiring law abiding citizens give up their rights at the door. (The policy does not impact criminals.) Thus, the venue makes you a sitting duck."

Steelhouse Omaha

★★★★☆ 4.2 (26)

"Great venue. Came here to see Trey Kennedy on his comedy tour. Didn't try any food.Service was fast and easy.Ambiance is super nice with seating that is kinda tight. I was pleasantly surprised how many people can occupy. Sounds system and lights inside are great. All and all great show and great venue. Highly recommend."

Sing Omaha Studios

★★★★★ 4.5 (8) • $$

"A studio that completely specializes in voice, all faculty hold a music bachelor's degree, and uses new facilities. Staff holds many connections around the city across multiple school districts, and is committed to teaching basic fundamentals to build up the voice in the healthiest way possible. Sing Omaha trains your student using their true, individual voice. Teachers will not try to make young voices mimic something from the radio, which preserves longevity of the voice and creates a smooth transition for changing voices (boys AND girls). Plus, no matter what age your student is (5-100!) there is a large-group performing ensemble (lead by an experienced, degree-holding conductor) available for them as well! So they can learn how to sing AND immediately apply the skills in a choir (while making life-long friends). Multi-day show choir camps are also available throughout the summer, which helps if you have a busy school year."

Omaha Performing Arts

★★★★☆ 4.2 (55) • $$

"I've been to the Orphuem Theater a few times for:-Beauty and the Beast - Broadway-The Lion King - Broadway-Blue October Acoustic Concert-Wicked - BroadwayThe decor is very nice with huge chandeliers above as you walk into the main lobby.I went and saw Wicked this past weekend and the show was great. But if you sit on the second floor balcony, (Loge), you may not be able to see the top of the stage. My wife and I sat in center Loge, first row and we were unable to see the dragon at the top of the stage. If there was something actually going on at the top of the stage and we weren't able to see it, ($90 a ticket), I would have asked to be seated somewhere else.Overall, the experience at the Orpheum is always great. The decor is really neat to see and the service is always pleasant and easy to deal with."

Shot in the Dark Productions

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"I first found out about this place in fall of 2015 when I thought I was going to help assistant direct a show and then I became part of the ensemble; and I've been in love with it ever since. It's small. Teeny. Never more than 100 chairs or less for the audience. Some of the shows performed here may only have 1-3 actors. It's very much like a black box theater. Super intimate. I love it. Their shows range from kid productions to very dark, racy, weird, controversial shows. Plays and musicals are mixed in every season. Sometimes the show is in the actual theater, sometimes it's held in the 'lobby' of it's a small show. They have mild concessions of candy and cans of pop. Sometimes a show is BYOB. Two bathrooms, very clean; gender neutral. Tickets can be bought at the venue or online. Parking isn't always the best. No parking lot or anything. It's smack dab in the middle of downtown Sioux City. Tickets are typically around $25. Seats are always general admission. Rarely are microphones used. Space is small enough they're usually not needed. The last show I saw there was one of the best shows I've seen done in Siouxland. (Non-professionally.)"

Chanticleer Theater-Box Office

★★★★☆ 4 (2)

"Annie Jr is a great family friendly production. I always enjoy myself there. Natalie was an outstanding lead as Annie. The open seating idea works great. Well done everyone"

OutrSpaces

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"Set on the north side of Little Bohemia, this is a phenomenal concert venue for MAHA opening night! The upstairs is the best view of the bands."

Turner Park

★★★★☆ 4.3 (8)

"A nice park that is frequently used by the residents of Midtown Crossing apartment and condos, as well as the local midtown community. Perfect for walking the dog or relaxing. They are also the host of a medley of events and functions like farmers markets, summer movies on the lawn, jazz on the green, concerts and more."

Meadowlark Music Festival

★★★★☆ 4 (2)

"From meadowlarkmusicfestival.com: "For a week each summer, classical music fills the air during Nebraska's only summer classical music offering - the Meadowlark Music Festival. Every July, hundreds of people gather at comfortable venues around the state and listen to world class musicians perform beautiful music.Meadowlark Music Festival continues its tradition of offering family friendly, affordable, classical music to Nebraskans. Dress casual, invite friends, and be prepared to have a very good time at the Meadowlark Music Festival!""

Omaha Academy of Ballet

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (5)

"I took adult ballet here for awhile (at the old location)... in that time frame we signed up for dance lessons for our wedding. Our teacher was fantastic with creating something original and special for us.My 2 year old takes ballet as well there and has absolutely loved it. I am glad the littles can go barefoot. She constantly is doing plie and pointing and flexing her feet in the car. I would say she is hooked. We love the new location and how big it is! Parking is also easy to get in and out of vs the old spot. Highly recommend."

Pear Tree Performing Arts

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"Pear Tree Performing Arts is a place where I have seen so many young people grow! The CEO/Founder, Mrs. Natasha, truly has a passion for teaching dance and drama to her students and her students just grasp to everything that she teaches and says. She is an awesome teacher and I recommend this company to anyone who knows a youth who loves drama and dance!"

The 40th Street Theatre

★★★★☆ 4.3 (3)

"I went to a burlesque show at the 40th St. theatre the other night and as a venue it still stands out in my mind. It's very charming and I believe over 100 years old. There are lots of little touches here and there that are very unique and a nod to the past. I love the creaky wood floors and they've done an excellent job of keeping as much of the original architecture and building intact. You definitely feel like you're stepping into a bygone era. They had a full bar and very decent drink prices. I would definitely rent out this venue if I needed a space in the future."

402 Arts Collective

★★★★☆ 4 (3)

"A cool place for arts next to Aroma's coffeehouse. I was here for their Monday Evening Jam Night, and there were some very decent but raw talent performing short sets here. They have all sorts of classes and from the looks, it's a tight arts collective helping people express and cultivate their crafts."

Tada Theater

★★☆☆☆ 2.3 (3)

"What a pleasant surprise! This small theatre is cozy and intimate. Maybe a bit like The Bourbon, but with much less seating. Very comfortable and up close for a great show. Evil Dead the Musical was well done and presented excellently."

Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center

★★★★★ 4.5 (16)

"I prefer an Orange Pumpkin to a Rose Blumkin, unless you're talking about PSL (at Starbucks) in which I prefer DSL. Ahem.Pretty beautiful old theatre in Omaha just south of the downtown, which is absolutely gorgeous. One of my favourite places in the area to catch a show although the outdoor venue which is brand-new a little bit to the NW is actually better. This is a lovely old theatre and I love performing in these kinds of places, I haven't performed here yet unfortunately... although I have been in this place and I love watching shows or walking around inside old venues like this, which I have done here."

Nebraska Ballet Theatre & School

★★★★☆ 4 (1)

"I take my four year old here. She seems to like it. The teachers are enthusiastic and patient, and my daughter Hope gets to say she's a ballerina. I get to do a lot of sitting in hallways here while Hope is in class. I posted a picture of my spacing dot. It keeps me company."

Lofte Community Theatre

★★★★★ 4.5 (2)

"What a wonderful, charming theatre housed in a beautiful wooden building in the middle of cornfields! Won my heart completely! It's about a 45 minute drive from Omaha. The theatre was earlier housed in a barn (!) and is currently celebrating it's 40th year! The whole place smelled of wood, and brought with it a rush of nostalgia :) I watched a production of the Music Man here which was pretty good too, with some great performances. However, the setting of this theatre is what takes the cake."

Holland Performing Arts Center

★★★★☆ 4.4 (43) • $$

"Great experience! Concert hall is perfect view from any seat...(orchestra was GREAT!) social hour with food and drinks very well organized..lots of bars set up and many tables of food set up as well...it was nice and cozy ..temp was not too cold and not too warm..lots of leg room and comfy wide chairs with handicapped seating.great experience with Clint Black!"

Xtreme Dance

★★★★★ 4.5 (2)

"Here at dance practice like we are every Tuesday. It's almost recital time I can't wait to see all the dances and what they have come up with this year. As long as my daughter likes to be in this dance academy . I will continue to let her grow . She is a hard worker and good dancer.."

Opera Omaha's Così fan tutte

★★★★★ 5 (4)

"I was lucky enough to attend the final dress rehearsal for Cosi Fan Tutte last night. It was amazing. Although I'm not usually a fan of modern interpretations of classic operas, this was extremely well done. Cosi Fan Tutte is a comedic opera and was truly funny at times. Set in modern times, the set design by scenic designer, Julia Noulin-Merat was amazing. You could tell she is very detailed oriented as the costumes and set designs were top notch.It was nice that the chorus was made up of local talent rather than bringing in singers from other places. The music by the Omaha Symphony was beautiful. At times, I just wanted to shut my eyes and drink in the sounds around me, but was driven to keep up with the opera titles so I could closely follow the story. Omaha is truly lucky to be a city that appreciates the arts. Our Opera and Symphony are brilliant!!!"

Omaha Community Playhouse

★★★★☆ 4.3 (29)

"The Play That Goes Wrong...was great...Props to the Props crew! It was funny and entertaining...the Omaha playhouse is one of my favorite places...everyone seemed to be having g so much fun in the play...we were in the 8th row...but every seat there is a good seat ...intermission..they have a bar for drinks and snacks...restrooms everywhere easily accessible...beautiful decor ...lots of parking areas .."

Astro Theater

★★★☆☆ 2.5 (2)

"We saw a seated show for a comedian here. Seating on the floor was somewhat uncomfortable, being it was folding chairs. That was the bad part.The good parts outweigh. The acoustics were fine. The view from the floor was good. No weird smells, either, which can happen when a floor is also used for standing audiences.The snacks and drinks were the usual overpriced, which is to be expected these days. Still, they had a selection, and I got a beer I liked.The staff was friendly and helpful. Always good in a mob situation. Parking nearby was $5, which was good.Will return."

Smitty's Performing Arts Center

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"My kids joined Smitty's a year ago from another local studio and they have grown immensely in just a short time. The training is top notch, and I love the positive environment the teachers and owner provides!"

School of Rock

★★★★★ 5 (4)

"My son really enjoys the instructors and the private lesson, then group time format. He has really blossomed as a musician. I've seen him improve much quicker than when he took private lessons at a guitar center."

The Backline Comedy Theatre

★★★★★ 4.5 (24) • $

"The Backline is a fantastic place to dive into all-tings improv comedy. Not only do they offer five levels of improv classes (i.e. beginner to expert), they also host several shows a week, most of which are either free or just $5 to attend.I'm happy to see that Backline's move to downtown from their DIY space in Dundee has been successful so far. The new theater space is small and intimate -- basically a few dozen chairs surrounding a little black stage and backdrop. No, there aren't many bells and whistles, rather it's a place to showcase the hilarious on-the-spot creativity of a talented group of Omahans.But that's not to say everyone who performs here is local -- nay there are many notable improvisers and improv groups who continuously pass through here for workshops and shows, the most notable of which is the Omaha Improv Festival, an annual event set May 28-June 1 2014.And don't worry. They also sell beer."

Lied Center For Performing Arts

★★★★☆ 4.1 (8)

"What a wonderful gem in the middle of the Heartland. As a native New Yorker, I am so pleased to find a theater of this caliber that attracts world, renowned performers.The theater offers easy access, super comfortable seating, with extra legroom, that you don't find in older theaters. The building offers the added bonus of amazing acoustics and a very large stage Last year we had the privilege of seeing the Alvin Ailey dance theater and this time we were in town to hear one of the greatest pianist of our times, Yunchan Lim (the youngest gold medalist in the Van Cliburn piano competition). The pricing of tickets is unbelievably affordable at this venue. The very good seats we had were approximately $50 each and I noticed that this young man playing in Carnegie Hall in two weeks the tickets were over $500 each. While we bought ours with a seasonal package, individual tickets are readily available.Check out the Lied performing arts center for it excellent shows in an excellent venue."

Orpheum Theater

★★★★☆ 4.3 (28)

"Absolutely gorgeous theatre ...beautiful decor...bars located in several areas upstairs and near our seats on the main floor (orchestra middle) they sold a variety of packaged snacks and several souvenir items...it was very well organized with many ushers to assist you and to pass out programs..."

Haymarket atre

★★★☆☆ 3 (1)

"This is one of those places you could walk by many times and not realize it's there (probably because it's up on the second floor of the building). But what do I know, living in Omaha there's not even a chance I'd have walked by here had I not been wandering around this building for work. Talking to some of the Haymarket staff during my wanderings, I learned that Hamlet was coming in February. Being a bit of a Shakespeare fan I planned a weekend trip for Bill and I down to Lincoln. Seats were cheap ($15/p) which is a great value for the entertainment we received. They have a small snack bar with adult beverages, which you can take into the theater. Seating is all open, and it wasn't too crowded - even on a Saturday night. This is what I'd call a casual type of theater. Interesting thing, we were some of the older crowd here also. But anyway, a good time was had."

Community Players

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"The finest live theater in southeast Nebraska! The talent on the stage as well as behind the scenes continue to spectacularly entertain audiences show after show. The children's programs are ever growing as with CP's main stage programming. I've participated as an actor, a board member, and a First Nighter. You don't need to leave Beatrice for great entertainment."

Pinewood Bowl Theater

★★★★☆ 4 (22) • $$

"I went here for the first time to see Tenacious D last month and it was an awesome show. The venue was great.This venue was really cool. The amphitheater style is always appealing to me. I had front row tickets but wish it was a tad closer to the performers since the actual stage where they played was about 20 feet back.Parking itself was okay. I wasn't a fan of having to pay but I understand a lot of venues or like that; I'm just not used to it. After getting back to my car after the show and trying to leave was kind of a nightmare. I have no idea how they could improve that, but it needs to be looked at.This is a great place to see a concert and I recommend it!"

Opera Omaha's Elixir of Love

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"The perfect love story for Valentine's Day! Almost a Romeo and Juliet type of story, but without the death and sadness. Tristan and Isolde is what this is based on, but set in a 1980s high schiol. It's in Italian with soaring orchestral music, so a little cognitive dissonance there. But the soprano was spectacular. I would love it just for her performance. Very nice, and the Orpheum Theater is splendid. NOT handicapped accessible, though. So it was difficult for me with my walker."