Platte River Bard Podcast

Find out why you won't want to miss "American Psycho The Musical" at SNAP! Productions at Ghost Light Theatre.  This Musical opens September 20th and runs until Septemeber 29th.   We talk with Stage Manager, Christina Belle; Set Builder and Designer, Doug Hartshorn; and actor and comedian who is also new to Nebraska, Geoffrey Eggleston.  

Don't miss this fun musical, filled with dancing, singing, and entertaining dialogue with a little bit of dark humor!

Also, don't forget, SNAP! Productions at the Ghost LIght Theatre has their Industry Night, Monday, September 23rd, which is Pay-What-You-Can! 

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SNAP! PRODUCTIONS

Snap Productions at Ghost Light Theatre is located at 2221 Thurston Circle, Bellevue, Nebraska.

Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.snapproductions.com

Talk about a great time of year to see The Mel Brooks Adult Young Frankenstein!   

Bellevue Little Theatre is kicking off this sensational fall production with a Costume Party on Friday the 13th (of course!), that ends with wine and cheese that will leave you with an electrically charged great time. 

We had a lively discussion with the Director of this production, Todd Uhrmacher, and we discuss the logistics of this complex production for a smaller theatre.  The cast is packed full of talent, singers, costumes, tapdancers - the works - and you'll be certain to have an enjoyable experience. 

Come join the monster mash of fun that is alive at the Bellevue LIttle Theatre, September 13th through the 29th!

Note:  this production is the "adult version" (like the movie) of Young Frankenstein. 

BELLEVUE LITTLE THEATRE CONTACT INFO:

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bellevuelittletheatre/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellevuelittletheatre/ 

203 Mission Avenue, Bellevue, Nebraska 

402.291.1554

We have a short chat with the Director and cast of VIA Omaha's Production of "Plot Points in Our Sexual Development" that opens August 15-25th.  Meredith Melville, MFA, came to Nebraska as a visiting Director from Texas to direct this play.  The play only has two cast members, which are Asia Nared and Arson Starkloff-Crane who have created sparks on-stage. 

"Plot Points in Our Sexual Development" was written by Miranda Rose Hall and it premiered off-Broadway in 2018.  This play explores a new couple who decide to reveal their sexual histories to each other, and the truth might just jeopardize their relationship. 

For Tickets and Information Go To: https://www.viaomaha.org/

This play will be presented at the Flixx Show Bar, 1019 South 10th Street Omaha, NE 68108

It's Directors Roundtable in Lincoln!

We talk with Timothy W. Scholl, Executive Artistic Director of Angels Theatre Company, Morrie Enders with the Lincoln Community Playhouse, and Jamie Bullins, who is a longtime Director, Associate Professor of Theatre at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at UNL, and also part of the Staff of the Angels Theatre Company's Playwriting Collective.  We love the chemistry and commodorie of these three Directors.  They all come from different perspectives, and the theatres in which they work offer our arts community different types of plays each year.

Join us for this fun conversation as we enjoy the conversation of Directing Theatre! 

The Mills Masquers Summer Musical is here!  Opening August 2nd and running until August 11th, there will be much harmonizing, dancing and comedy! We talked with Don Torbett, Music Director; Adam Clayton, Associate Director; Don Vinkenberg, Choreographer; and Connor Edick, who is the Actor who plays Spongebob Squarepants. 

This is a musical for everyone, kids and adults alike!  You won't want to miss this production that will promise singing and movement to a live musical accompaniment.  Take a relaxing drive to this small town theatre and enjoy a show with a hearty Glenwood welcome! 

For tickets to go www.millsmasquers.com.  You can also make reservations on their website. 

CONTACT INFO:

Tickets and Website:  www.millsmasquers.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/54189039275/user/100084652820874

Address:  56542 221st, Glenwood, IA 51534

We are happy once again to discuss the Omaha Fringe Festival 2024 ! This will be the 5th year of the festival and Omaha is so lucky to have one. If you aren't familiar with the history of the Fringe Festival, it began as a festival in Edinburgh Scotland in 1947. Since then it has expanded to over 100 cities all over the world.

There will be a Kickoff Party on August 7th, so don't miss that!  Plus the festival begins August 8th and runs through the 11th.  To get more information, see their website omahafringe.org!

If you want to hear about a specific production, this episode has chapter marks so you can navigate through the podcast.

OMAHA FRINGE FESTIVAL CONTACT INFO:

Tickets & Website: https://omahafringe.square.site/ 

To Donate & Support:  https://checkout.square.site/buy/WYCOWEZP5POWMYDMCLU2UOHW

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/omahafringefest/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omahafringefestival/

Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/omahafringefestival/

#FirstOmahaFringe #OmahaFringe

Clay Farris Naff is a recently accomplished playwright who is debuting his new play The Cleanup Lady.   Clay is an author, and has been an award winning journalist, a correspondent for the United Press International in Tokyo, a freelance reporter for National Public Radio, Newsweek, Huffington Post, Earth Magazine, The Humanist, and Scientific American, just to name a few.  He has been a science-and-religion correspondent for the Metanexus Institute, and the Executive Director of Lincoln Literacy.

He is a Nebraska gem, and in the last few years has added Playwright to this long list of achievements.  Last year he debuted part of his first play which you may have heard about or seen Mix and Machinate which addresses the tribalized nature about what we’ve become, all taking place at a local public radio station.  Part of this play debuted last summer at the 2023 First Flight Festival , and the full play went on to be performed at the 2023 Omaha Fringe Festival.   

Clay is now debuting his new play, The Cleanup Lady (When AI Strikes You Need the Cleanup Lady), which is about a company that uses an AI machine to invest in other people's money, except all of the guardrails to ensure the money is being invested with honest investors has been removed. 

The Cleanup Lady will be performed at the 2024 Omaha Fringe Festival August 9-11th at the Benson Theatre,  one of the Omaha Fringe’s four venues. 

There will also be a Preview Performance in Lincoln on August 4th at Eastmont Senior Living Center and open to the public.

Join us for this enjoyable conversation with the talented Clay Farris Naff about his new play.  You won’t want to miss it!

For tickets and information, go to www.cleanuplady.com and for information about the Omaha Fringe Festival, go to omahafringe.org.

CONTACT INFO FOR "THE CLEANUP LADY"

Tickets & Website:  www.cleanuplady.com

CONTACT INFO FOR THE OMAHA FRINGE FESTIVAL:

Tickets & Website:  www.omahafringe.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/omahafringefest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omahafringefestival

We talked with Jay Hayden and Grace Grennan about their upcoming production A Midsummers Nights Dream. Old School Shakespeare is known for their One Rehearsal model as they share Shakespeare in non-traditional locations in a wildly fun way!  Hear all about where they will be so you can catch them.  Omaha is lucky to have a group of seasoned actors who are ready to show you just how fun Shakespeare can be!

Opera Omaha is always a pleasure to visit, and their 2024-2025 season promises more Opera to Go, Opera in Conversation, Opera Outdoors, Poetry in Music and so much more.  Plus they will have three productions in their season, with an additional family friendly opera that we will let Allison Swenson, General Manager and Katrina Thurman, DIrector of Artistic Administration tell you all about what’s in store!

Their season will consist of:  "Don Giovanni",  October 18 & 20.  The Rake's Progress, February 7 and 9, 2025. And "Giulio Cesare" May 1, 2025. 

There will be a separate event for families to enjoy opera called "Fantastik Mr. Fox" June 5-8, 2025.

Remember to get your tickets for the season now, and just for new subscribers you can get three operas for the price of two, which is as low as $38 for the package.

Single tickets go on sale in August. 

Tickets can be purchased at operaomaha.org through Ticket Omaha or call their box office 12-5 Monday through Friday at 402-345-0606.

And don’t miss Opera Outdoors at Midtown Crossing’s Turner Park on September 6th! It’s a free family friendly event!

OPERA OMAHA CONTACT INFO: 

Website & Tickets: www.operaomaha.org 

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/operaomaha/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/operaomaha/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/operaomaha

You Tube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/operaomaha

Opera Omaha, 1850 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 402.346.7372

Don Giovanni K 527-9 is licensed under Creative Commons  through musopen.org. https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

You've probably seen it - either the Table Grace Cafe at 1611-1/2 Farnam Street, or even something online for Table Grace The Musical.  But what are they?  Well, it's both of those things - and yet, so much more!  We sit down with Simone Weber, CEO and Musical Missionary with Table Grace and find out "What is this musical?"  "Why is it at three venues?" "What is the Table Grace Cafe?".  Simone is a talented and kind person who, with her husband Matt, meet people where they are with food and music.

CONTACT INFO FOR TABLE GRACE THE MUSICAL:

TICKETS: 

Website: https://tablegracethemusical.com/

Scottish Rite Performances June 21-22: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/4ffac74c-19dd-4798-8779-159a0d767697

Benson Theatre Performances June 27-29: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36337/production/1193760

Lofte Community Theatre Performances August 8-9: https://www.simpletix.com/e/table-grace-the-musical-tickets-156675

CONTACT INFO FOR TABLE GRACE CAFE

Website: https://tablegracecafe.com/

Address: 1611-1/2 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE

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