Platte River Bard Podcast

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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BVT's 57th Season has arrived!  And if you haven't ever heard of Brownville Village Theatre before you are in for a treat.  And if you have heard of them, you're still in for a treat!  BVT is always a-buzz with activity and rightfully so.  They produce five full shows during the Summer.  Beginning in July you can see all five in one weekend if you want to, or pace yourself and see the two June productions and have July and the first part of August to see the other three.

We met with Co-Directors, Rachel Curtiss, and Mitch Bean, and then spoke to three of their Cast Members:  Bella Walker (also Intimacy Coordinator, Assistant Director), Jack Danter and Rachel Grossman.  All of the cast members get experience doing all things behind the scenes as well as their roles on stage.  It takes the whole crew to make BVT work and they are having fun! 

Come join the conversation, hear the sewing machines and rehearsal buzz in the background as you meet the Creatives at Brownville Village Theatre, Summer 2024!

BROWNVILLE VILLAGE THEATRE CONTACT INFO:

Website: http://www.brownvillevillagetheatre.com/home.html 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BVT1967/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bvt1967 

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

Brownville Village Theatre, 222 Water Street, Brownville, NE

402.825.4121

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We talk with a few of the young actors in this musical, Shemar "Mar" Toussaint, McKenna Cottone, and Nick Knipe.   They are the young stars of "Heathers The Muscial" at SNAP! Productions which opens June 7th.  Productions will run until June 23rd with one Industry Night (pay what you can) on June 17th. 

Our guests are having a blast and working hard at their roles in this play.  For those who haven't heard, "Heathers, The Musical" has been a very popular play these days and was the inspiration for the movie "Mean GIrls."  The lyrics and book was written by Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy, and has been a hit since 2014.  It hits on such subjects as bullying, school violence and some other dark humor and is packed full of beloved songs, and  embraces the 80's nostalgic era.

Come see this energetic and influential play, it opens June 7th at SNAP! Productions Ghost Light Theatre!

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/

Today on our podcast, we're thrilled to have the accomplished and talented Chris Scott, Director of "Barefoot in the Park" at Bellevue Little Theatre, joining us for a chat about this timeless Neil Simon classic play.

"Barefoot in the Park" is a Neil Simon masterpiece known for its perfect blend of comedy and heartfelt moments. Chris Scott talks with us about some of the behind-the-scenes details in putting this production together, as well as his team of talented creatives.  

Tune in to our podcast for an insightful discussion about "Barefoot in the Park" and Neil Simon's endearing play. 

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