Platte River Bard Podcast

We are happy once again to get the scoop on the upcoming Omaha Fringe Festival 2023 which will be held August 10-13th, 2023! We talked with Tamar Neumann, Executive Director and Jason Levering, Artistic Director of the Omaha Fringe Festival.  

Be sure to check out the Fringe participants appearance at the August 5th Omaha Farmer's Market, and also on August 7th, the Omaha Fringe Festival Preview Party!  At the Preview Party, you'll get to see the first 2 minutes of each of the performances at Fringe!

The Festival will be held at three places this year:  UNO Theatre, Benson Theatre and Blackstone Theater, home of Big Canvas Comedy.

Don't miss the Omaha Fringe Fest!  Tickets are available now at: https://omahafringe.square.site/product/all-fringe-pass/142 

They also need volunteers!

OMAHA FRINGE FESTIVAL CONTACT INFO:

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

To Donate and 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

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Find The Platte River Bard on social media:

Website:  www.platteriverbard.com

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

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/platteriverbard

Brownville Village Theatre in Brownville, Nebraska is abuzz again, and they are bringing us 5 fabulous shows this summer!  Not only are they having their 56th season, they will also have a special lawn party on July 7th for the World Premiere of Death at Downton.  You can dress up in your favorite 1920's garb, and meet the writer of Death and Downton, Randall David Cook!   So don't miss the Premiere Party!

We talked to Co-Artistic Directors, Mitch Bean and Rachel Curtiss, as well as two of their company members, Lizzy Pegler and Bella Walker.  They discuss all 5 of the shows this summer:  The Hello Girls, Deliver Us From Mama, It Came From Mars, The Fox and the Fairway, and last but not least:  Death at Downton, An Aristocratic Upstairs-Downstairs Murder-Mystery Parody, Because Longer Titles Are A Certain Indicator of High Quality and Refined Taste written by Randall David Cook.  

Lizzy Pegler:  This season, Lizzy is the theatre’s associate technical director and is costume designing The Hello Girls, It Came From Mars, and Death at Downton!

Bella Walker:  Bella is the costume supervisor & costume designer for The Fox on the Fairway, as well as the intimacy coordinator for all five of our shows! She can be seen onstage as Norleen Sprunt in Deliver Us From Mama!, Dolores Breckinridge in It Came From Mars, and Violetta Squally/Mrs. Paditmore in Death at Downton!.

Rachel Curtiss, co - Artistic Director:  Rachel is directing The Hello Girls & Death at Downton!, and can be seen onstage as Julia Crane in It Came From Mars.

Mitch Bean co-Artistic Director:  Mitch is directing It Came From Mars & The Fox on the Fairway, set designing Death at Downton! & The Fox on the Fairway, and will be appearing onstage as Lt. Ernest Wessen and Others in The Hello Girls & Walker Sprunt in Deliver Us From Mama!

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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Join us for a very fun and totally off-the-rails conversation with one of our favorite Creatives! Jamie Bullins, who is a master of all theatre related trades, heads up the Angels Theatre Company's Playwriting Collective and is gearing up for their 8th Annual First Flight Festival.  The First Flight Festival will feature 12 locally written plays, monologues and even a musical which have been through a creative development process with Angels Theatre Co.

Don't miss Auditions for First Flight, which are coming up soon:  May 19th (6:30pm-9pm)  and 20th (10am-4pm) at the Unitarian Church of Lincoln (6300 A Street) to be a part of these many works! 

The First Flight Play Festival will be held at the UNL Studio Theatre on the 2nd floor of the Temple Building at 12th and R Street on July 13th-16th and July 20th-23rd. 

I also just want to say that if you haven't heard Chris (or Sheri) laugh hysterically before, you will hear it on this podcast! 

Jamie Bullins has an MFA in theatrical design and scenography from the University of North Carolina/Greensboro and came to Nebraska from Kennesaw State University where was an Associate Professor for 17 years.  He has also held positions at Auburn University and the University of Florida.  He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Costume Design at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film. He has a plethora of Director credits, and just this year has Directed plays at Lincoln Community Playhouse, Doane State College as well as Costume Design for Wesleyan University and Scene Design at Angels. Jamie also works with the students at UNL for Theatrix, a student-run theatre. He is also a frequent writer - along with Chris and Sheri - for Appearing Locally.

For Ticket Information:  https://angelscompany.org/ 

Or call the box office at 402-472-4747.

ANGELS THEATRE COMPANY:

Website:  https://angelscompany.org/ 

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

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

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/angelstheatreco

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Artistic Director, Kevin Colbert of the Lofte Community Theatre and Actor, Jennifer Gilg talk with us about their upcoming play, Wit, ("W;t") written by Margaret Edson.  This play won the 1999 Pulitzer Prize, and is a heartfelt play is about a strong and intelligent woman, Vivian Bearing (played by Jennifer Gilg) who realizes she is in the last two hours of her life due to her battle with ovarian cancer.  But don't let the premise scare you away!  This play is full of heart and humor as Vivian explores what makes life worth living, what achievements look like when faced with the reality of death, and how relationships are such an important part of every humans' story. 

And if the writing and acting of this play isn't already enough, Jennifer Gilg, an accomplished local actor, went "all in."  We talked to her just hours after she had her head shaved for this role and she carried on brilliantly.  She has taken this role on and owned it.  So join us for a great conversation with more talented local Creatives who are bringing everything they have to this endearing play.

Wit opens May 5th at the Lofte Community Theatre and runs until May 14th.

Get your tickets online at https://lofte.org 

LOFTE COMMUNITY THEATRE CONTACT INFO:

Tickets & Website: www.lofte.org

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loftetheatre/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelofte?lang=en

The Lofte Community Theatre is located at 15841 Manley Rd in fashionable Manley, Nebraska.

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The Musical Theatre Senior Showcase will be  April 28th and 29th at 7PM at the Creighton University, Lied Center for Performing Arts. We talked with the four Musical Theatre Seniors who are performing: Bratyon Matuska, Kiley Melean, Evan Peterson, Leticia Taveras.  These students have had a unique experience in college studying for theatre during the pandemic and now they are able to do a production singing and raising money in the process.  These students also raised money to have this performance recorded. 

This production is free to attend.  Donations encouraged for Alpha Psi Omega, Creighton University’s Theatre Honors Program.  

Come support these musical theatre major students for this unique and entertaining program!

CREIGHTON THEATRE

Lied Education Center for the Arts, 24th and Cass Street, Omaha

Tickets:  https://creightonfinearts.universitytickets.com/w/

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CreightonTHR 

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Join us for a listing of what's happening in Eastern Nebraska in theatre.  And we feature the Platte River Art Show being held in Ashland at the Mahoney State Park this weekend, April 28-30th.  We had the opportunity at the last minute to talk to their Event Producer and Photographer, Nia Karmann, so check out the feature that is included in this months' episode!  And, there will be another Platte River Art Show this fall!

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Benson Theatre is bringing us a fresh take on a Shakespearean classic, Twelfth Night, which is an adapted play by Ryan Kathman, MFA. This production will be just one weekend on April 28th, 29th and 30th. And to make the experience of this wonderful production even more unique, Ryan Kathman adapted this play for two actors.  Ryan and Delaney Jackson will be the two versatile actors playing all of the parts in the play.  Both actors will alternate playing the principle and secondary characters in a wide range of styles and voices.

We talk with Moira Mangiameli and Ryan Kathman about how they are bringing this play to life!  And we get to hear a little bit about their theatre experience as well!  

BENSON THEATRE CONACT INFO:

Tickets and Website: https://bensontheatre.org/ 

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

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/BensonTheatre 

6054 Maple Street, Omaha, NE 

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Experience the Renaissance Festival of Nebraska this season, May 6 & 7, and 13 & 14th at the Bellevue Berry Farm.  We talk with Producer Howard Coffin.  Howard gives us an entertaining "How To" of attending Ren Fair. The Renaissance Festival of Nebraska (also known as RenFest Nebraska) is not just a place where you can buy great things and great food, it has an entire infrastructure of groups of people, there to give you a great experience of fun.  We explore some of those in this podcast, and give you some great tips!

RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL OF NEBRASKA CONTACT INFO:

Website: https://renfestnebraska.com/ 

Facebook: https://facebook.com/RenFestNE 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/renfestnebraska 

11001 S 48th St, Papillion NE 68133.

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We are basking in the after-glow of The Marriage of Figaro, and the best part is there's even more opera-goodness coming in Opera Omaha's 2023-24 Season!  We spoke with Lauren Medici, Director of Engagement Programs and Kurt Howard, Producing Director at Opera Omaha.  We have the line up of everything they have in store for us, so don't miss this amazing behind-the-scenes chat with Kurt and Lauren. 

Their next event is Poetry & Music at the Benson Theatre on May 7th from 1PM to 3PM. 

And in June, Opera to Go will have outdoor concerts in in three neighborhoods: 

• June 9th at Elkhorn Days

And, Opera Omaha's Annual Opera Outdoors will be September 8th.  Opera Outdoors is a family-friendly outdoor concert featuring a sampling of opera's greatest hits and previews of Opera Omaha's upcoming season. 

And then in October, their 2023-24 Season begins - so be sure to listen in to the operas they will be bringing to Omaha for us to enjoy. And don't forget their free Opera in Conversation Events and After the Curtain events to discuss the season operas!

OPERA OMAHA CONTACT INFO:

For Tickets:  ticketomaha.com

Website: 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

Francesco Maria Plave - La Traviata Act 1a courtesy of https://musopen.org.  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0 License.

We talk with Seth Fox, Curator and Laura Kelly, Storyteller of Musing: A Storytelling Series at the Bluebarn Theatre on April 19th. The Storytelling Series has been a fantastic success and we always love to hear about the process of pitching an idea and creating a personal story into an interesting and meaningful piece.

This event is free, and all seats have been reserved, however, there may be some seats remaining.  Fortunately, this Storytelling Series is available on the Bluebarn's You Tube Channe, so check it out!  

BLUEBARN CONTACT INFO:

Website: http://bluebarn.org/musing/ 

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

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

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@bluebarntheatre 

Bluebarn Theatre: 1106 S. 10th St. (10th and Pacific) Omaha, NE

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