The Bard crashed the rehearsals of the Benson Theatre, and had the rewarding opportunity to talk with Kathy Tyree, Jared Cernousek, Kerri Forrester, and Moira Mangiameli!  Their show "American Son" opens Thursday, August 18th and will run from the 18th-21st and the 27th-29th.  Join us for some really deep conversations about race and perspective in this show, which was written by Christopher Demos-Brown.  We were so honored to talk with Director, and Omaha's Queen of Soul, Kathy Tyree;  the talented classical singer and now Actor, Kerri Forrester; the recent UNO Graduate of Theatre and Directing, Jared Cernousek, and the Benson Theatre's Executive Assistant, Moira Mangiameli.  Moira tells us about the new Benson Theatre and it's creation, orchestrated by Executive and Founding Director, Amy Ryan. 

American Son made its world premiere at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, MA in June 2016. The play won the 2016 Laurents/Hatcher Award for Best New Play by an Emerging Playwright.  It then premiered on Broadway in 2018, and ran until 2019.   It was later adapted as a Netflix original movie which was nominated for an Emmy in 2020.  You may have heard us speak about Kenny Leon on our podcast before when talking about August Wilson's plays, and it’s important to note that  Kenny Leon directed both the Broadway play and the Film. 

Join us for a timely, heavy, yet fun interview about this play and meet the makers of this play at the new Benson Theatre!

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BENSON THEATRE CONACT INFO:

Website and Tickets: 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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HOW TO LISTEN TO THE PLATTE RIVER BARD PODCAST

Join us as we talk with Tamar Neumann, Executive Director of the Omaha Fringe Festival, Lara Marsh, Managing Director, and Jason Levering, Artistic Director.  The Omaha Fringe will again be held at UNO Weber Fine Arts and Big Canvas in Omaha! We discuss all of the events, so you won't want to miss it!

The Performances you won't want to miss are: 

• Chrysalis Studio Productions presents Dance of the Seven Veils

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Website and to get Tickets: 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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Meet Mitch Bean and Rachel Curtiss, Artistic Directors at the Brownville Village Theatre in Brownville, Nebraska.  This little theatre is brimming with high energy, company members, and full-on theatre!  About a dozen Company Members make this jam packed Summer Season of five shows a success.  If you are a performer, this model is fully immersive as you learn not just lines, but learn all the technical aspects of theatre.  If you are a theatre-lover, you will love quality theatre with a small town charm.  We also talk with two Company Members, Bella Walker and Ben Salazar about their experience in Brownville as well.  It's a great time to take a drive down to Brownville and experience it for yourself!

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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Factoids are fun!  And we certainly learned quite a few about Stephen Santa and all of the productions the upcoming Omaha Community Playhouse's 2022-2023 Season!  This was a great chance to get to know Mr. Santa, who comes to us from Pittsburg.  His extensive experience in theatre, directing, and also in ways to make theatre available to everyone, along with his passion for theatre, is a perfect match for OCP.  Find about it all here on our podcast!   

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Morrie Enders, Executive Director of the Lincoln Community Playhouse is a burst of refreshing energy!  He talks about their new season, Season 77 called "Stepping in to Season 77" !  Mr. Enders is an introspective and easy to talk with, and we also talk about how LCP handled the height of the pandemic and how the theatre is planning the future.  So listen in!  You won't want to miss it!

LINCOLN COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE CONTACT INFO: 

Website: https://www.lincolnplayhouse.com/ 

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LNKPlayhouse

You Tube Season 77 Video and LCP Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1kF4eyakUU&t=1s 

2500 S 56th Street, Lincoln NE

PH: 402-489-7529

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It's going to be a busy week in theatre!  We talk with Kevin Lawler, Artistic and Administrative Coordinator of the Great Plains Theatre Commons New Play Conference, which begins Sunday, May 30th and runs every day until June 4th, 2022.  The Conference will be held at Mid Town Crossing and the Fort Dodge Metro Community College campus.  

The Conference will have workshops as well as the showing of new plays written by Playwrights from all over the globe.  The people involved are too many to list, but we do talk through the 14 plays being done, who has written them and where each Playwright is from, so you won't want to miss this podcast and this Conference!  The Conference is free, but they ask that your RSVP on the website:  https://www.gptcplays.com/ but find out more here!

And also - don't miss In The Upper Room June 1st through the 3rd at 7:30PM at the Lied Education Center for the Arts at Creighton University.  This is a production written by local Playwright Beaufield Berry, and is being done in partnership with Great Plains Theatre Commons and Creighton University and the Union for Contemporary Arts! 

GREAT PLAINS THEATRE COMMONS CONTACT INFO:

Website:  https://www.gptcplays.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/GreatPlainsTheatreConference/photos/?ref=page_internal

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/gptcnebraska 

Office:  2707 North 48th Street, Omaha, NE 68104

Ph: 402-370-8259

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Plays: 

No Nothing by T. Adamson

Stains by Sarah Cho

Neighbor Jane by Tina Esper

In The Canyon by Daniel Hurewitz

Body + Blood by Shannon TL Kearns

The Yellow Wallpaper 2.0 - 2020 by Jennifer Maisel

Culture Shock by Gloria Majule

Deadass by Nia Akilah Robinson

oh to be pure again by Kira Rockwell

Diaspora! by Phedra Michelle Scott

Greater Illinois by Steven Strafford

Rx Machina by Caity-Shea Violette

Acetone Wishes and Plexiglass Dreams by Stephanie Kyung Sun Walters

Coco Queens by LaDarrion Williams

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Opening TONIGHT, May 13, 2022, "The 39 Steps" opens at the Chanticleer Community Theatre.  We talk with the Director, Roxanne Wach, and her muliti-talented and multi-character cast:  Will Muller, Roz Parr, Brennan Thomas, and Marcus Benzel.  This small cast packs a lot of fun and suspense in this mix of a Hitchcok masterpiece with a dash of Monty Python.  We were able to see the preview last night of this wonderful show and talk with these wonderful Creatives! Don't miss this wonderful podcast and this action-packed and funny show.  It's only two weekends:  May 13th-15th and 20th-22nd. 

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**This performance is dedicated to Cheri Hultman Sanwick, who worked for many years for the Isben Costume Gallery, and with Chanticleer, including the 39 Steps.**

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CHANTICLEER CONTACT INFORMATION: 

Website: https://www.paceartsiowa.org/theater/chanticleer-community-theater

For Tickets:  https://ci.ovationtix.com/35635/production/1067687 

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

Chanticleer Community Theatre / Pace Arts Iowa 1001 S 6th Street, Council Bluffs, IA

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We had a fun conversation with Derek Kowal, Director, Shelly Gushard, Musical Director and Lisa Scheve, Choreographer for the 56 Annual Melodrama by the Florentine Players in Florence!  And because the weather is nice, we even were able to podcast outside.  Don't miss learning about the show - it will even have a parade!

The Melodrama "I Saw Her Standing There" or "The Show Must Go On" will run May 5, 6, 7 & 12, 13, 14th at 7:30PM.  And in full Florentine Players style, there will be drinks and food available.  Satisfy your spring fever with a fun, interactive show with the Florentine Players!

Last but definitely not least, Charles James Adams talks to the Platte River Bard.  From the era that Sheri and Chris grew up in,  it was always a joke that five people make an official party, but in this case, if you add Mr. Adams and his wonderful energy and sense of humor, that makes five, so we were an official party! 

And speaking of party, Mr. Adams plays Simon Stimson, a character that  is a little bit wild in Thornton Wilder's "Our Town".  Mr. Adams is an Actor, Director, and Writer who has toured all over the world with theatre and television. His one-person show, Prattville, opened at the Wells Cultural Center in Lafayette, Indiana.  On-screen, he has worked for Apple Tv Plus, AGBO, and The Asylum.  He has worked for numerous regional theatre companies, notably for Crossroads Repertory Theatre who he toured through Germany and Poland with in 2014.  In 2017 he toured Croatia for the production of Cyrano Debergerac.

It was such a pleasure to meet Charles and he is a riot. So join us for some fun!   We were a little out of control, but it was wonderful fun!

NEBRASKA REPERTORY THEATRE CONTACT INFO:

Website: https://nebraskarep.org/ 

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

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

Box Office phone number 402-472-2567.

301 N 12th St, Lincoln, NE 68508

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Charles James Adams Backstage Bio:  https://www.backstage.com/u/charles-adams/

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Shawn Whitsell is yet another impressive and multi-talented individual in the cast of "Our Town" at the Nebraska Repertory Theatre where he plays the role of Mr. Webb.  We talk with him about his performance company, Destiny Theatre Experience, as well as some of his other acting experience.  He delivers a caring performance as Emily's father in Our Town, and we are fortunate to have been able to meet him and hear his inspiring love of acting!

Get your tickets for the last weekend of Our Town at the Nebraska Repertory Theatre (nebraskarep.com)!

NEBRASKA REPERTORY THEATRE CONTACT INFO:

Website: https://nebraskarep.org/ 

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

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

Box Office phone number 402-472-2567.

301 N 12th St, Lincoln, NE 68508

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Destiny Theatre Experience

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

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/TeamDTE

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