Platte River Bard Podcast

We spoke with Director and Intimacy Director/Choreographer, Addie Barnhart, MFA about the production she is Directing at Omaha Community Playhouse, "Dial M for Murder." 

This is a new adaptation of Frederick Knott's masterpiece of suspense and 1965 Alfred Hitchcock film and was adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher.  Hatcher's adaptation premiered in July 2022 so this is a fresh take on this classic thriller!

Hear all about how Addie has put this suspenseful thriller together, with her directing and intimacy coordination and learn more about this dark suspenseful play!  It will have you guessing who is the murderer until the very last moment!

Show Dates:  April 17 - May 10

For Tickets:  www.omahaplayhouse.com

Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass Street, Omaha, NE

Pre-Show Discussion: April 23rd

Audio Described Performance: April 25

Relaxed Performance: May 5

Original Music by Kyle Thomas

Join us for a conversation with Executive Artistic Director, Lara Marsh and Board President, Nic Jansen!  We attended the Omaha Fringe Fest Lottery Drawing event, "Coffee and Connections" on March 14th at Blackstone Theater and spoke to some of the winners, alternates and sat down with both Lara and Nic.  Now that the line-up is chosen, the Omaha Fringe Button Contest has begun, as well as applications for technical positions (Stage manager, Lighting Designer/Board Operator, Box Office manager and Sound Board Operators.  Applications for both the Button Contest and Technical positions will close on April 18th.  Omaha Fringe Festival is always looking for volunteers too, so check out their website to sign up!

The theme for this years' festival was also announced and is "Proud to be US"

We also spoke with these Fringe Fest Lottery Winners and Alternate Winners!  

There's so much exciting art being made for the 2026 Omaha Fringe Festival!  Get your tickets now!

Tickets and Website: https://omahafringe.org

Fringe Festival Dates: August 6-9, 2026 at UNO, Blackstone and Shelterbelt Theatre

A one-man show, starring our own Chris Berger, and Directed by Gordon Cantiello at Performing Artists Repertory Theatre (PART), you'll want to come see this Broadway play "Every Brilliant Thing."  March 20th through the 29th.  Come create this show along with them in this interactive play!

The play, “Every Brilliant Thing” by  Duncan Macmillan  with Jonny Donahoe, opens with a mother’s suicide attempt and her seven-year-old’s subsequent search to understand it and help lift her depression by documenting the joys all around them. Starting with the basics, like ice cream and the color yellow, the list is maintained throughout their lifetime and highlights the narrator’s ever-changing view of what is beautiful about the world as they reach adulthood.

For Tickets: Call 402-706-0778.

Website: http://www.performingartistsrepertorytheatre.org/ 

We visited the Bellevue Little Theatre during their rehearsal for "Fiddler on the Roof" and spoke with Stage Director, Laureen Pickle; Music Director, Meg Latta; and the Actor who is playing Tevye, Dave Campbell to talk about this fun musical production! 

With a cast of 32 people, this production will be sure to fill this little theatre with music and the range of emotions.  Laureen Pickle has taken great care to make this production as authentic and exact as possible, and you'll want to hear all about it!

Fiddler on the Roof is a classic 1964 Broadway musical and 1971 film

Tickets and Website: blt.simpletix.com

Dates: Runs weekends March 13-29, 2026

Address: 203 W. Mission Ave, Bellevue, NE

We spoke to Director and Interim Artistic Director, Jamie Bullins and Actors Noelle Dominique Rodriguez and Harper LaRue Allen about their show "The Rocket Men" written by award winning playwright, Crystal Skillman.  The show opens March 12th at the Carson Theater at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. 

This show is presented by seven women who play the role of seven former male Nazi scientists who immigrated to the US during World War 2 and were the backbone of the NASA program.  These scientists were key in the moon landing and "Operation Paperclip."

There is a lot to unpack in this play based on a true story, and you'll want to go see it! 

Show Dates: March 12-22, 2026

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

Show Location: Carson Theatre at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln, NE

We spoke with three talented actors in Voices in Alliance Omaha's (VIA Omaha) production of "Skin Tight" written by Joshua Harmon. All of the actors we spoke to, Diana Watson, Nathan Wilson, and Bill Huston are excited about the story that this play tells and felt so strongly about this script that they made arrangements in their lives to be a part of it. 

"Skintight" begins when a daughter visits her fashion-designer father during her own personal crisis, only to also meet his younger partner who is the same age as her son.  This play explores adult issues such as attraction, love, the pain of aging and wanting to remain youthful, and the dynamics of a Jewish family.  You won't want to miss this play, and the talented actors who are working to put this together!

"Skintight" premiered Off-Broadway in 2018 and won the Edgerton Foundation New Play Award in 2017.

Dates:  March 4-21 at the Shelterbelt Theatre

Website and Tickets: https://viaomaha.org

We spoke to Director, Jeannie Lorimor and Assistant Director Scott Hite about Mills Masquers Theater's production of "Between the Lines."  This is a large musical that is sure to please with catchy music, romance, a new school, and the world of books and fantasy. Join Mills Masquers for this story of a teenager who struggles to fit into a new school while meeting her Prince!

Between the Lines is a play based on a book of the same name, written by Jodi Picoult, with music and lyrics written by Elyssa Samsel adn kate Anderson, and book by Timothy Allen McDonald.  It Premiered at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre on September 15, 2017, and in 2022 went Off-Broadway at the Tony Kiser Theatre (originally scheduled in 2021 and delayed twice due to the pandemic).

Play Run:  February 27 - March 8th, 2026

Tickets and Website:  https://millsmasquers.com/

Mills Masquers, 56543 221st Street, Glenwood, IA  712-527-3600

We spoke to Camille Metoyer Moten, OEAA Lifetime Achievement Award Winner!  Camille is a humble and faceted artist.  She has been a dancer and actor, and is a singing musical artist who has released three albums, as well as a writer and a painter!   She is best known for her cabaret singing and her many performances of her show, often at the Omaha Community Playhouse. We talk with her about her life here in Omaha, her faith, and the many performances she has done - and continues to do!

Congratulations, Camille, on yet another OEAA award! Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for the Omaha Performing Arts Community.

For information about Camille, check her social media, or her website: https://musicbycamille.com/. 

Join us as we talk with Fred Ohles (President Emeritus, Nebraska Wesleyan University) about his new and as-yet-unproduced play “Drawn Back”. We talk with Fred about his current work as well as some of his previous works and how he got into play-writing after his retirement from Nebraska Wesleylan. His new play, “Drawn Back” has a historical correlation with the famous criminals, Bonny & Clyde! We talk about that and so much more in a very nice, longer than usual conversation with Lincoln playwright Fred Ohles!

Fred Ohles Contact Information and Bio The New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/82824/fred-ohles

Chris Berger (who plays Angel Michael) sat down for an enjoyable conversation with Gordon Cantiello, Director and CEO-President of Performing Artists Repertory Theatre (PART), as well as his two castmates, Lucas Jackson (as God), and JJ Davis (as Angel Gabriel) for a discussion about their upcoming production "An Act of God."  

"An Act of God" by David Javerbaum, opens February 13th - 22nd at PART Theatre.  David Javerbaum is a 13 time Emmy award winner who is known for his work on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.  The play is adapted from Mr. Javerbaum's book, "The Last Testament: A Memoir by God."

This play is described as being "divinely outrageous" and is a comedy and also an introspective piece that address  questions about religion, morality, and our shared humanity.  It will be sure to both entertain you and tear at your heartstrings.  Tickets are limited so you'll want to get them now!

Tickets and Website:  http://www.performingartistsrepertorytheatre.org

Phone: 402-706-0776

3636 California Street (Duchesne Academy Campus) Omaha, NE