The Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film with the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts announces the relaunch of the Nebraska Repertory Theatre. The state’s only regional professional theatre will offer a five-production season beginning September 30, 2017.
Tickets are available now through the Lied Center Ticket Office at 301 North 12th Street, (402) 472-4747 or (800) 432-3231 Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., or online at http://www.liedcenter.org. A five-show season ticket is $120 and $60 for students and members of OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute).
The Nebraska Repertory Theatre, affiliated with the professional Actors’ Equity Association, has been on hiatus since 2014. A new collaboration between the Nebraska Repertory Theatre and the Lied Center for Performing Arts, and a merger of the Rep and University Theatre will begin this fall. The Nebraska Rep, over a nine-month season during the academic year, will further expand opportunities for audiences and students to engage with professional artists.
The first show of the season is ABIGAIL/1702 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, directed by the Nebraska Rep’s new artistic director, Andy Park. Ten years after The Crucible’s infamous seductress, Abigail Williams, danced with the devil in Salem, darkness returns. As she cares for a young sailor on the brink of death, a mysterious stranger from Abigail’s past catches up with her, sending her on one final, suspense-filled quest for redemption. Performances will be in the Lied Center’s Johnny Carson Theater.
September 30 | 7:30 PM
October 1 | 2:00 PM
October 4 | 7:30 PM
October 5 | 7:30 PM
October 6 | 7:30 PM
October 8 | 2:00 PM
October 11 | 7:30 PM
October 12 | 7:30 PM
October 13 | 7:30 PM
October 15 | 2:00 PM
Individual tickets are $30, $15 for students and OLLI members.
Show two is THE SERPENT by Jean-Claude van Itallie directed by Wesley Broulik. This brilliant and groundbreaking tour de force in contemporary improvisational theatre explores the Book of Genesis, and relates it to our modern experience with an eloquence and power which had earned it recognition as a milestone of American drama. Most of the work is choreographed movement, pantomime, human sounds and music made by bells, horns, whistles, tambourines and other hand-held instruments. Performances will be in the Temple Building.
November 3 | 7:30 PM
November 5 | 2:00 PM
November 10 | 7:30 PM
November 11 | 7:30 PM
November 12 | 2:00 PM
November 16 | 7:30 PM
November 17 | 7:30 PM
November 18 | 7:30 PM
November 19 | 2:00 PM
Individual tickets are $24, $12 for students and OLLI members.
Show three is Nebraska Rep’s annual holiday celebration HOLIDAY CABARET conceived and directed by Andy Park. Audiences will be treated to holiday standards performed by favorite past Rep performers, emerging artists and surprise guests. To headline this year’s Cabaret, the Rep welcomes Chicago’s premiere, sweet-singing female trio, The Lakeshore Dolls. HOLIDAY CABARET will get everyone in the holiday spirit with this toe-tapping, uplifting night of song, good cheer and revelry. Performances will be in the Temple Building.
December 13 | 7:30 PM
December 14 | 7:30 PM
December 15 | 7:30 PM
December 16 | 7:30 PM
December 17 | 2:00 PM
Individual tickets are $30, $15 for students and OLLI members.
Show four, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE DEATH STAR, comes from local playwright Curt Bright with music by Scott Lamps. May the farce be with you! Favorite Star Wars heroes are in a musical parody crooning and tripping the light (sabers) fantastic. This non-stop family fun is sure to delight the young and young at heart. Sith happens! Performances are in the Lied Center’s Johnny Carson Theater.
March 2 | 7:30 PM
March 3 | 7:30 PM
March 4 | 2:00 PM
March 7 | 7:30 PM
March 8 | 7:30 PM
March 9 | 7:30 PM
March 10 | 7:30 PM
March 11 | 2:00 PM
March 14 | 7:30 PM
March 15 | 7:30 PM
March 16 | 7:30 PM
Individual tickets are $34, $17 for students and OLLI members.
Show five is LORD OF THE FLIES adapted by Nigel Williams, directed by Andy Park. William Golding’s 20th century classic LORD OF THE FLIES explodes onto the stage in a fascinating production that integrates percussion, ritual and fire. When a school group survives a catastrophic plane crash, what starts as an island adventure quickly descends into a violent struggle for survival. Performances are in the Temple Building.
April 13 | 7:30 PM
April 14 | 7:30 PM
April 15 | 2:00 PM
April 18 | 7:30 PM
April 19 | 7:30 PM
April 20 | 7:30 PM
April 21 | 7:30 PM
April 22 | 2:00 PM
Individual tickets are $30, $15 for students and OLLI members
Nebraska Repertory Theatre is on the verge of reopening its doors after a three-year reorganization and strategic planning effort which has developed a bold, new direction that will expand the theatre’s reach and serve the community in exciting new ways.
After a national search, Park was hired as Nebraska Rep’s new Artistic Director. Park brings more than 20 years of artistic direction experience to the theatre, and is leading an effort to rebrand the theater to actively engage the next generation of theatregoers. Nebraska Rep will take the biggest step since its founding in 1968 by officially relaunching as a full, year-round professional theatre.
In addition to bringing incredible talent and production values to the region, Nebraska Rep will aggressively work to provide local high school and university students with opportunities to experience professional theatre as audience members. Additionally, students and local theater artists will have access to guest talent including opportunities to network with professionals in the field, classes designed to help students hone their craft and the opportunity to participate in the context of a professional theater producing shows at the highest level.