OEA Awards Provide Expected Wins and Surprises

by William Grennan

The OEA Awards for Performing Arts came with some expected recognition for last year’s blockbusters as well as some unexpected surprises for other great productions. With many of the winners working on productions, out of town, or simply unaware they were even nominated, several awards were gathered by the Artistic Directors (or in some cases young cast members) of the worthy shows. With a performance from the...

Theater Opens by Threes in September

by Warren Francke

It helps to have three-day weekends when the three shows already playing metro stages are joined by three more on Sept. 14 and another trifecta on Sept.27.

Thank goodness for an opening-free weekend in between. By that time dramaholics should be able to catch up with the rush of theater startups that began with the brilliant August: Osage County at the Omaha Community Playhouse, a saucy Avenue Q at SNAP!...

You Don’t Know Bob

by Jarrett Fontaine

Bob Wiltfong might not be a catchy household name, but this news reporter-turned nationally known comedian is everywhere lately. He was billed as “The World’s Greatest Spokesperson in the World” in a series of recent Nationwide Insurance ads, and he’s also been a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. This Saturday, Wiltfong returns to his old stomping grounds to do a benefit show in Benson, with the...

Because Nice Matters

by David Williams

The Circle Theatre’s riveting production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf unfolds in the shadow of the most unlikely of set dressing pieces. George and Martha, the feuding protagonists in the Edward Albee classic that is celebrating its 50th year on stages everywhere, are anything but nice. But there it is nonetheless, the cloyingly cute plaque hanging in their living room, the one emblazoned with the inane motto...

Comic Books Inspire Beck-Welsh Play

by Warren Francke

Crash! Boom! Pow! promises comic book action, but its earlier reading at a theater conference had the audience saying, “I don’t know how you’d do this onstage.”

That didn’t stop director Ben Beck, who co-wrote the play with Molly Welsh, from tackling a Shelterbelt Theatre production opening Thursday, July 12. He’ll present Red Dove, a super-heroine who flies, an ordinary guy named Benny thrown into a comic book...

No Fear of Errors for Comedy Director

by Warren Francke

So what if it’s the first time for Vincent Carlson-Brown taking charge of a full-scale production of a Shakespearean classic. He not only brings plenty of directing experience, but the confidence that comes with careful preparation.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha grad is “very thankful for the opportunity” to guide his “biggest project to date,” but anyone with doubts about his ability need only talk to one...