Auditions Abound in April

by William Grennan

            Chances are good that you were one of the hundreds of people that were auditioning for shows this past weekend.  Omaha Community Playhouse saw over 350 hopefuls vying for a chance to be apart of Les Miserables, the epic musical about the French Revolution.  Facebook was littered with photos of a line that stretched outside and around the building this past Saturday.  Katie Broman, the Playhouse...

Floor Samples

by Michael J. Krainak

The walls of the first floor gallery at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts haven’t seen anything quite like this. It is doubtful viewers have either. A current exhibit, The Unorganized Territory, features primarily large-scale tapestry forms by Kansas City artist Garry Noland, who was awarded this solo show as a 2012 Bemis Regional Juried Exhibition winner. But unless you saw that show last year, there is...

Mike Giron Murals

by Mary Day

“Murals are a way of attracting traffic into a neighborhood,” Metro area artist, and teacher Mike Giron said. “They lift the spirits.” Giron often collaborates with Richard Harrison, Metro area artist, and business owner of A Midsummer’s Mural. Giron and Harrison, along with several individuals and organizations were recognized March 27 with a 2013 City of Omaha Community Excellence Award for their work on the...

From Cookies to Canker Sores:

by Cheril Lee

“You know, your work is bright, colorful and simple,” said a children’s book editor to illustrator and author Dan Yaccarino more than 20 years ago.

Yaccarino said he didn’t start off doing children’s books. He said when he began working 25 years ago, he primarily did editorial illustrations for publications such as Business Week, Time and Rolling Stone.

“That’s what I really started off doing right out of art...

Bronte, College Kids, and Mormons. Oh my!

by William Grennan

Those who missed the opportunity to see Jill Anderson in Bronte at the Joslyn Castle back in 2011 will soon get a second chance. The William Luce play will be remounted at The Blue Barn Theatre for a limited engagement of only 4 performances. This play covers the Jane Eyre author Charlotte Bronte as she reflects on the many events that shaped her life. The 2011 production was extremely entertaining theatre to say...

Evelyn Katz Arboretum

by Mary Day

Metro area artist, Evelyn Katz has been selected to participate in An Enchanted Arboretum, a community driven public art project promoting “Nebraska City as Arbor Day’s Hometown — Where Great Ideas Grow.” Katz’s painted sculpture “Tree Dreaming”, along with paper and canvas works inspired by the original piece, will be on view one night only, Thursday, March 28, 6 – 9 pm, at Tom and Jean Sitzman's Connect Gallery...