85th Anniversary Season is Announced

The word is out!! The 2009-2010 85th Anniversary Season at the Omaha Community Playhouse was revealed February 24 at an exclusive announcement party. Long time subscribers, donors, sponsors, advertisers and volunteers gathered for light hors d'oeuvres and drinks in the Owen Lobby and moved to the Mainstage Theatre to hear Artistic Director, Carl Beck, and Associate Director, Susan Baer-Collins, give a synopsis of each production included in the upcoming season. The presentation included a monologue from Quilters, performed by Christina Rohling, and a musical medley from each of the mainstage musicals performed by Melanie Walters, Bailey Carlson, Tim Abou-Nasr, and Jim McKain and accompanied by Playhouse Musical Director, James Boggess. Below is the complete list of the productions, dates and descriptions of the 2009-2010 Season at the Omaha Community Playhouse.

Quilters by Molly Newman and Barbara Damashek

August 21-September 27, 2009 in the Howard Drew Theatre

Quilters celebrates the women of the prairie in the early 19th century and the place that quilting holds in American society. The play in and of itself is a quilt. It is a series of snapshots of the lives of American women. Quilters’ Broadway run was nominated for six Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score.

sponsored by Ron and Teri Quinn
orchestra sponsor BERNINA Sewing Centers–Omaha, NE

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics by Tim Rice

September 25–October 25, 2009

The saga of Joseph and his coat of many colors comes to vibrant life in this delightful musical parable. It is a terrific high energy event in which Joseph endures a series of adventures as his spirit and humanity are continually challenged. Set to an engaging cornucopia of musical styles, from country-western and calypso to bubble gum pop and rock ’n’ roll. This Old Testament tale emerges both timely and timeless.

sponsored by HDR and Peter Kiewit Sons’, Inc.

Almost, Maine by John Cariani

October 23–November 22, 2009 in the Howard Drew Theatre

Almost, Maine is a collection of nine playlets. Set in Northern Maine and crammed with quirky characters this midwinter nights dream is sprinkled with a flurry of bittersweet magic realism. Warm, charming and endearing.

sponsored in part by Enterprise Bank

A Christmas Carol Special Event

by Charles Dickens Adapted by Charles Jones Musical Score and

Orchestration by John J. Bennett

November 20–December 23, 2009

A perfect "glistening confection" for the entire family - complete with fabulous sets, gorgeous costumes and a stocking full of beautiful music. The Playhouse 85th Anniversary Season would not be complete without this heartwarming holiday entertainment.

sponsored by First National Bank

orchestra sponsor Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Yesterday And Today An Interactive Beatles Experience Special Event
Featuring Billy McGuigan Music Director Rick Avard © 2007 By Rave On Productions

December 4–31, 2009

Billy McGuigan of Rave On! fame returns with his amazing musical tribute to music of The Beatles. Rekindle the spirit of yesterday through the music of the world’s most popular band. Yesterday and Today will have you twisting and shouting in the aisles while singing every word to the songs you know and love.

sponsored by Security National Bank

Cheaper By the Dozen Based upon the book by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey Dramatized by Christopher Sergel

January 22–February 14, 2010 in the Mainstage Theatre

Cheaper By the Dozen follows the family life of the Gilbreths in the 1920’s as they cope with and ultimately begin to rebel against the totalitarian discipline of their father, who attempts to make their household operate much like the factory he supervises. The play, in addition to many comic moments, also includes a valuable lesson about family ties. Full of heartfelt fun and promise.

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

February 19–March 21, 2010 in the Howard Drew Theatre

For Willy Loman there is only one American Dream. After 36 years on the road in its pursuit, the traveling salesman, haunted by missed opportunities and an uncertain future must come to terms with a lifetime of self-deception that has distorted his dream into an American tragedy. A Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-Winning Masterpiece.

All Shook Up Book by Joe DiPietro

March 5–April 3, 2010 in the Mainstage Theatre

All Shook Up is a jukebox musical featuring the music of the classic rock star Elvis Presley. The story is based on the plot of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. The song list consists of every popular Elvis song plus more and more. Time: a 24 hour period, during the summer of 1955. Place: a small you-never-heard-of-it town somewhere in the Midwest.

sponsored in part by Gale & Judy Wickersham, Dave & Candi Kirkwood, Jeff & Amy Schmid and Carter & Vernie Jones

Mister Roberts By Thomas Heggen and Joshua Logan

April 16–May 9, 2010 in the Mainstage Theatre

One of the outstanding successes of the modern theatre. This rowdy, realistic saga of a group of American sailors aboard a Navy cargo vessel in the Pacific finds the crew suffering from that deadly boredom that is part of the routine of war. This Broadway hit is what brought the Playhouse’s own Henry Fonda back to acting after an eight-year absence. Fonda played the lead role "Mister Roberts." One of the finest service comedies ever performed.

sponsored by U.S. Bank

Awesome 80’s Prom by Ken Davenport & the Class of ‘89

April 30–May 30, 2010 in the Howard Drew Theatre

The Awesome 80’s Prom is a brand new blast-from-the-past party in the style of Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding. Set at a High School Senior Prom in 1989, all of the characters from your favorite 80’s movies are there. From the captain of the football team to the foreign exchange student, and the geek to the hottie head cheerleader, they are all competing for Prom King and Queen. This show is interactive fun for all audience members.

Fiddler on the Roof Music by Jerry Bock Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick Book by Joseph Stein

Based on Tevye and His Daughters by Sholem Aleichem

May 28–June 27, 2010 in the Mainstage Theatre

Fiddler on the Roof is a timeless classic filled with a rousing heartwarming score which includes "Tradition," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "If I Were a Rich Man" and "Sunrise Sunset." It is the story of Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his family and religious traditions while outside influences encroach upon their lives.

View the available season subscription packages to see how much money you can save over purchasing single tickets!