Grow Omaha
Arts & Culture

Hot Shops is hosting a 3-week “Intro To Bronze Casting” course, starting this Saturday, August 2, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This hands-on course, taught by Jack Gatzemeyer, introduces students to the full bronze casting process using the traditional lost wax method. Whether you’re brand new or looking to refine your artistic skills, this class walks you through each step—from wax modeling to the final patina. Minimum Age is 16. Cost is $319 for the course.
Details: https://hotshopsartcenter.org/event/intro-to-bronze-casting-2/

The Blues Society of Omaha presents their 10th annual “In The Market For Blues,” taking place Saturday, August 9, 2025, with more than 12 hours of music at 10 Downtown Omaha venues featuring more than 30 bands. Headlining the Scott Hall at The Holland Center stage is John Németh, vocalist and harmonica master, who is a multiple Blues Music Award winner. Most recently, for the Soul/Blues Male Artist of the year. Co-headlining is Héctor Anchondo, Omaha’s own Blues Hero, who won the 2020 International Blues Challenge as a solo artist and was a finalist in 2018 in the band category. Other notable acts include Chicago blues legend, Johnny Rawls, and the 2025 International Blues Challenge winner in the band division from Lincoln, Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal.

In addition to the ticketed events at the downtown, Old Market and Capitol District venues, the Gene Leahy Mall will feature free, family-friendly bands starting at 3 p.m. The award-winning youth bands from BluesEd will showcase their talents, followed by Big Daddy Caleb and the Chargers.

Full schedule of events, venue map, and tickets: OmahaBlues.com

Collaborative Creative Visions Inc presents “Pull Up and Vibe, an Open Mic Festival and a Tribute to Blues & Soul,” on Sunday, August 3 from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Healing Roots African Diaspora Gardens. The 4th annual Pull Up and Vibe Open Mic Festival is hosting a living tribute to North Omaha’s rich history of blues and soul. Starting at 3 p.m., Pull Up and Vibe will host an open mic section that is open to all performing arts genres. At 6 p.m., the festival will feature Omaha-area performing artists Johnny Lowe, Lyriq Lashay, Weszo, Loh Aliese, Dez, Miss Va, Tre to Trav, DJ Devv, and DJ FOUR3. Big Wade & Black Swan Theory will headline at 8 p.m. This free event is open to the public and will be hosted by Jus.B and Keiria Marsha.

tbd. dance collective is hosting a movement workshop on Saturday, August 2 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the Holland Center. This class is specially designed by FLOCK, a German/American touring dance company founded in 2017 by co-choreographers Florian Lochner and Alice Klock. It is built to be accessed and enjoyed by movers of all levels. Explore your own personal artistry and enjoy “centering into the body” through this gentle but invigorating dance experience.

Opera Omaha has announced that its annual kick-off to their Opera Outdoors series will be on September 5 at 7:00 p.m. at Turner Park. Spread your picnic blanket, kick off your shoes, and relax as the songs of birds and opera intertwine. This free, family-friendly concert will be held at Midtown Crossing’s Turner Park and includes some of opera’s greatest hits.

Omaha actor Mekhi Payne has been cast in the First National Tour of the Tony Award-winning musical The Outsiders, which comes to the Orpheum Theater September 28 to October 4. Payne is an Omaha South High School graduate who was an award-winning participant in Omaha Performing Arts’ Nebraska Theater Academy program. The program recognized him as a lead performer in 2023 and named him one of the top students in the state as a National Finalist in 2024. He currently trains at The Norwalk Conservatory. As a Swing in The Outsiders, Payne will understudy multiple roles in the show, including Two-Bit and Steve.

Film Streams has been selected as one of the few theaters in the country that will play Spike Lee’s newest film, Highest 2 Lowest. Tickets go on sale this Friday before the film starts on August 15. Only available at Film Streams, this is your chance to see Spike and Denzel team up for the first time in more than 20 years.

North Omaha Music and Arts (NOMA) is hosting NEW ISH on July 31 at 7:00 a.m. It’s a brand-new poetry slam series for artists ready to take risks, try something fresh and say what hasn’t been said yet. One round. One mic. A live band behind you. Got a group piece? Bring it. Wrote it yesterday? Even better. Props? Let’s go. Need musical backing? There’s a three-piece band to set the mood and a room full of people rooting for new voices. Only rule: your piece needs to be original, brand-new material. The event costs $10 to enter and will award a $50 cash prize for the top poet.

Humanities Nebraska has announced a new style of programs in its Speakers Bureau: audience participation workshops. Five topics — one particularly designed for children — will be led by seasoned presenters in music, creative writing and history. The five workshops are: “Connecting to Folk Music” with David Seay, “Creative Writing on the Plains” with former state poet Twyla M. Hansen, “Feathers & Verses Writing Workshop” with Bill Clemente, “Tell a Story, Write a Poem” with former state poet Matt Mason, and “Community Oral History Projects: An Interactive Workshop” with Mary Kay Quinlan.

The Omaha Chamber Music Society (OCMS) and KVNO are holding the Good Vibrations Used Instrument Drive on Saturday, August 9th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon at the UNO Bell Tower. Good Vibrations provides quality refurbished instruments—free of charge—to students and immigrants in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area who otherwise wouldn’t have access to them. The program collects gently used instruments from community members, professionally restores them, and distributes them to students through educators and partner organizations.

North Dakota playwright Kathleen Coudle-King has written a play to encourage discussion around mental illness in the family and the stigma that is too often associated with it. There’s Something I Must Tell You will be performed at the Omaha Fringe Festival August 7-9 at the University of Nebraska – Omaha Blackbox theater. Festival passes and individual tickets can be purchased in advance by going to 2025 Fringe | Omaha Fringe Fest or at the door.

Omaha Performing Arts has added four new events to the performance calendar:

Blue Violin Candlelight Christmas Extravaganza comes to Scott Hall at the Holland Center on Friday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $36.25 and go on sale Friday, July 25 at 10 a.m.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis comes to the Orpheum Theater on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 3 and 8 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $61 and go on sale Friday, July 25 at 10 a.m.

The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes comes to the Holland Center on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $54.25 and go on sale Friday, July 25 at 10 a.m.

All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg comes to the Orpheum Theater on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35.50 and go on sale Friday, July 25 at 10 a.m.

Tickets for these recently added events are available through ticketomaha.com.

North Omaha Music and Arts, along with Omaha Music Group, has postponed their Singer-Songwriter Showcase, originally designated for July 17. The event will resume August 21.

Omaha Performing Arts (O-pa) announced today an exciting new lineup of camps and classes for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, with opportunities available for all ages, abilities and experience levels. From the youngest students beginning their journey in the arts to experienced artists excited to hone their skills, classes and camps with Omaha Performing Arts open new worlds of creativity for learners of all ages. O-pa is thrilled to offer new classes this session, featuring expanded Hip Hop opportunities and welcoming babies as young as 3 months to the arts. Learn more and register: o-pa.org/classes

The Holland Center will be hosting the first Hip Hop Lab event of the season on July 18 at 7 p.m. The event, titled “One Mic: Culture Talk with Craig G, Lite Pole, and Tylynn Music” will feature Craig G – an original member of Marley Marl’s Juice Crew – discussing the art of MCing with Lite Pole and Tylynn Music.

Film Streams is showing two classic road pictures as part of their American Road Double Feature, on July 19 at 6:30 p.m. Catch a double bill of Easy Rider (1969) and Two-Lane Blacktop (1971). While you’re there, enjoy $2 off craft beer, one free refill on medium and large sodas, and one free refill on medium and large popcorns.

Playing with Fire, a longtime local non-profit blues concert series, is back for its 21st year July 25 and 26, with Weekend No. 1 of the non-profit organization’s annual free concert series. And this time, organizers promise more groove, grit and global flair than a midnight jam at Muscle Shoals. For the first time in 21 years, Playing with Fire is moving the party indoors to the Slowdown in Omaha’s popular NoDo entertainment district. That will offer concertgoers access to air conditioning, improved sound quality and further promotes a community atmosphere that represents Playing with Fire’s ongoing mission to make live, world-class music accessible to everyone through a free, community-centered concert series.

Omaha Performing Arts has added five new events to the performance calendar:

Bluebird Improv comes to Scott Hall at the Holland Center on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $69.50 and go on sale Friday, July 18 at 10 a.m.

Rain – A Beatles Christmas Tribute comes to the Orpheum Theater on Monday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $47.50 and go on sale Friday, July 18 at 10 a.m.

A Magical Cirque Christmas – A Holiday Variety Show comes to the Orpheum Theater on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $38.50 and go on sale Friday, July 18 at 10 a.m.

American Midwest Ballet The Nutcracker comes to the Orpheum Theater on Friday, Dec. 5 through Sunday, Dec. 7. Tickets start at $35 and are on sale now

American Midwest Ballet A Midsummer Night’s Dream comes to the Orpheum Theater on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19. Tickets start at $35 and are on sale now.

For tickets to any of the above events, go to ticketomaha.com.