Entertainment

Entertainment abounds in Omaha. No matter what your interest, be it opera or country line dancing, you'll find an event to satisfy. Omahans love supporting local events, so you'll most likely find a sizable crowd wherever you go, but don't despair...the more the merrier! Most visitors and newly settled citizens are amazed at the breadth of the Omaha entertainment scene. So, for tastes that range from simple to sublime, you've come to the right place.

Live Music Live music has always been an Omaha mainstay. The Omaha Symphony, lead by world-renowned music director Victor Yampolsky, consistently offers a season packed with classic symphonic fare and popular favorites. The Super Pops Series is always a sell-out, having featured such well-known artists as Bernadette Peters, Burt Bacharach, Rosemary Clooney and Garrison Keillor. National touring acts including Elton John, Melissa Etheridge, Prince and Jackson Browne have also visited Omaha in recent years; these big names appear at the Civic Auditorium, AK-SAR-BEN and the Omaha Music Hall. For local and regional acts, check the schedule at the Ranch Bowl, The Music Box, Harvey's Casino or Ameristar Casino. If it's Sunday night, head down to Mr. Toad for some cool jazz by Luigi Inc.

Theater Omahans love theater. Comedies, dramas, musicals, interactive theater, mysteries and children's theater: Omaha has it all. Splashy, Broadway-style touring productions find temporary homes at the Orpheum Theater and the Omaha Music Hall, but although it's always exciting to welcome a Phantom or some Cats to town, the shows produced in Omaha often rival the best of the Great White Way. The granddaddy of local theater is the Omaha Community Playhouse, the largest community theater in the nation. If you're in town during the holidays, the Playhouse's annual production of A Christmas Carol is a must see. Other community theaters worth a peek include the Blue Barn Theater, the Bellevue Little Theatre, SNAP Productions, the Brigit St. Brigit Theatre Company and the Shelterbelt. Opera lovers get their fix with an always-thrilling season presented by Opera Omaha, while younger audiences are welcomed with open arms at the Omaha Theater Company for Young People, one of the nation's most respected children's theaters.

Art Visual art is alive and well in Omaha. Whether your tastes run toward Impressionism or Realism, you'll find an artistic feast in the many museums and galleries that dot the Midwestern landscape. All creative roads lead to the Joslyn Art Museum, an extraordinary facility with works ranging from antiquity to the present. Breathtaking collections of 19th- and 20th-century European and American art, exciting traveling exhibits, Degas' Little Dancer Aged Fourteen sculpture and a newly acquired, 35-foot-tall, multi-colored glass "tornado" by world-renowned sculptor Dale Chihuly are just a few reasons to visit this world-class museum.

The Durham Western Heritage Museum celebrates Omaha's past with an unforgettable collection of photos, artifacts and sculptures depicting River City in days gone by. The African-American experience in the Heartland is celebrated in photos and other art forms at the Great Plains Black Museum. For more artsy pieces, a trip to any of the city's many galleries is in order. Jackson Art Works, the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Lewis Art Gallery, the Adam Whitney Gallery and the Artists Cooperative Gallery are all worth a stop. If you're feeling patriotic, be sure to visit Freedom Park and the Strategic Air Command Museum. Don't forget the kids! The Omaha Children's Museum is as fun for grownups as it is for youngsters.

Film If you'd rather view your art with a big bucket of popcorn and a Coke the size of Rhode Island, Omaha can accommodate you, too. Most of the major movie theaters are located west of 72nd Street, but one exception to the "West is Best" rule is the Dundee Theatre, a renovated old-time movie house near downtown that retains its charm while offering the latest technologies. If megaplexes are your thing, Omaha's got them, too. The Douglas Theatre's 20 Grand and the AMC Oak View 24 offer more movies than you could watch in a week. For movies under the stars, try the Council Bluffs Drive In, one of the few thriving open-air theaters in the country. If you think bigger is better, don't miss the Lozier IMAX Theater at the Henry Doorly Zoo.

Dance The professional dance scene in Omaha is experiencing abundant growth. New companies such as Central Dance Theater, OTC Dance and the Mid America Theatre Dance Co. are joining established programs such as University of Omaha's A Company of Dancers and Creighton University in offering exciting ballet, modern, jazz and theatrical dance concerts throughout the year. If you'd rather shake a tail feather yourself, there are lots of fun dance floors in town. Undoubtedly the best place to dance is The Max, a gay and lesbian club with several dance spaces. If country's more your thing, sashay down to Guitars and Cadillacs, where guys and gals line dance 'til the cows come home. Other fun spots to boogie include Trovato's, Figby's, Harvey's Casino and Ameristar Casino.

Special Events No matter what the season, there's something special going on in Omaha. When the winter winds blow, Dickens in the Market, Holiday Fanfare, Christmas at Union Station and Holiday Wildlights are sure to keep you warm. Spring is sprung when the Omaha Home Show, the Omaha Symphony Designer Showhouse and the many St. Patrick's Day festivities fill the calendar. It wouldn't be summer in Omaha without Shakespeare on the Green, Jazz on the Green, the Summer Arts Festival, the Commercial Federal Celebrates America outdoor concert or the World-Herald Fireworks Extravaganza. When the leaves change from green to gold, River City Roundup, the Nebraska City Apple Jack Festival, La Festa Italiana and the many area, state and county fairs fill crisp autumn days with fun.