Live Entertainment in Omaha

CHI Health Center Omaha is Nebraska's most important arena — a 17,560-capacity downtown venue presenting major touring concerts, Creighton Bluejays basketball, and special events. Omaha's remarkable growth and its extraordinary hosting of the NCAA College World Series (held in Omaha every June, making Omaha the college baseball capital of America) create an arena entertainment market of unusual Midwest sporting significance.

Holland Performing Arts Center is one of the finest concert halls built in America in the past 25 years — a beautifully designed downtown Omaha facility presenting the Omaha Symphony and major cultural events in an acoustically remarkable space. Holland's extraordinary acoustic quality and its role as the home of the Omaha Symphony create a concert hall of genuine national classical music significance.

Holland Performing Arts Center is Omaha's crown jewel of concert halls — an acoustically exceptional 2,018-seat venue that has been hailed as one of the finest concert halls in the country since opening in 2005. Home to the Omaha Symphony, the Holland's extraordinary acoustic engineering by Artec Consultants creates concert experiences that rival the world's great halls, transforming Omaha into a serious destination for classical music enthusiasts from across the Great Plains.

KANEKO is one of Omaha's most extraordinary cultural institutions — an interdisciplinary arts center presenting innovative performances, visual art, and cultural programming that pushes the boundaries of what a Midwest arts organization can aspire to. KANEKO's remarkable commitment to presenting adventurous, internationally significant cultural programming in Omaha and its extraordinary physical facility (a converted warehouse) create a performing arts center of genuine cultural significance.

Omaha Performing Arts presents the most comprehensive performing arts programming in Nebraska — a series of outstanding Broadway touring productions, world-class concerts, and major cultural events at the Holland Center and Orpheum Theater. OPA's extraordinary programming breadth and its remarkable commitment to bringing world-class entertainment to Nebraska create a performing arts presenter of genuine state cultural significance.

Theatre Omaha is Nebraska's most important professional theater company — presenting outstanding theatrical productions that engage with contemporary American life. Nebraska's remarkable theatrical tradition (the state has produced important American playwrights and actors) and Theatre Omaha's consistent presentation of quality work create a theater company of genuine Nebraska performing arts significance.

Omaha Community Playhouse is the largest community theater in America — an Omaha institution where Henry Fonda began his acting career, presenting outstanding theatrical productions in the most impressively scaled community theater in the United States. OCP's extraordinary scope (multiple stages, thousands of volunteer participants) and its remarkable Henry Fonda heritage create a community theater of genuine American theatrical historical significance.

Omaha Symphony is Nebraska's most important classical music institution — presenting world-class orchestral concerts at the extraordinary Holland Performing Arts Center. The Omaha Symphony's remarkable artistic quality and Holland Center's exceptional acoustic design create a classical music experience that demonstrates Omaha's extraordinary cultural ambitions for a city of its size.

Opera Omaha is Nebraska's most important opera company — presenting outstanding world-class opera productions that consistently attract internationally renowned singers and conductors. Opera Omaha's remarkable artistic ambition and its extraordinary commitment to making opera accessible to all Nebraskans create an opera company of genuine Midwest performing arts significance.

Orpheum Theater is Omaha's most magnificent historic performance venue — a 1927 movie palace beautifully restored to host Broadway touring productions, major concerts, and the Omaha Symphony in a spectacular Neoclassical interior. Its extraordinary preservation and its role as the centerpiece of Omaha's performing arts infrastructure make it one of the finest historic theaters in the American Great Plains.

Orpheum Theater Omaha is Nebraska's most beautifully restored historic theater — a 1927 Spanish Baroque movie palace presenting Broadway touring shows, major concerts, and cultural events in one of the Midwest's finest historic theatrical spaces. Omaha's remarkable cultural ambition and the Orpheum's breathtaking interior create a performing arts venue of genuine Nebraska theatrical heritage significance.

Rose Theater is one of America's most important theaters for young audiences — an Omaha institution consistently recognized among the finest children's theaters in the United States. Rose Theater's extraordinary commitment to creating world-class theater for children and families and its remarkable artistic quality create a theater company of genuine national significance in the field of young audiences performing arts.

Slowdown is Omaha's most important independent music venue — a Saddle Creek Records-associated concert hall presenting outstanding indie, rock, and alternative acts in a beautifully designed space. Slowdown's remarkable connection to the Omaha music movement and its extraordinary programming of nationally significant independent artists create a concert venue of genuine Nebraska music cultural significance.

Sokol Auditorium is Omaha's historic mid-size concert hall — a 1,500-capacity ballroom in South Omaha's Czech-Slovak Sokol Hall that books rock, metal, and alternative touring acts in a cavernous room with excellent sound and the atmospheric character of a genuine immigrant community social hall. The venue's unique Bohemian heritage setting in Omaha's historic South Side neighborhood makes it one of the most culturally distinctive concert experiences in Nebraska.

The Slowdown is Omaha's most celebrated independent music venue — a 700-capacity purpose-built concert hall in the Midtown Crossing neighborhood that represents the pinnacle of what independent music venues can achieve in mid-size American cities. Owned by Saddle Creek Records (the label that launched Bright Eyes and Rilo Kiley), The Slowdown has earned national critical acclaim for its exceptional sound design, artist-friendly environment, and passionate Omaha audience that supports adventurous programming.