OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS

The musical Dear Evan Hansen will play live at The Orpheum Theater from Dec. 28, 2021 –Jan. 2, 2022 and is one of the most anticipated shows in O-pa’s 21/22 Broadway season. Tickets are selling fast but you can still get great seats from Ticket Omaha, the official ticket retailer for Omaha Performing Arts. While you wait for this amazing and thought-provoking musical to arrive in Omaha, we have lots of great book, television and movie recommendations for you, which can be enjoyed by both teens and adults.

What to Read

There’s the excellent Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia. Eliza isn’t the kind of person you notice right away, but her shyness masks her identity as the creator of hit webcomic Monstrous Sea. When her secret is threatened, Eliza’s life is turned upside down, and she struggles with how to manage her anxiety.

Or you could read Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali. Janna Yusuf’s love of photography, books and graphic novels isn’t always the easiest thing to explain to her family, but Janna’s just fine being exactly who she is, hijab very much included. But when dark secrets and the possibility of romance start to complicate her life, it’s going to take a little more to sail her way through.

Finally, check out This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales. Elise Dembowski has never really known how to make friends, but it’s not like that’s her classmates’ strong suit either. But when she meets Vicky, Char, and Pippa, and learns she loves to DJ, Elise’s life shifts into an adventure she never knew was possible.

All three of these books mentioned are available for check out at The Omaha Public Library.

What to Watch

You could start with the Netflix show 13 Reasons Why. High school student Clay Jensen lands in the center of a set of heartbreaking mysteries set in motion by a friend’s tragic suicide. There’s also the classic Robin Williams movie Dead Poet’s Society which is just as powerful today as it was when it came out in 1989. And if you haven’t seen Rian Johnson’s 2005 debut film Brick, do yourself a favor and watch it today. Made on a shoestring budget and starring Joseph Gordon Levitt, this modern film noir classic set in a high school does not disappoint!

13 Reasons Why is available for streaming on Netflix. Both Dead Poets Society and Brick are available to stream for free with Amazon Prime.

Get your tickets to Dear Evan Hansen on Ticket Omaha for the best prices, best seats and best service. If you have a group of 10 or more people, you can get savings and benefits for Broadway shows!

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