OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS

May is always a busy month for educators and students, and O-pa’s Education department is bustling too! The Holland Center has hosted over 2800 students from 43 schools for the finale of the Musical Explorers program and two WICKED master classes. And there's still more to come! We’re getting ready to welcome more students, teachers and parents for Disney Musicals in Schools Student Share and the Nebraska High School Theater Academy (NHSTA) Showcase!

Musical Explorers learn about genres of music with local artists

On May 3, over 2800 K-2 students from 43 schools came together for the year-end concert of the Musical Explorers program. The program is a semester-long, curriculum-based program developed in partnership with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute and featuring local artists. Following along with customized, free materials, students discovered jazz music with Kathy Tyree, jug band Music with Root Marm Chicken Farm and salsa with Esencia Latina and then got to sing and dance along to the music performed live!

WICKED Master class gives NHSTA students professional feedback

On May 4, 84 NHSTA students from six schools attended an audition master class with WICKED cast members. NHSTA offers support, resources and opportunities to connect with Broadway professionals, so students can learn practical pathways to careers in the arts or just become life-long arts lovers!

On May 11, nine theater students from UNO, most of which were NHSTA alumni, also had a chance to learn audition techniques in a WICKED master class at the Holland Center. 


Student at WICKED master class

NHSTA Showcase will celebrate Nebraska talent

NHSTA is an education program at O-pa that supports, celebrates and advocates for theater education. The program connects students and educators to Broadway through workshops, master classes, professional feedback and more. The ninth-annual showcase is the culminating event for participating students from across the state and your chance to see their talent shine!

The Tony Awards®-inspired ceremony will be hosted by Broadway star and Omaha native Q. Smith (Come From Away, Mary Poppins, Les Misérables) and feature performances by hundreds of students from across the state. Awards will be given for outstanding productions, top performers and ensembles, excellence behind-the-scenes and more.

Stay tuned for heartwarming updates from one of our most beloved programs – the Disney Musicals in Schools Student Share on May 16!