Explore Calendar: March/April 2023
Feb 24, 2023 10:05AM ● By Omaha Magazine
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NEBRASKA
15th Annual Polar Bear Tank Race March 3 at Middle Loup River near Mullen. The Polar Bear Tank Race is held to create awareness and raise funds for the Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway and to allow people to participate in the unique experience of tanking on the Middle Loup River in the winter.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T., March 3 at the Lied Center of Performing Arts in Lincoln. R.E.S.P.E.C.T is an electrifying tribute celebrating the music of the legendary Aretha Franklin. This concert experience takes audiences on a journey of love, tragedy, courage, and triumph. Starring a live band and supreme vocalists, come experience a night of music by one of the greatest artists of all time.
AJIJAAK ON TURTLE ISLAND: CRANES IN NORTH AMERICA March 9 at the Lied Center of Performing Arts in Lincoln. Travel with the cranes as they migrate across Turtle Island. Nebraska’s favorite bird takes center stage in this larger-than-life production featuring live music, dance, and many of the finest puppets in the world. The story features Native American/Indigenous artists, music, language, and culture with puppets created by the Jim Henson Creature Shop.
LSO GOES TO TATOOINE - LINCOLN'S SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA March 11 at the Lied Center of Performing Arts in Lincoln. In a galaxy far, far away…or right here at the Lied Center, celebrate the music of Star Wars by legendary film composer John Williams and The Mandalorian by rising film score star Ludwig Göransson with Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra. Enjoy this concert, you will.
THE BOOK OF MORMON March 24-26 at the Lied Center of Performing Arts in Lincoln. This outrageous musical comedy follows the adventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word. With standing room only productions in London, on Broadway, and across North America, The Book of Mormon has truly become an international sensation.
JOURNEY March 25 at the Pinnacle Bank Arena Lincoln. One of the most legendary rock bands of all time, Journey, announces the continuation of their highly successful tour with the 50th Anniversary Celebration Freedom Tour 2023 featuring very special guest Toto. The diamond-selling Rock & Roll Hall of Famers will take the stage with their catalog of global chart-topping hits, including "Don't Stop Believin,” "Any Way You Want It," "Faithfully," “Separate Ways," and more.
CIRQUE ALFONSE: ANIMAL April 1 at the Lied Center of Performing Arts in Lincoln. One of the world’s top cirque troupes leads young and old on a journey to a reinvented land. A gentleman-farmer surrounds himself with crazy creatures: the chickens have teeth, the ducks are very naughty, and the cows run wild.
MONSTER JAM. April 7-8 at the Pinnacle Bank Arena Lincoln. Monster Jam drivers are trained, world-class male and female athletes who have not only the physical strength and mental stamina needed to compete, but the vital dexterity to control 12,000-pound machines capable of doing backflips, vertical wheelies, and racing at speeds up to 70 miles-per-hour, producing jaw-dropping, live motorsports action seen around the world.
HUNTERTONES April 13 at the Lied Center of Performing Arts in Lincoln. Huntertones brings people together with fun, imaginative, fearless music. The group’s high-energy, horn-driven sound fuses inspired improvisation and adventurous composition, melding jazz, funk, rock, and soul. Individually, members of Huntertones have compiled a diverse resume of collaborations with top artists, including Jon Batiste, Snarky Puppy, Stevie Wonder, Andy Grammer, Ed Sheeran, and more.
EARTH DAY April 15 at the Innovation Campus in Lincoln. The Lincoln Earth Day Celebration is an annual celebration in Lincoln, Nebraska. This exciting community event hosts approximately 2,500 attendees annually. There will be dozens of booths that all promote, educate, and celebrate environmental stewardship, green education, and sustainable living.
MADAGASCAR April 15 at the Lied Center of Performing Arts in Lincoln. Join Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria as they bound out of the zoo and onto the stage in this live musical spectacular. This smash hit musical features a group of ‘crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the wild world of King Julien’s Madagascar.
YING LI Young Concert Artists Series April 16 at the Brownsville Concert Hall in Brownsville. Twenty-four-year-old Chinese pianist Ying Li is the First Prize winner of the 2021 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions, as well as recipient of The Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival Prize and the Tri-I Noon Recitals Prize. She has received top awards in numerous national and international competitions.
JAGGED LITTLE PILL April 25-30 at the Lied Center of Performing Arts in Lincoln. A Broadway show—an exhilarating, fearless new musical based on Alanis Morissette’s world-changing music.
IOWA
JOHN OSBORN: A LEGEND RETURNS HOME March 11 at the Orpheum Theater in Sioux City. Widely considered the most outstanding opera tenor in the world today, Sioux City native John Osborn returns to the Orpheum stage with a program featuring his “greatest hits” of opera. Osborn most recently won Best Male Singer at the International Opera Awards. After a three-year wait, this much-anticipated concert will guarantee an unforgettably powerful evening and will mark a celebrated welcome home to one of Sioux City’s own. The SCSO will also welcome special featured artist and John’s wife, the renowned soprano, Lynette Tapia.
1776 March 14-19 at the Civic Center in Des Moines. American Repertory Theater at Harvard University/Roundabout Theatre Company’s new production of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, 1776, is a tuneful, witty, “bold and exuberant” (Variety) reexamination of a pivotal moment in American history from directors Jeffrey L. Page (Violet) and Diane Paulus (Waitress). 1776 comes to the Des Moines Civic Center with a cast that reflects multiple representations of race, gender, and ethnicity.
HOOP AND HOPS March 16-18 at Cowels Commons in Des Moines. Downtown Des Moines’ Cowles Commons hosts the 6th annual Hoops and Hops Presented by Willis Nissan. Don't miss this NCAA basketball tournament watch party unlike any other, and be there for the best all-day St. Patrick's Day party in the city!
REO Speedwagon March 17 at the Orpheum Theater in Sioux City. REO Speedwagon has sold more than 40 million albums around the globe, and Cronin and bandmates Bruce Hall (bass), Neal Doughty (keyboards), Dave Amato (guitar), and Bryan Hitt (drums) are still electrifying audiences worldwide in concert with hits and fan-favorites such as “In Your Letter,” “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” “Time For Me To Fly,” “Roll With The Changes,” the aforementioned “Keep On Loving You” and “Take It On the Run,” and many, many more.
DISNEY'S THE LION KING March 30-April 16 at the Civic Center in Des Moines. Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, The Lion King brings together one of the most imaginative inspired teams on Broadway. Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor brings to life a story filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals. The Lion King also features the extraordinary work of Tony Award-winning choreographer Garth Fagan and some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, crafted by Tony Award-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice.
UGLY DUCKLING April 1 at the Civic Center in Des Moines. Teased and called Ugly by his siblings, a feathery hero goes on an adventure in search of a place to fit in.
FAMILY EASTER April 8 at Living History Farms in Des Moines. Join the 1876 town of Walnut Hill in celebrating Easter with traditional holiday activities with an old-fashioned flair. There will be ongoing egg hunts, baby farm animals, horse-drawn wagon rides, games, “spring training” with the Walnut Hill Bluestockings, and more. Don’t forget to take your picture with the Easter Bunny and grab some grub from local food vendors.
CHICAGO THE MUSICAL April 11 at the Orpheum Theater in Sioux City. After 25 years, CHICAGO is still the one musical with everything that makes Broadway oshimmy-shake: a universal tale of fame, fortune, and all that jazz, with one show stopping song after another and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen.
GINA CHAVEZ April 15 at the Temple Theater in Des Moines. Latin Grammy nominee Gina Chavez blends the sounds of the Americas with tension and grace. A 13-time Austin Music Award winner and Austin Musician of the Year, she and her band can be seen on PBS in “Gina Chavez: Live from the Kate.”
SIOUX CITY SYMPHONY PRESENTS ALADDIN IN CONCERT April 22 at the Orpheum Theater in Sioux City. Join Aladdin, Jasmine, and The Genie (Robin Williams) as we take a magic carpet ride through time and revisit Disney’s Aladdin. Relive your favorite moments of the original 1992 animated feature projected in high-definition on the big screen at the Orpheum Theatre as the Sioux City Symphony brings to life the award-winning film score by Alan Menken. And to celebrate this extraordinary finish to the 107th season, Sioux City native, writer and director of Aladdin, Ron Clements will be in attendance to honor this once-in-a-lifetime film and orchestra event!
AIR PLAY April 29 at the Civic Center in Des Moines. A circus-style adventure of two siblings journeying through a surreal land of air, Air Play transforms ordinary objects into uncommon beauty. Created by circus performers Seth Bloom and Christina Gelsone in collaboration with kinetic sculptor Daniel Wurtzel, Air Play was devised through years of experimentation with simple materials, movement, and technology.
INVISIBLE WONDERS April 30 at the Civic Center in Des Moines. In photographer Anand Varma’s hands, a camera is not just a tool to capture what he sees—it’s a way to illuminate the layers of beauty and complexity that are otherwise hidden from our naked eye. He has devoted years of his life to developing innovative techniques—even building some of his own equipment—to create intimate, dramatic, and surprising images of nature. His ultimate goal: to spark a sense of wonder about our world. Through his work, Varma highlights creatures whose incredible details typically go unseen. From the secret life cycle of the honeybee to the lightning-fast behaviors of hummingbirds, his photos slow down the fast, speed up the slow, and magnify the miniature to reveal life at the edge of our perception. Join him for a rare and fascinating glimpse of our world’s hidden wonders.
KANSAS
KANSAS BALLET PRESET: THE ADVENTURES OF CIPOLLINO March 7 at the C. L. Hover Opera House in Junction. Join us as we explore the fairy-tale story of ‘The Adventures of Cipollino’ through the medium of dance! Cipollino ('Little Onion' in Italian) bravely fights against the unjust treatment of his fellow Vegetable folk by the snobby Fruit ‘aristocracy’ led by Princess Lemon.
JOSEPH HALL AS ELVIS March 11 at the C. L. Hover Opera House in Junction. Joseph Hall, born in 1984 has been paying tribute to the legacy of Elvis Presley since 2006. He starred on NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2008, making 6 TV appearances, viewed by more than 90 million people and placing as one of the top 10 finalists. Joseph Hall has performed all over the world, from Las Vegas, Nevada to Porthcawl, Wales. Joseph Hall has won many awards throughout his young career including the “Spirit of Elvis ” award. Joseph has worked with Elvis Presley Enterprises, Legends in Concert, and has officially been recognized as one of the top Elvis tribute artists in the world today.
JOHNNY CASH AND NIEL DIAMOND TRIBUTE March 25 at the Orpheum, Wichita. The first half of this exciting multi-media theatrical production is “The #1 Tribute to Johnny Cash.” Hear the great “Man In Black” familiar classics including “Ring of Fire,” “Walk the Line,” “Get Rhythm,” “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” and more. After intermission, audiences are on their feet during Doug’s dazzling tribute to Neil Diamond featuring his greatest hits like: “Cracklin Rose,” “Sweet Caroline," “America Forever in Blue Jeans,” “Play Me,” and other classic hits. This spectacular evening also features The Nash A-List Big Band, great charts, lighting and stunning video wall highlighting the lives of Cash, Diamond, and Nash.
KEGS ’N’ EGGS April 15 at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival in Kansas City. Drinking and hunting make an EGG-cellent combination at Kegs ‘n’ Eggs! Each egg contains tickets to be redeemed for prizes and a few golden eggs are even filled with cash. If all that hunting is making you EGG-stra thirsty, you’re in luck! There will be craft beer tastings from local and regional breweries along with EGG-citing games and contests, plus t-shirts, tote bags and sample glasses for everyone. So, come out and drink a few beers, scavenge for hidden eggs and partake in this EGG-stremely awesome event.
CHEECH & CHONG’S UP IN SMOKE April 20 at the Orpheum, Wichita. Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke is a 1978 American buddy stoner comedy film directed by Lou Adler and starring Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, Edie Adams, Strother Martin, Stacy Keach, and Tom Skerritt. It is Cheech & Chong’s first feature-length film. Cheech & Chong had been a counterculture comedy team for about ten years before they started reworking some of their material for their first film.
2023 KANSAS CITY STORY TELLING FESTIVAL April 28-29 in Downs. The Kansas Storytelling Festival is scheduled every year for the last full weekend in April. We will welcome you to Downs for an event featuring many of the finest professional tellers available along with Festival audience favorites, like the Tall Tale Contest, Local Legends, Master Storytellers, Story Shed, and more.
MISSOURI
WINTER JAM March 3 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. Winter Jam Tour hosted by NewSong, Christian music’s biggest tour, is returning to T-Mobile Center on March 3 with headliners We the Kingdom and Jeremy Camp plus a solid lineup of acts including: Andy Mineo, Disciple, Austin French, NewSong and featuring for the first time, Dove Award-winning new artist of the year Anne Wilson.
WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN March 17 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. WWE Friday Night Smackdown returns to T-Mobile Center on Friday, March 17, 2023, featuring WWE Superstars Drew McIntyre, Braun Strowman, Liv Morgan, Sami Zayn, Solo Sikoa, Bashing Brutes, New Day, undisputed tag team champions Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso, and many more.
BLAKE SHELTON March 18 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. Superstar entertainer Blake Shelton will return to the road in 2023 for his headlining Back to the Honky Tonk Tour, stopping at T-Mobile Center on March 18. Set to join the lineup are reigning ACM Female Artist / CMA Female Vocalist of the year Carly Pearce and rising artist Jackson Dean.
KANSAS CITY FILMFEST March 26-29 at B&B Mainstream Theaters in Kansas City. More than 120 films will be shown over three days at this annual event, which celebrates the power of storytelling as a shared cultural experience though the cinematic arts.
HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS April 1 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. The Harlem Globetrotters 2023 World Tour is coming with game like never before! Your favorite Globetrotter stars are bringing out their amazing basketball skill, outrageous athleticism and a non-stop good time to T-Mobile Center on Saturday, April 1 for two games. Join the Globetrotters as they go head-to-head against the Washington Generals who will stop at nothing to try and defeat the world’s winningest team.
STRAIGHT JOKES! NO CHASER COMEDY TOUR, April 8 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. The laughs never end with the Straight Jokes! No Chaser Comedy Tour featuring Mike Epps, Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, Earthquake & D.C. Young Fly will stop at T-Mobile Center.
This article originally appeared in the March/April 2023 issue of Omaha Magazine. To subscribe, click here.
