Grow Omaha
Arts & Culture

Steelhouse Omaha will once again present The RESET on January 10 at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Singer and sound healing artist Davin Youngs provides his unique take of a sound bath through looping and improvisational singing as attendees get comfortable and relax at this never-before-heard soundscape. In addition, there will be free, 20-minute yoga sessions led by Lora McCarville with relaxing yoga and movement at the Steerhouse Lobby before the morning performance and the afternoon performance.

Omaha Performing Arts presents Shucked, at the Orpheum Theater January 13 through the 18 at 7:30 p.m. This Tony Award-winning musical comedy is about a young woman’s journey from her small, corn-dependent town to find help when their crop fails. This celebrated pun-filled experience features a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn (Tootsie), a score by the Grammy Award-winning songwriting team of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, and directed by Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien (Hairspray).

Holland Music Center has a couple of shows coming up this month:

Save Ferris on January 16 at 7:30 p.m. Formed in 1995, Save Ferris remains one of the seminal and most beloved bands from the third wave of ska. Led by frontwoman Monique Powell, the band boasts high-octane vocals and a powerful ska-pop-punk-rock sound. With a trail of radio hits, several tours, and appearances on a variety of television shows and movies, Save Ferris brings an explosive energy you won’t want to miss.

BATSU! On January 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m.; and January 31 at 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Attendees enjoy a Japanese-inspired menu, designed to complement the bold, immersive spirit of the show as they watch four American comedy warriors face off in challenges as they battle for comedic glory and honor in the Japanese comedy style of batsu game. Those that lose the game are subjected to hilarious consequences such as paintballs, egg-smashing chicken, electric shocks and many more.

For tickets and more information, visit here.

The Omaha Community Playhouse is hosting auditions for the show Dial ‘M’ For Murder, on January 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and January 18 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Directed by Addie Barnhart, this production is a classic psychological thriller that delves into greed, betrayal, and the perfect crime gone wrong. When a former tennis star plots to have his wealthy wife murdered to secure her fortune, his meticulous plan unravels in unexpected ways, leading to a tense game of deception and survival. There are five characters to audition for, with callbacks happening on January 24.

Creighton University will host an Origami Workshop with Dr. Sharon Ishii-Jordan January 25 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Harper Center. Local Origami artist Ishii-Jordan will take participants through the traditional practice of this delicate Japanese art form, giving attendees a sense of beauty, history and culture. Open to all ages. Tickets are not required for entry. For more information, visit their website here.

Film Streams will launch “Relaxed Screenings” at both the Ruth Sokolof Theater and the Dundee Theater. Film Streams now offers select movie screenings that incorporate inclusive accommodations including brighter lighting, lowered volume levels, open caption subtitles on screen and a space to decompress in or near the auditorium.

During these showings, guests are welcome to get up, move around, stretch and vocalize. Sensory kits that include noise-cancelling headphones, fidget devices and sensory stress toys are available for check-out at the box office. This is a program designed to create an inclusive cinema experience for all audiences, especially those who may benefit from a more flexible and sensory-friendly environment.

Benson First Friday returns to kick off the New Year on the first Friday of every month starting January 2 at Benson Creative District at 2729 North 62nd Street. Benson First Friday hopes to bring more creative engagement with art, music and more community.

The Joslyn Museum will host Art-Tastic Saturdays on the first Saturday of every month starting January 3rd from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This monthly event is free and will feature gallery activities, special presentations and creative exploration for all ages. For more information, visit Joslyn’s website.

The Cathedral Arts Project will open the Anthony Deon Art Exhibit at their Cultural Center on 3900 Webster Street on January 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. One of Nebraska’s most popular artists returns for an all-new exhibit of his latest compelling works filled with whimsical, surreal and deep meaning. Anthony Deon Brown is a local artist who began painting in Fremont and was inspired by visual experiences outside the home, cartoons, classical art and observing the world around him.

His hyper-surrealistic imagery in acrylics started with small canvases eventually leading to large-scale murals and putting his mark on buildings in Fremont and Omaha. Now, more of his work returns to the Cathedral Arts Project for all to enjoy. View some of Brown’s work here.

The Holland Performing Arts Center will feature Nebraska State Thespian Festival Thursday, January 8 and Saturday, January 10 at 8 p.m. both days. This festival aims to honor the talents of secondary theater students and teachers who excel both on and off the state. It will feature full-on production and shows, challenges, workshops by local and national teaching artists, college auditions, and more. Nebraska Thespians is a chapter of the Educational Theatre Association which sponsors the International Thespian Society. Tickets are on sale here.

The Omaha Symphony will perform Beethoven’s First, at the Witherspoon Hall, Joslyn Art Museum, on Sunday, January 11 at 2 p.m. It is a symphony of soloists starting with Wagner’s tender Siegfried Idyll; then Stravinsky takes to the Baroque with Dumbarton Oaks; and finally, Music Director of the Ann Arbor Symphony Earl Lee takes on Beethoven’s bold First Symphony, showcasing the composer’s brilliance from the very beginning.

The Durham Museum has revealed its 2026 featured exhibition lineup. The year has been curated to blend national history and family-friendly fun while highlighting the community’s place within those stories.

Opening in February, The Negro Motorist Green Book shares the story of the annual guide that provided African American travelers with information on restaurants, gas stations and other businesses that welcomed Black travelers during the Jim Crow era.

In spring, Get Building! Bricks at The Durham invites visitors of all ages to enjoy hands-on creativity with the help of longtime partners, the Lincoln/Omaha LEGO Users Group. Then in summer, Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume presented by the Walt Disney Archives, which features 70 iconic pieces that showcase how some of these beloved characters were brought to life.

Then a returning favorite opens up next holiday season: White Christmas: The Exhibition. This beloved display offers a classic way to celebrate the season and elevate the 2026 Christmas at Union Station experience.

To celebrate the upcoming new year, The Omaha Children’s Museum will host Bubbly New Year’s Eve on December 31 during their business hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guests can ring in the New Year with Amazing Bubble Show, NYE crafts, characters and bubble drops throughout the day. All activities included with admission, while supplies last.

The Heartland of America Park at the Riverfront will hold a New Year’s Eve Firework Spectacular on December 31 from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. It’s free for all to enjoy and celebrate the year past and the new year to come.

The Durham Museum will celebrate Noon Year’s Eve on December 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., which is an early celebration of the upcoming year for families. Children of all ages will enjoy a fun-packed bash with live music from Dino O’Dell and the T-Rex All-Stars, special crafts and activities. Ring in the new year in your handmade party hat while enjoying the celebratory bubble wrap stomp and a spectacular balloon drop at 12 noon in the Suzanne and Walter Scott Great Hall. Register online or call 402-444-5071 by December 30 to save your spot. If space allows, walk-up tickets will be available at the door.