The 2025/26 Commons Season

UPCOMING

WAYS TO WIN THE WOODS

Written by Ellen Struve | Directed by Haley Haas | Music by Reese Pike

World Premiere Co-Production with Anastasis Theatre Co., the Omaha Symphony, PACE, and MICAH House
February 12 & 13, 2026, 7:00 PM at PACE, 1001 S 6th St, Council Bluffs, IA
February 15, 2026, 2:00 PM at Yates Illuminates, 3260 Davenport St, Omaha, NE

This original script is a powerful collaboration between GPTC, Anastasis Theatre Co., the Omaha Symphony, PACE, and MICAH House, which provides a safe, supportive environment for families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Emerging from story-sharing workshops at MICAH House conducted by GPTC and Anastasis, WAYS TO WIN IN THE WOODS will reflect the lived experiences of women navigating homelessness through the lens of the familiar fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel. Featuring an original score and musicians from the Omaha Symphony Forte initiative for the February 12 and 13 performances, the play will provide a springboard for conversations between performers and audiences about what it means to be homeless and how we can effect meaningful change together.

There will be a performance featuring piano accompaniment at Yates Illuminates on February 15 at 2:00pm.

BEING BLACK OUTSIDE

Written by Vinecia Coleman | Directed by Denise Chapman

World Premiere Co-Production with the Union for Contemporary Arts
May 27-29, June 4-14, 2026
Union for Contemporary Arts, 2423 N 24 St, Omaha, NE

Sisters Vee and Niecy return to their childhood home after their mother dies — just in time for the end of the world. As the Apocalypse begins, and the sisters remember the past and debate the future, they meet their mother’s neighbor and are forced to contend with what it means to be Black…outside.

Developed as a PlayLab for the 2024 GPTC New Play Festival. 

MOST RECENTLY

LOOKING-GLASS

Written by Kevin Lawler | Directed by Kimberly Clark-Kaczmarek | Music by Jim Schroeder

World Premiere Co-Production with the Ollie Webb Center, Inc.

GPTC Artistic Director Kevin Lawler spent 18 months with the Ollie Webb Center’s Art of Imagination program, which empowers, develops, and encourages self-expression in adults with disabilities through professional opportunities in visual and performing arts. The original script used the beloved Lewis Carroll books as a starting point and was performed by an ensemble of artists with and without disabilities in October of 2025 at the Scottish Rite Temple in Omaha, NE.

GPTC is grateful to the generous production sponsors of LOOKING-GLASS:
Cecilia Poon and Georg Getty, Michael and Nancy Getty, and University of Nebraska Medical Center

All performance venues are ADA compliant for accessibility.  For any accessibility questions or needs please contact us at 402-370-8259.  Thank you.