GPTC PlayFest 2021/22
Omaha’s (Free!) Season of New, Contemporary Performance
PlayFest makes more plays for more people in Omaha. As part of the Great Plains Theatre Commons, PlayFest broadens public access by providing a season of free, high-quality theatrical events. Community organizations and artists (both local and national) participate in the storytelling we see on stage. Evening performances are held at geographically diverse venues. PlayFest gives voice to the stories that have the power to unite and inspire diverse audiences. The form of these works can vary, including traditional plays, devised work, short forms, music and dance. Much of the content celebrates Omaha stories. Neighborhood Tapestries is a program that puts Omaha stories on stage. Each year this program presents work based on the lives of Nebraskans. The result is a vibrant portrait of our city.
The 2021/22 season includes three plays, based on Omaha families and communities, written by three playwrights with deep Omaha/GPTC roots whose voices are now heard across the nation.
Fall
STORIES: ON THE BRINK
by Colleen O’Doherty
Directed by Haley Haas
World premiere
Neighborhood Tapestries Commission
Developed from the stories of people affected by homelessness, STORIES: ON THE BRINK incorporates the art of storytelling and theatre to amplify voices too often ignored.
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Spring
THE GUADALUPES
Written by Noah Diaz
Directed by Kevin Lawler
Regional premiere
Neighborhood Tapestries Commission
A commission, and regional premier, with playwright Noah Diaz, will continue our community-based work with an autobiographical dive into a multi-generational family in South Omaha.
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Spring
IN THE UPPER ROOM
by Beaufield Berry-Fisher
Directed by Denise Chapman
Regional premiere
Developed as a GPTC 2017 PlayLab
Local Playwright, Beaufield Berry-Fisher, inspired by stories from her family’s past, creates a world full of love, stories, power, and passions that transcend generations.
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2016 PlayFest Highlights
2015 PlayFest Highlights
All performance venues are ADA compliant for accessibility. For any accessibility questions or needs please contact us at 402-370-8259. Thank you.
PlayFest is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how NEA grants impact individuals and communities, visit arts.gov.