It's a Wonderful Life @RoseTheaterCo Review

It was really great to visit The Rose Theater again! It's been awhile, since we've gone there. Too long! Their shows are geared towards kids, and my boys are 13 and 16. BUT their latest show is wonderful for my boy's ages. 

We all enjoyed the show It's a Wonderful Life. It's their first show that they had at The Rose Theater in 1995. 

Overall Thoughts:

Travis said he felt like he could relate to the dad in the play. He seriously can be a Scrooge during this time of year. All holiday things fall in my lap. Santa Claus in our house is not a guy. It's a girl all the way. LOL

Isaak just liked being there. He misses going places, and doing things. It kept his attention all the way through. 

Mica liked that it wasn't a musical. They typically do have mostly musicals at The Rose Theater. A play is great to go to as well. he now gets all the hidden humor that only adults catch. 

I liked that it was less draggy than the movie. The movie just kind of goes on and on. The play didn't seem to do that. It was entertaining throughout. I did feel a bit sad because I thought about how kids missed so much with live performances that places like The Rose Theater offers. 

Safety First:

I have to be honest, we really don't go very many places, since covid became a thing. I'm vaccinate and boosted, I still wear a mask, and I still feel like other people do not care; they either get it or don't. I have to really want to go somewhere to venture out to do things. At this show masks were required. Overall people were respectful of that. The actors didn't wear masks while they were performing. They had less people in the venue to help stop the spread as well. It was also available for online streaming. 

About:

Meet George Bailey, whose guardian angel has to descend on Christmas Eve to save him from despair and to remind him that his has been, after all, a wonderful life. George always wanted to get out of the town he lived in, but one thing lead to another and he was stuck. It's about George realizing that his town and life were not as bad as he thought. Featuring live music from the era and a virtuosic cast playing multiple roles, this production is the perfect homage to the power of community. 

The Set

The set was really pretty with things from the town and decked out with Christmas stuff. I liked seeing old things like the phone, and radio. 

Show Dates:

The show is at The Rose Theater in Omaha, Nebraska from December 5-20, 2021. There are online shows.

It's 75 minutes.   

It is for all ages. 

Cast and Crew:

Actor 1 (Clarence) – Wayne Hudson II 

Actor 2 (Joseph) – Stella Clark-Kaczmarek 

Actor 3 (George Bailey) – Marcel Daly 

Actor 4 (Peter/Mary) – Delaney Jackson 

Actor 5 (Billy/Harry) – Zhomontee Watson 

Actor 6 (Potter/Burt/Others) – Matthew Olsen 

Actor 7 (Pete/Sam/Others) – Natalie Hanson 

Actor 8 (Violet/Erin/others) – Carina Dumarce 

Actor 9 (Janie/others) – Maddie Smith 

Actor 10 (Zuzu/others) – Anina Frey 

Actor 11 (Understudy 3 & 6) – Kevin Ehrhart 

Actor 12 (Understudy 4, 5, 7, 8) – Caulene Hudson-Pace 

Actor 13 (Understudy 1, 2, 9, 10) – Grace Garrigan 

Artistic/Production Credits Director – Sarah Brown 

Assistant Director – LaDareon ‘LD’ Copeland 

Music Director – Jerry Brabec 

Choreographer – Sue Gillespie Booton 

Stage Manager – Lisa Krabbenhoft 

Scenic Designer – Lindsey Purvis Lighting Designer – Matt Benes 

Sound Designer/Engineer – Christy Hernandez 

Costume Designer – Sherri Geerdes 

Hair & Makeup Designer – Zach Kloppenborg 

Director of Production – Erin M. Solemsaas 

Technical Director – Hunter Andrews Props Mistress – Devon Denn-Young 

Scenic Charge Artist – Savannah Savick Master Carpenter – Jackson Curtright Stitchers – Sherri Geerdes, Zach Kloppenborg, Audio Helkuik

Contact The Rose Box Office: 

• 402.345.4849 for more information

• Tickets for play are $20 Main Floor 

• Members of The Rose receive discounted tickets to the production

Disclaimer: I received tickets from The Rose Theater to see It's a Wonderful Life. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

WW: The Orpheum Theater {Linky}

I've been super duper busy with midterms. I had to rewrite my exams because the students have newer systems, so we can't use the online testing system we were using. Lots of work!

Anyhow...a few weeks back we went to The Orpheum Theater here in Omaha, Nebraska. It's such a beautiful building! I took my students there because they were working on a Theatrical Campaign.

Outside:

I had to pull out the fisheye lens:

Chandelier:

The wiring in their main chandelier dates from 1927. It weighs 1,500 pounds and it's 16-feet tall by eight-feet wide.

Stage:

Back Stage:

Off Stage:

Steps:

Bubble Lights:

Henry Fonda Room:

Henry Fonda is from Omaha, so he has a room dedicated to him. After this I went home, and put On the Golden Pond on hold at the library. The kids thought it was boring, but I love rewatching it! Travis enjoyed seeing it for the first time.

The Lion King Mask:

Drinking Fountain:

Do you like visiting theaters? We had this one to ourselves! 

Matilda the Musical Review @RoseTheaterCo

We all needed a break. It was fun to step out of our daily routine to go to The Rose Theater.

The show we saw was called Matilda the Musical. I'm sure many of you have seen the movie. The musical is just as fun! 

The boys just keep getting taller, and taller in comparison to their show poster.

Let's Start the Show:

The show runs from June 7-30.

It's 2 hours + intermission. During intermission they serve cookies and a drink.

It's for all ages. I really think it is for all ages. At times I feel like my boys are too old, for some of the shows at The Rose Theater. This held all our attention. The boys liked the movie, so I knew they'd enjoy the musical. Travis was the only one that hasn't seen the movie. He got into the musical as soon as the principal entered the stage. The principal is a man playing a female. He was so funny!

Matilda is an exceptional child with an extraordinary imagination who learns to claim her destiny. A brilliant girl born into a…less brilliant family, Matilda gets sent away to school at the terrible Crunchem Hall, which is led by the mean former hammer-throwing champion Miss Trunchbull. Armed with good friends and a mentor named Miss Honey, Matilda starts a revolution to help herself and others “change their story.”

Time Magazine’s “Best Show of the Year”. Tony® Award winner. Featuring the hit songs “Naughty” and “When I Grow Up”. Filled with high-energy dance numbers and showcasing Omaha’s most talented youth, Matilda is a joyous spectacle that will inspire the whole family!

Cast:

We liked all the actors that played in Matilda. Our favorites were the stars though.

Matilda – Maddie Smith
Amanda – Meghan Essner
Lavender – Eva Cohen
Alice – Chase Robinson
Hortensia – Summer Hurtienne
Eric – Artie Shaw
Bruce – Jonas Caruso
Nigel – Judson Cloudt
Tommy – Carter Pflug
Big Kids- Lillian Cohen, Olivia Hess, Chisom Anyaegbunam, Kaylee Lempke, Chuck Sams*, Elliot Kerkhofs, John Kinney Miss HoneY – Melissa King
Trunchbull – Joey Galda
Mrs. Phelps – Brissa Lopez
Mr. Wormwood – Zach Kloppenborg
Mrs. Wormwood – Sarah Gibson
Rudolpho/Dad 1 – Fran X. Adrianto
Escapologist/Dad 2/Big Kid – Danny Enriquez
Sergei/Dad 3/Big Kid – Earl Spears
Michael Wormwood/Dad 4 – Jonathan Algeroy
Doctor/Big Kid/Henchman – Ben Adams
Acrobat/Mom 2/Big Kid – Kendra Ball
Henchman/Big Kid – Katie Aguilar

Artistic and Production Credits:

I love looking at the set. This one had books, and really cool lighting throughout the show.

Director – Matt Gutschick
Music Director – Jerry Brabec
Choreographer – Sue Gillespie Booton
Scenic Designer – Tim McMath
Lighting & Sound Designer – Craig S. Moxon
Projection Designer – Brittany Merenda
Costume Designer – Sherri Geerdes
Hair & Makeup Designer – Erin Bragg
Production Stage Manager – Lisa Krabbenhoft
Director of Production – Erin M. Solemsaas
Technical Director – Greg Rishoi
Props Mistress – Devon Denn-Young
Scenic Charge Artist – Savannah Savick
Master Carpenter – Jackson Curtright
Associate Lighting Designer – Elton Bradley
Sound Engineer – Christy Hernandez
Scenic Apprentice – Austin Watson
Assistant Stage Manager – Grace Luis
Followspot Operator – Molly Zabawa
Fly Rail Operator – Zach Ackerman
Run Crew – Jesse Groff, Al Kroeten, Nathan Scott
Stitchers – Sherri Geerdes, Erin Bragg, Audio Helkiuk, Jill Maenner

Orchestra:

There was live music that is front and beneath the stage.

Conductor/Keyboard III – Jerry Brabec
Trumpet I – Tim Houston
Trumpet II – Deb Bouffard
Trombone – Paul Niebalski
Reed I – Scott Vicroy
Reed II – Mark Benson
Cello – Christina Allred
Guitar – Ben Eisenberger
Bass – Tom Miller
Keyboard I – Jared Kmiecik
Keyboard II – Amy Nunamaker
Percussion – Michael Pollock

The End of the Show:

They had a question and answer session. I liked that one of the main stars was there to answer questions. Then there was an autograph signing as well.

I'm really glad we were able to go! I enjoyed it, so much!

Disclaimer: I got tickets from The Rose Theater to help write this review. The Rose Theater did not tell me what to write. All opinions are my own.