SPRING 2026
elcome Spring elcome Spring W W
The Lied Center is growing and plans are underway to elevate the patron experience in the main hall lobby and create a studio theater which will be a venue for Nebraska artists of all ages to take the stage. It’s truly such a special time to be part of the Lied Center family, and we’re so glad you’re joining us for the wonderful journey!
In February, we broke ground on the Building the Future project, a privately funded multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion. This project ensures the Lied Center is positioned for the future so we can continue thrilling audiences, inspiring young people, and serving as one of the very best places to experience “The Good Life” in Nebraska. We could not be more grateful to all the generous partners who have gotten us this far, and to those who made the groundbreaking ceremony such a special memory. You can read more about the project and see the exciting renderings at liedcenter.org/future! You are invited to join us in setting the stage for the future.
We also just announced the 2026-2027 Glenn Korff Broadway Series, featuring the return of Hamilton, the most-attended show in Lied Center history! Also included are the hilarious Shucked, the dazzling and high-flying Water for Elephants, the classic murder mystery fun of Clue, and a smash hit Broadway musical that will be announced in May. Here’s what we can tell you – it’s always one of the most requested shows by Lied Center audiences!
I also want to offer my sincere gratitude to everyone who made this year’s Friends of Lied Gala such a spectacular success and unforgettable evening of fun, and make special mention to Gala Co-Chairs Gary Tharnish and Clover Frederick. Thanks to the hard work and generosity of so many of our amazing Friends of Lied members and Lied Center staff, hundreds of people enjoyed an evening under the palms in support of the arts!
As always, thank you for all that you do to support the Lied Center’s mission of educating, inspiring, and entertaining the people of Nebraska through the performing arts. I’ll see you soon #AtTheLied!
The Friends of Lied board has been very busy this past quarter! FOL ended the 2025 membership campaign with over $577,000 in donations. This translates to real support of the Lied Center and programs that impact communities across the state. Thank you for being a part of an organization that makes such a difference for so many people.
The end of January brought the Lied Royale: A Night Under the Palms Gala, and what a night it was! Besides all the celebrating, we raised the most money of any of our galas. An enormous thanks to our gala chairs, Clover Frederick and Gary Tharnish, and to all the members of the FOL board for your numerous hours of planning and set-up. You are all amazing!
The Friends of Lied will be presenting our annual check to the Lied Center on stage later this spring. The check represents all FOL member donations from the past year and proceeds from our prior year gala. We look forward to celebrating your support of the Lied Center for Performing Arts. Watch your email for more details on the check presentation.
Bill Stephan, CVE Executive Director & Chief Artistic Officer
Deb Nelson President Friends of Lied Board of Directors
FRIENDS OF LIED EVENTS
The Friends of Lied Board was busy this winter with several events:
Staff Appreciation Lunch - The FOL board treated Lied Center staff to a special lunch at the Talon Room on Jan. 20 as a thank you for their dedication to making the Lied Center an outstanding performing arts center and the support they provide the Friends of Lied. Lied Center Service Awards were given to staff reaching milestone anniversaries: Mark Moore, 15 years; Steve Pearson, 15 years; Amy Ossian, 10 years; Bethany Blackman, 10 years; Jane Schiermeyer Hansen, 5 years; Lauren Durban, 5 years.
Open House and Behind-the-Scenes Tour - Friends of Lied members at the Fabulous Friend level or higher were invited to a special Open House and Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the Lied Center on Jan. 8. Attendees were treated to food and drinks from Venue before going on a backstage tour, giving attendees a fun opportunity to learn something new and different about the Lied.
Pre-Performance Dinner - A special Valentine’s Day dinner before The Best of the Second City! was held at the Talon Room by the FOL Board on Feb. 14. This fun themed meal was held for performance attendees as an easy way to do “dinner and a show” for just $50 per person, right across the street from the Lied Center. As an extra treat for the holiday, a limited number of tables for two were available, complete with a bottle of sparkling wine.
STAFF FEATURE: JESSE SNYDER
I have been on staff at the Lied Center for the past 19 years, but I first started working at the Lied Center when I was a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1999. I commute to the Lied Center at least five days a week from Omaha (17 ½ years), where I live with my wife, Jeni; our two children, Alex (15) and Emily (10); two cats, Rico and Hiro; and our dog, Penny. Jeni is a Veterinary Technician, Practice Manager, and partial owner at Western Hills Pet Hospital in Omaha, and I love how much she cares for animals. Alex is in a Scout Troop, plays cello in orchestra and tuba in band, sings in choir, and runs cross country and track. Emily loves to play volleyball and dance, is learning how to play viola, and is in Cub Scouts. My activities outside of the Lied Center typically revolve around my wonderful family. My volunteering activities are Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 405, Assistant Den Leader & Fundraising Chair for Pack 561, The Water’s Edge church, donate blood regularly (12 gallons so far), and volunteer at my daughter’s school as a Watch Dog. I have a second job with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 151 in Lincoln and serve as the Chairperson for our Governance Board. My favorite program at the Lied Center is Arts Across Nebraska. To see the artists work, play music and dance with students from all over the state is truly inspiring.
WELCOME NEW FRIENDS OF LIED MEMBERS!
Ashley Bostock
Matthew & Kristi Carley
Scott & Christina Cerveny
Marilyn Cintani
Anthony Clarke
Todd & Ashlee Crawford
Mary Curtis
Hunter DeBoer
Kent & Janice Eakins
Jerry & LaVonne Elfring
Stu & Denise Essman
Jonathan Foreman & Jennifer
Blake Foreman
Jesse Snyder
Joined Nov. 7, 2025 - Feb. 20, 2026
Heather Gaver
Megan Grimes
Sanford Grossbart & Priscilla Henkelmann
Marcy D. Haas
Patricia Haggard
Tom Harrison
Karen Hywood
Daniel Jenson
Matt Jordan
Jeff & Pam Krenk
Teresa LaFave
Jena Lambert
Michelle Langley
Stephanie Retzlaff Leeding
In Memory of Diane Lohmeier
Robert & Christine Makowski
Kelly Manning
Richard Marolf
Carol McShane
Beth & Brandon Meier
Carie Miller
Kelly Mumm
Mike & Debbie Neill
Karen Nelson
Melissa & Ray Nierman
Richard Nielsen
Phillip Johnson
Nathan & Jennifer Price
Susan Ruyle
Akshat Saraf
Seney Family
Chad & Susan Stevens
Jessi Svoboda
Denise R Taylor
Kimberly Tyler & Paul Kramer
2026 Friends of Lied Gala
The annual Lied fundraiser held by the Friends of Lied board is always a highly anticipated event –this year’s Lied Royale: A Night Under the Palms gala brought a vintage Palm Beach bash to the Lied Center on Jan. 31. The incredible generosity of the nearly 450 attendees and sponsors raised over $173,000 to support performing arts in Nebraska.
Gala co-chairs Clover Frederick and Gary Tharnish, along with the Friends of Lead Board of Directors, worked tirelessly to plan and pull off the night. The Lied Center staff also lent their expertise in the weeks leading up to the big event.
Upon arrival, guests were greeted by complimentary signature cocktails as they toured the silent auction. The evening then continued on the main stage, where palm leaves and vibrant colors set the scene for a formal dinner reminiscent of a high-society tropical gala. Guests dined on filet and coconut shrimp with mango sauce, followed by a panna cotta dessert featuring tropical fruits.
During the dinner program, guests’ attention was captured by the Palm Royale Orchestra featuring the smooth vocals of Frankie Allegro, accompanied by the Palm Royale dancers. Then an exhilarating live auction encouraged the crowd to open their hearts and pocketbooks. Most-wanted items included a trip to Key West, a custom A.T. Thomas Jewelry opal pendant, a Napa Valley wine train adventure, and for the third straight year, a private dinner by Chef Rachel McGill at DISH. Guests could also pledge a donation to “Fill the Heart for the Arts” and watch onscreen as progress continued toward that goal.
Following dinner and the live auction, guests could enjoy the music of the Palm Royale Orchestra on the main stage. Or they could dance the night away to classic hit songs spun by DJ Chatters in the Gilded Flamingo Club - a.k.a., Carson Theater.
As the night of vintage tropical glamour drew to a close, it was clear the Lied Royale was a wonderful evening that allowed guests to come together in support of the mission of the Lied Center.
‘Building the Future’ of the Lied Center
On Feb. 10, the Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln officially broke ground on Building the Future, a $35 million privately funded addition and renovation to Nebraska’s Performing Arts Center.
The Building the Future project will ensure the Lied Center remains Nebraska’s destination for the world’s most distinctive artists. The project will include an iconic new entrance along Q Street, as well as enhanced lobbies, a new studio theater, and numerous other enhancements.
See her in action as she leads the spectacular Philadelphia Orchestra at the Lied Center on March 26!
The anticipated completion date for the project is fall 2027. Lied Center performances and programs will continue throughout construction.
Read more about the project and see renderings of the new and upgraded spaces at liedcenter.org/future! Want to know more about how YOU can be part of the future of the Lied Center?
Reach out to Amy Ossian at aossian2@unl.edu.
Pioneering Conductor Marin Alsop Leads Philadelphia Orchestra
Marin Alsop grew up with what was, at the time, an impossible dream. After seeing the legendary Leonard Bernstein conduct at Carnegie Hall, she started telling people that someday she was going to be the conductor. Time after time, she was told no –girls couldn’t do that.
Fast forward a few decades (including being mentored by her hero Leonard Bernstein), and Alsop proved them all wrong. She made history as the first female conductor of a major orchestra in the United States... and also in South America, Austria, and Britain. She is considered among the greatest living conductors, was the first conductor ever awarded a MacArthur Fellowship (the “Genius Grant”), and continues to break barriers and mentor the next generation of female conductors.
Behind Every Powerful Woman... Are More Powerful Women
Making its Nebraska debut at the Lied Center this May, the Tony Award®-winning musical Suffs brings to life the brilliant, passionate, and funny American women who fought tirelessly for the right to vote. Created by Shaina Taub, the first woman to ever independently win Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score in the same season, this “thrilling, inspiring and dazzlingly entertaining” (Variety) new musical boldly explores the triumphs and failures of a struggle for equality that’s far from over. Winner of the Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Musical. Experience history at the Lied Center May 5-10!
Author Sandra Cisneros to visit Lincoln in April
This season, the Lied Center for Performing Arts is partnering with Linked2Literacy on Read, Connect, Celebrate: The House on Mango Project, a year-long, community-centered initiative inspired by Sandra Cisneros’ novel “The House on Mango Street”. Designed to celebrate Lincoln-particularly the experiences of New Americans-the project blends reading, arts programming, and dialogue to transform literature into a shared, cross-generational experience.
A highlight of the initiative was two staged readings at the Lied Center on Nov. 8, 2025, where local actors brought Esperanza’s story to life for more than 300 audience members, adding new depth and immediacy to the text.
The celebration continues April 9 at 6:30 p.m. with a special, free public event featuring acclaimed author Sandra Cisneros at the Ted Sorensen Auditorium at Lincoln High School-an intimate lecture and conversation offering a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of today’s most influential literary voices.
These events highlight how a single book can spark connection, creativity, and belonging, reminding us that stories don’t just live on the page, but within the communities that share them. For more information on the project and a full events listing, please visit https://www.linked2literacy.org/ the-house-on-mango-project.
Arts Across Nebraska Upcoming Events
123 Andrés
Join GRAMMY and Latin Grammy Award-winning 123 Andrés in this lively, interactive concert to search the continents and learn about geography and music along the way. Andrés and Christina, both native Spanish speakers, incorporate language seamlessly, empowering students to sing in both Spanish and English, as well as moving and dancing. Learning has never been so fun!
All performances are student matinees - no public tickets available.
Johnny Carson Theater - Norfolk - Tue., Mar. 31
Hayward & Northside Elementary - Nebraska CityWed., Apr. 1
Merryman Performing Arts Center - Kearney - Thu., Apr. 2
Animal Engine Theatre Company’s Capital City Money. Corruption. Murder. Welcome to Capital City. In this searing original play inspired by Nebraska author Mari Sandoz’ infamous novel “Capital City”, the Great Depression has split the people of a fictional Midwestern city in two: the rich and the poor. What lengths will the have-nots go to gain back their land, homes, and dignity? How far will the haves go to make sure they control it all? An original commission from the Lied Center of Nebraska, Animal Engine returns to Nebraska after performing their popular Willa Catherinspired epic Henrietta Solway in 2023.
Fremont Opera House - Fremont - Tue., Apr. 14 at 7 p.m.
Prichard Auditorium - Falls City - Thu., Apr. 16 at 7 p.m.
APS Central Office Auditorium - Auburn - Fri., Apr. 17 at 7 p.m.
Visit www.liedcenter.org/education/arts-across-nebraska for more information and venue-specific ticketing links.
FamFest Fun with Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!
Before the curtain rose for Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! on Feb. 19, families gathered in the lobby for the Lied Center’s beloved FamFest tradition. Doors opened early for more than an hour of free, hands-on fun, transforming the space into a lively pre-show celebration filled with games, crafts, activities, and treats. The atmosphere was energetic and welcoming, with children moving between stations, creating and playing alongside their families.
Inspired by the mischievous Pigeon, activities included the Pigeon Drivers Academy obstacle course, a “Make Your
Own Driver’s License” station, pigeon-themed crafts, and other interactive tables. Community partners, including Linked2Literacy, distributed free books, and local nonprofits hosted activity booths to share information about their work. Generous sponsors Runza, Pepsi, and The Cookie Company provided refreshments. Friends of Lied volunteers supported the Lied Education staff by serving refreshments and managing the photo booth, helping make the event a great success.
Thanks to everyone who braved the snow to celebrate FamFest with us!
Lied Center for Perf orming Ar ts
301 Nort h 12th Street PO Box 880151
Lincoln, NE 68588-0151
liedcenter.org/suppor t/friends
