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CommUNITY Connections
CommUNITY Connections is the outreach program at The Rose Theater. Through this program, we make theater programming available to Omaha area children and families who have not traditionally had access to the theater arts. This programming is offered at free or reduced rates to community organizations and individual participants.
For community organization and schools there are several free workshop options available. To reserve a CommUNITY Connections workshop, please email to Prentiss Matthews at Prentissm@rosetheater.org
Workshops & Experiences
Young, Gifted, and Black (YGB)
Grades Middle – High School
Young, Gifted, and Black (YGB) is a program that approaches theatrical practices from a Afrocentric perspective. Lessons will involve audition techniques and monologue study of works written by African-American artists. The overall goal of the program is to amplify Black voices as well as teaching young folks on how to train for productions in the Omaha area and beyond.
BIG 5
Grades 1st – 8th
Create, connect and discover new ways to express yourself through our Big 5 programming, exploring acting, singing, dancing, creative writing and visual art. Designed for Omaha-area youth organizations, this five-session program is led by two professional Teaching Artists and serves groups of 15–20 students at no or reduced cost.
IAM Dance Workshops
Ages 5 – 15
Focus on blending art with athletics through Hip Hop, Ballet or Lyrical. Offered as either a one-time or six-week classes, young dancers are able to dip their toes or dive in to the world of dance.
Let’s Get Loud Workshops
All Ages
“Let’s Get Loud” is a dynamic workshop, promoting physical and mental health through creative and visual art. With bilingual teachers and culturally rich environment, students are supported through a creative journey and walk away with skills that help them thrive.
Song & Movement
Grades K – 12
Build confidence and important skills with guidance from local Omaha theater professionals that prepare future stars for their next role. Students will learn what to expect during dance auditions, how to select and cut a song for a musical theater audition and prepare a monologue to memorize and perform.
Audition Workshops
Age 8 – 18
Build confidence and important skills with guidance from local Omaha theater professionals that prepare future stars for their next role. Students will learn what to expect during dance auditions, how to select and cut a song for a musical theater audition and prepare a monologue to memorize and perform.
Act Up
Grades Middle – High School
Dive deeper, perform stronger and discover your actor’s toolbox in this acting-centered extension of our Big 5 programming, exploring character development, monologue study, Laban movement, improvisation and scene work. Designed for middle and high school students, this program can be offered once a week for five weeks or as a five-day camp, with each session lasting one hour.
Technical Theater & Design Workshops
Grades 5 – 12
Roll up your sleeves and learn how to create the props, scenery, costumes and other technical elements for a play or musical. Then get hands-on because it is time to design and create your own designs!
BIG 3 Workshops
All Ages
Experience the best of CommUNITY Connections with the BIG 3 Workshop, an engaging two-hour introduction to acting, dance and visual arts led by our Teaching Artists. Designed for grades K–12, this customizable workshop uses fun, interactive activities to build creativity, confidence, collaboration and self-expression.
Looking for group tickets to a show at The Rose?
Through our CommUNITY Connections program, local schools, nonprofits and community organizations may request complimentary group tickets to select Rose Theater Mainstage performances. We’re proud to help make live theater more accessible to young people and families throughout our community.
Requests are reviewed based on availability, and submitting the form does not guarantee tickets. Initial offers for Member Shows are generally limited to 30 tickets; Premium Show tickets are typically reserved for special opportunities and require prior approval.
Tours
Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at The Rose?
Book a one-hour tour through Community Connections for your school, nonprofit organization, or family, and get an inside look at how The Rose brings theatre to life every day. Explore our spaces, learn about the creative process, and discover the magic that happens both on and off the stage.
To book a tour, contact Doriette Johnson at doriettej@rosetheater.org
History of CommUNITY Connections
Based on the theater-for-social-change programming model, CommUNITY Connections began in 2015 with the idea of “transforming pain into power.” The first year examined the effects of gang violence in the community, which led many participants to say that they felt they were being heard for the first time. Subsequent projects examined issues like teen pregnancy, mass youth incarceration, foster care and DACA.
The Rose Theater continues to grow and expand on using theater to shed light on social issues, call people to action and celebrate our strengths as a community.
To reserve a CommUNITY Connections workshop, please email to Prentiss Matthews at prentissm@rosetheater.org.
