The Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards (OEAA) recognizes some of the most talented artists and entertainers in the Omaha area. Voting for the awards is separated into three genres: Visual Arts, Performing Arts and Live Music. To be eligible for an award, artists must have performed or exhibited work between September 1, 2018 and August 31, 2019.
Learn more about the selection process here.
Congratulations to the following nominees. Winners will be announced at the 14th Annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards in early 2020.
Performing Arts Nominees
Outstanding Actor (Musical)
- Jodi Vaccaro – Ragtime (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- J. Isaiah Smith – Ragtime (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Katie Miller – Into the Woods (Papillion-La Vista Community Theatre)
- Torisa Walker – Legally Blonde: The Musical (Creighton University)
- Angie Heim – Fun Home (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Mackenzie Dehmer – The Bridges of Madison County (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Nadia Williams – The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin (The Union for Contemporary Art)
- Steve Krambeck – Shrek, The Musical (Omaha Community Playhouse)
Outstanding Actor (Play)
- Josh Peyton – Of Mice and Men (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Teri Fender – Men on Boats (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Steve Krambeck – One Man, Two Guv’nors (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Jonathan Purcell – Indecent (BLUEBARN Theatre)
- Devel Crisp – The Blues of Knowing Why (Great Plains Theatre Conference at The Union for Contemporary Art)
- Felicia Webster – The Blues of Knowing Why (Great Plains Theatre Conference at The Union for Contemporary Art)
- Giovanni Quezada – Leading Ladies (Florence Community Theater)
- Anna Jordan – I and You (BLUEBARN Theatre)
Outstanding Comedian
- Brandon Kew
- Rome Dailey
- Angi Sada
- Stephanie Hillier
- Ty Ingram
- Carlos Tibbs
- Richard Reese
- Zach Peterson
Outstanding Comedy
- Men on Boats (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Leading Ladies (Florence Community Theater)
- An Act of God (BLUEBARN Theatre)
- Baskerville (Bellevue Little Theatre)
- One Man, Two Guv’nors (Omaha Community Playhouse)
Outstanding Comedy Ensemble
- Chuck & Bill Comedy
- Just Janet
- Yer Mom’s Comedy Show
- Pretty Much Entertainment
- Broad Perspective
- LIVE! AT THE BACKLINE
Outstanding Director (Musical)
- Kimberly Faith Hickman – Ragtime (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Denise Chapman – The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin (The Union for Contemporary Art)
- Roxanne Wach – Fun Home (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Kimberly Faith Hickman – Shrek, The Musical (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Suzanne Withem – Little Women (Chanticleer Community Theater)
- Matt Gutschick – Elf, The Musical (The Rose Theater)
- Amy Lane – Legally Blonde: The Musical (Creighton University)
Outstanding Director (Play)
- Amy Lane – Men on Boats (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Susan Clement-Toberer – Indecent (BLUEBARN Theatre)
- Ablan Roblin – Of Mice and Men (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Denise Chapman – More than Neighbors (Great Plains Theatre Conference at The Union for Contemporary Art)
- Beth Thompson – She Kills Monsters (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Amy Lane and Beth Thompson – The Flora and the Fauna (Independent Production)
- Anthony Clark-Kaczmarek – One Man, Two Guv’nors (Omaha Community Playhouse)
Outstanding Drama
- Indecent (BLUEBARN Theatre)
- The Woodsman (BLUEBARN Theatre)
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Of Mice and Men (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- More Than Neighbors (The Union for Contemporary Art)
- The Blues of Knowing Why (Great Plains Theatre Conference at The Union for Contemporary Art)
- Bold Girls (Brigit Saint Brigit Theatre Company)
- The Flora and The Fauna (Independent Production)
Outstanding Local Dance Production
- Waiting for Reality – tbd. dance collective and Nik Fackler (Kaneko)
- Nutcracker Delights – Ever After Productions
- The Wizard of Oz – American Midwest Ballet (Orpheum Theater)
- Midland University Dance Showcase – Midland University (Kimmel Theatre)
- Kenneth Owens
- Kusher Snazzy
- Queerniverse Burlesque
- The Africa Djawa – African Culture Connection
Outstanding Local Performance Poet
- Trac Schacht
- Felicia Webster
- Jules Wuestewald
- Corro Corleone
- Ryan Boyland
- Geovauni X
- Heidi Prairiesong Hermanson
- Paula Bell
Outstanding Musical
- Ragtime (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Fun Home (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Matilda, The Musical (The Rose Theater)
- The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin (The Union for Contemporary Art)
- Legally Blonde: The Musical (Creighton University)
- Little Women (Chanticleer Community Theater)
- Into the Woods (Papillion-La Vista Community Theatre)
Outstanding Premiere of a New, Original, Local Script
- The Blues of Knowing Why – Christopher Maly (Great Plains Theatre Conference at The Union for Contemporary Art)
- More Than Neighbors – Denise Chapman (The Union for Contemporary Art)
- Handled – Shayne Kennedy (Creighton University)
- Return to Niobrara – Mary Katheryn Nagle (The Rose Theater)
- EPIC – Ellen Struve (Great Plains Theatre Conference at Metropolitan Community College
- The Doll Maker’s Gift – book by EllaRose Chary and Fran Sillau; music by Brian Feinstein; lyrics by Sammy Buck (The Rose Theater)
- Nested – Ashley Laverty (Kerfuffle)
- The White Gander – Jill Anderson (The Ollie Webb Center)
Outstanding Supporting Actor (Musical)
- Robyn Helwig – Into the Woods (Papillion-La Vista Community Theatre)
- Joey Hartshorn – The Bridges of Madison County (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Jordan Smith – Shrek, The Musical (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Melissa King – Matilda, The Musical (The Rose Theater)
- Jon Flower – Ragtime (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Dara Hogan – Ragtime (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Brandi Smith – The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin (The Union for Contemporary Art)
- Joey Galda – Matilda, The Musical (The Rose Theater)
Outstanding Supporting Actor (Play)
- Yone Edegbele – Men on Boats (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Mike Palmreuter – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Brendan Brown – She Kills Monsters (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Daena Schweiger – Men on Boats (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Ezra Colon – Indecent (BLUEBARN Theatre)
- Leanne Hill-Carlson – Indecent (BLUEBARN Theatre)
- Carrie Beth Stickrod – She Kills Monsters (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Anthony Holmes – More Than Neighbors (The Union for Contemporary Art)
Outstanding Choreographer
- Sue Gillespie Booton – Matilda, The Musical (The Rose Theater)
- Sue Gillespie Booton – Elf, The Musical (The Rose Theater)
- Michelle Garrity – Ragtime (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Julian Adair – Nutcracker Delights (Ever After Productions)
- Melanie Walters – Indecent (BLUEBARN Theatre)
- Kelsey Schwenker
- Kusher Snazzy
- Kenneth Owens
Outstanding Costume Design
- Lindsay Pape – Shrek, The Musical (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Lindsay Pape – Ragtime (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Amanda Fehlner – She Kills Monsters (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Jenny Pool – The Woodsman (BLUEBARN Theatre)
- Lora Kaup – Legally Blonde: The Musical (Creighton University)
- Deborah Overturff – The Wizard of Oz (American Midwest Ballet)
Outstanding Lighting Design
- Chris Wood – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Craig Moxon – Matilda, The Musical (The Rose Theater)
- Steven Williams – Indecent (BLUEBARN Theatre)
- Jim Othuse – Fun Home (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Joshua Mullady – I and You (BLUEBARN Theatre)
- Joey Lorincz – Beauty & The Beast (Ralston Community Theatre)
- Rick Goble – Men on Boats (Omaha Community Playhouse)
Outstanding Music Direction
- Jim Boggess – Ragtime (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Liz Stinman – Into The Woods (Papillion-La Vista Community Theatre)
- Jerry Brabec – Matilda, The Musical (The Rose Theater)
- Jennifer Novak Haar – Fun Home (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Jim Boggess – Shrek, The Musical (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Jim Boggess – The Bridges of Madison County (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Liz Stinman – Little Women (Chanticleer Community Theater)
- Hal France and Olga Smola – Indecent (BLUEBARN Theatre)
Outstanding Props Design
- Robyn Helwig – Baskerville (Bellevue Little Theatre)
- Darin Kuehler – Shrek, The Musical (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Amy Reiner – The Woodsman (BLUEBARN Theatre)
- Darin Kuehler – Ragtime (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Amy Reiner – Indecent (BLUEBARN Theatre)
- Darin Kuehler – She Kills Monsters (Omaha Community Playhouse)
Outstanding Scenic Design
- Ben Adams – Into the Woods (Papillion-La Vista Community Theatre)
- Steven Williams – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Tim McMath – Matilda, The Musical (The Rose Theater)
- Jim Othuse – Men on Boats (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Adam Rowe – Elf, The Musical (The Rose Theater)
- Kathy Voecks – The Return to Niobrara (The Rose Theater)
- Bill Van Deest – The Blues of Knowing Why (Great Plains Theatre Conference at The Union for Contemporary Art)
Outstanding Sound Design
- Jay Hanson and John Gibilisco – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Bill Kirby – Indecent (BLUEBARN Theatre)
- John Gibilisco – Men on Boats (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Molly Welsh – I and You (BLUEBARN Theatre)
- Bill Kirby – Legally Blonde: The Musical (Creighton University)
Outstanding Performance by a Young Actor
- Maddie Smith – Matilda, The Musical (The Rose Theater)
- Pieper Roeder – Ragtime (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Dina Saltzman – The Secret Garden (University of Nebraska at Omaha)
- Riley Perez – She Kills Monsters (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Alyssa Riha – The Voice of the Prairie (Lofte Community Theatre)
- Dominic Torres – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Omaha Community Playhouse)
- Sasha Dennenberg – Fun Home (Omaha Community Playhouse)
Visual Arts Nominees
Outstanding Visual Artist
- Barber
- Shawnequa Linder
- Sora Kimberlain
- Bart Vargas
- Jave Yoshimoto
Outstanding Emerging Visual Artist
- Barber
- Ang Bennett
- Michael Elizabeth Johnson
- Shawnequa Linder
- Emma Krenzer
Outstanding New Media Artist
- Nik Fackler
- Alex Myers
- Reagan D Pufall
Outstanding 2-D Artist
- Barber
- Anthony Deon Brown
- Shawnequa Linder
- Christina Narwicz
- Patty Talbert
- Shea Wilkinson
Outstanding 3-D Artist
- Travis Apel
- Pamela Conyers-Hinson
- David Helm
- Sora Kimberlain
- Bart Vargas
- Jave Yoshimoto
Outstanding Group Show
- “Interlaced” (Sanctuarium) – Emma Krenzer, Joelle Wellansa, and Laura Simpson
- “Nebraska 8” (Gallery 1516) – Mary Zicafoose, Christina Narwicz, Karen Kunc, Jacqueline Kluver, Gail Kendall, Sheila Hicks, Catherine Ferguson, and Wanda Ewing
- “OOOze” (Generator Space) – Barber, Adam Roberts, and Angie Seykora
- “Summer Exhibition” (Modern Arts Midtown) – Jamie Burmeister, Tom Rierden, James Freeman, Laura Nothern, Bob Culver, Troy Muller, Iggy Sumnik, Colin C. Smith, Larry Roots, Sora Kimberlain, Roberto Kusterle, Theresa Pfarr, Brian Gennardo, Fulvio DePellegrin, Charles Novich, John Spence, David Lovekin, Justin Meyers, and Stuart Wheat
- “2018 Union for Contemporary Art Fellows Exhibition” (The Union for Contemporary Art) – Barber, Pamela Conyers-Hinson, Chikadibia Ebirim, Ashley Laverty, and Dominique Morgan
Outstanding Solo Show
- “Effects of PTSD” (Fred Simon Gallery) – Elizabeth Boutin
- “Shaped by the Other” (The Union for Contemporary Art) – Santiago Cal
- “Phonological Loop” (Sanctuarium) – Casey Callahan
- “Gay Sex Heaven” (Petshop) – Michael Elizabeth Johnson
- “Parallel Worlds” (Gallery 72) – Shea Wilkinson
- “Tempestuous Microcosm” (The Union for Contemporary Art ) – Jave Yoshimoto
Outstanding Two-Person Show
- Katie Temple and Todd McCollister (Fred Simon Gallery)
- Bert Leaverton and Peter Fankhauser (Michael Phipps Gallery)
- John Dennison and Paula Wallace, “Horizon Lines” (Anderson O’Brien Fine Art)
- James Bockelman and Mike Ian Larsen, “Cleft” (Project Project)
- Pha Nguyen and Carley Scott Fields, “Dance a Dance of Another” (Sanctuarium)
Outstanding Public Art
- “The Ancestor, The Identity, and The Seed” (N. 24th and Ohio streets) – Reggie LeFlore with assistance from Barber
- “The Irish Community Mural,” part of the South Omaha Mural Project (Donohue’s Pub on 33rd and L streets) – Rebecca Harrison (lead artist), Quin Slovek, Grant Reid, Mike Giron, Richard Harrison, and neighborhood contributors from the South Omaha community
- “Threads of Life: The Mayan Community Mural,” part of the South Omaha Mural Project (Kubat’s Pharmacy on the 24th and N Plaza De La Raza) – Jair Rodriguez (lead artist), Illamen Pelshaw, Hugo Zamarano, Richard Harrison, and neighborhood contributors from the South Omaha community
- “Untitled” (in a Benson alley between Ted & Wally’s and Omaha Bicycle Co.) – Nolan Tredway
Outstanding Presentation in a Non-Traditional Format
- “Labyrinth: Omaha Art Maze” (Anderson O’Brien Fine Art and Omaha Design Center) Featuring: featuring: Jane Booth, Bart Vargas, Liz Vercruysse, Conrad Hinz, Rebecca Hermann, Dan Richters, Jennifer Gowan, Shawnequa Linder, Tad Lauritzen-Wright, Stacy Skold, Peter Walkley, Karen Chesterman, Lori Elliott-Bartle, David Sebberson, Tom Maakestad, Katie B. Temple, Vince Hron, Wendy Hall, Jenny Gummersall, Jennifer Rivera, Connie Connally, Paula Wallace, Deborah Murphy, Signe Stuart, Cassia Kite, Carol Thompson, Ray Tomasso, Lisa Tubach, Susan Puelz, Kevin Tolman, Judy Greff, Tim Hahn, Shelly Bartek, and Tim Jaeger
- “DIY Music Venue” (Mayflower Mobile Gallery at Maha) featuring Tyler Emory, JP Gurnett, Hugo Zamorano, Stephen Kavanaugh, and various performing artists including Queerniverse, Crabrangucci, Joe Benson, Michele Murphy, and the BFF crew
- “Sacred Seed Pop-Up” (727 S. 13th St.) – Taylor Keen in collaboration with Warren Distribution, No More Empty Pots, The Nature Conservancy, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Kaneko, Kinghorn Gardens, MVL Design, and Mayflower Mobile Gallery (MaMO)
- “Spectrum Art Show!” (Nasty Art Collective and Apollon Art Space) featuring Eli Rigatuso, Michael Elizabeth Johnson, Angi Sada, Alex Jochim, Shira Sterling, Elspeth Hunnicutt, Ang Bennett, Bart Vargas, Mary Ensz, Enrique Lopez, Abby Martin, Jim Martin, Heather Tomasello, Nicole Hulstein, Jenny, Kate Ferris, David Jenowe, January Kristine, Rachel Griel, Nik Mystery, Nova Auron, and Gloriela Moore
Music Nominees
Outstanding Rock
- Gallivant
- David Nance Group
- Radiant Bones
- Jump the Tiger
- Names Without Numbers
Outstanding Hard Rock
- The Impulsive
- Saints of Lust
- Through the Stone
- From This Day Forward
- Evandale
Outstanding Alternative/Indie
- Thick Paint
- Mr. E & Stringless Kite
- Hussies
- And How
- Robo Dojo
Outstanding Pop
- The Real Zebos
- Jocelyn
- Blake Rave
- Isaiah Dominguez
- Jessica Errett
Outstanding Country
- Nick Rucker
- Wasted Highway
- Pony Creek
- Sack of Lions
- Clarence Tilton
Outstanding Americana/Folk
- The Shineys
- Mace Hathaway
- Aly Peeler
- Daniel and the Deliverance
- Grace Giebler
Outstanding Punk
- No Thanks
- Graveyard Smash
- The Scabby Ghouls
- Uh Oh
- Cordial Spew
Outstanding Metal
- The Clincher
- Carnographer
- MurderHouse
- Silence is Madness
- Devil in the Details
Outstanding Progressive/Experimental/EDM
- Stacey Barelos
- Flux Amuck
- Darkwood
- Glow in the Dark
- Kramos
Outstanding Soul
- Mesonjixx
- Edem Soul Music
- Jaguar James
- Enjoli & Timeless
- Liz Gre
Outstanding R&B
- The Fey
- Chad Stoner Band
- Dominique Morgan
- Andrew Bailie
- Jus.B
Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap
- Rey Styles
- Chink Diamond
- Scky Rei
- Corro Corleone
- DEATHGOD
Outstanding DJ
- DFM
- Errik Ejike
- Kethro
- DJ Shor-T
- Crabrangucci
Outstanding Jazz
- Big Wade & Black Swan Theory
- Curly Martin
- Camille Metoyer Moten
- Mitch Towne
- Jorge Nila
Outstanding Blues
- Hector Anchondo
- Sebastian Lane
- Kris Lager Band
- Diego Danger
- Jacob “Cubby” Phillips
Outstanding World
- Rhythm Collective
- The Bishops
- Esencia Latina Band
- Ro Hempel
- Wakanda
Outstanding Cover Band
- Secret Weapon
- Joystick
- Chop Suey!
- PetRock
- Hotel Desperado
Outstanding Recording Studio
- Make Believe Studios
- Ware House Productions
- The Lab Recording Studio
- Another Recording Company
- Screen Door
Outstanding Live Music Sound Engineer
- Mike Pauzed
- Matt Gagne
- Ian Aeillo
- Scott White
- Dan Brennan
Outstanding New Artist
- Radiant Bones
- Jack McLaughlin
- Solo Safe
- DEATHGOD
- Pagan Athletes
Outstanding Album of the Year
- Celestials – Gallivant
- Evandale – Evandale
- Strictly Platonic – The Real Zebos
- Temet Nosce – Garst
- Classic – Camille Metoyer Moten
- White Lightning – Sack of Lions
- Promised Land – Evan Bartels
Outstanding Artist of the Year
- Evandale
- Gallivant
- Marcey Yates
- Garst
- The Real Zebos
- David Nance Group
- Enjoli & Timeless
- Plaque Blague