The Lieder - Summer 2026

THE Summer 2026

Executive Director & Chief Artistic Officer

It’s an exciting time at the Lied Center, and I’m so glad you’re part of it!

We’ve just announced one of the most entertaining seasons in Lied Center history, and I can’t wait to share it with you. Headlining the season is the return of Hamilton, the most popular performing arts event in Lincoln history. It’s joined by a lineup of Broadway hits including Mamma Mia!, SHUCKED, Clue, and Riverdance, along with concerts and special events featuring The Temptations, Trombone Shorty, Stars of Rent Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis in his final season as Music Director.

It all begins with Yächtley Crëw, the world’s number one yacht rock band, and continues all year long with performances designed to help us celebrate, connect, and enjoy life together. From a joyful celebration of Elton John and Billy Joel to a world-class Queen tribute, holiday favorites, and family programming, there truly is something for everyone this season.

Beyond Broadway and familiar favorites, this season also brings remarkable artistic experiences that audiences would typically travel to New York, Paris, or London to see. We’re honored to welcome Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis in his final season as Music Director, along with internationally acclaimed artists including Ballet Hispánico, Italy’s NoGravity, Kodō, and global piano sensations Daniil Trifonov and Isata Kanneh-Mason.

We’re also celebrating a record-setting Give to Lincoln Day with over $166,000 raised thanks to Friends and supporters like you to support our programs, educational initiatives, and community outreach. At the same time, we continue moving forward with our Building the Future project, which began construction in February and remains on track for a Fall 2027 grand re-opening. Throughout construction, Lied Center performances and programs will continue, including full seasons of performances with the world’s top artists. Learn more and get involved at liedcenter.org/future.

As you explore this year’s season, I encourage you to take a closer look at every performance. You may discover a new favorite artist, an unforgettable experience, or a once-in-a-lifetime memory. There has never been a better time to step away from the everyday and experience the very best the performing arts have to offer.

Thank you for being such an important part of the Lied Center family. It’s going to be an amazing year. I look forward to seeing you soon, #AtTheLied!

As the Lied Center season is wrapping up, so too are the activities of the Friends of Lied board. Thanks to all of you, it has been an amazing year. On May 9, the Friends of Lied presented our annual donation to the Lied Center: $675,000! What an exciting accomplishment! This is the largest donation in our history. The good news is that this year’s donations and numbers of FOL members are trending up, and we hope to do a similar or larger check next year.

In May, Friends of Lied held their annual luncheon. This brings together the current board, past board members known as the Legends and new board members. We are so excited to welcome 20 new members to the board! Although our board is large at almost 60 members, we are a working board, putting together many events during the year, including the Lied Gala, and publishing The Lieder. We are so fortunate to have many talented people donating their time and efforts to supporting the Lied Center for Performing Arts.

As my term as president ends, I want to once again thank everyone for their support of the Friends of Lied. Nebraska is fortunate to have the Lied Center so that we may enjoy world class artists close to home. One of the most important parts of our mission statement is to educate the people of Nebraska. Please continue to spread the word about this amazing organization.

Greater Nebraska Meeting - April 2026

One board meeting each year is held outside of the Lied. A special thank you to Pat Chick and Diane Lewis for hosting our Greater Nebraska meeting this April at Prairie Creek Winery in Central City. Thirty-three board members attended. Executive Director Bill Stephen shared highlights of several upcoming shows and reported that construction remains on schedule.

After the meeting, we traveled to Prairie Creek Vineyard, just outside Central City, to learn about the science of winemaking in Nebraska. Established in 2003, the vineyard now spans 13 acres with approximately 4,200 thriving vines. And yes, a little wine tasting was included!

Spring Luncheon

We enjoyed a “Vintage Tea” themed spring luncheon and full board meeting on May 13 at the Country Club of Lincoln, marking the close of Deb Nelson’s term as Board President. Thank you, Deb! The gavel was passed to incoming President Clover Frederick. We also celebrated our departing six-year board members: Paulette Stefka, Dee Cummins, Linda Dickeson, Amy Anderson, Megan D’Amour, and Tami Lambie, along with three-year members Cindy Clausen, Anne Davis, and Terri Pattavina. Fortunately, they can all stay socially connected as members of the Legends! We also were delighted to welcome 20 new board members.

Bill Stephan, Executive Director of the Lied Center for Performing Arts, shared highlights of upcoming events and encouraged everyone to attend Jazz in June. He also noted that construction will move into high gear this summer.

Keeping with the theme, Humanities Nebraska guest speaker Yesterday’s Lady, Susan McLain, showcased vintage fashions from her collection spanning the 1880s through the 1960s, while board members joined the fun by dressing for the occasion.

Staff Feature: Paige Patton

I have worked with the Lied Center as an on-call staff member since 2022 in a variety of front-of-house, ticketing, event support, and administrative roles, combining my lifelong love of the performing arts with a passion for helping people. I was recently promoted to a full-time staff position and couldn’t be happier! Originally from Fairbury, Nebraska, I earned my theatre degree from Doane University in 2020 and have loved building my career in the arts ever since. Whether I’m assisting patrons, working events, or helping things run behind the scenes, I love being part of creating memorable experiences for our community.

Outside of the Lied, I stay deeply involved in Lincoln’s arts scene as an actor, stage manager, choreographer, and arts administrator — basically, if there’s a theater nearby, there’s a good chance I’m there.

This summer, I am especially excited to celebrate the 35th season of Jazz in June, Lincoln’s beloved free outdoor concert series. There is something truly magical about thousands of people gathering together on summer evenings to enjoy great music, great food, and great company. Serving as the coordinator for Jazz in June has taught me so much, and I am incredibly thankful for the amazing people who support the series and make it all possible. When I’m not at the theater or a concert, you can usually find me playing board games with friends, searching for Lincoln’s best food spots, attending Renaissance Faires, or enthusiastically talking about all things Disney. Fun fact: I worked at Walt Disney World twice through the Disney College Program — so yes, I absolutely will tell you my favorite park rankings if given the chance!

Wynton Marsalis

Wynton Marsalis is one of the most decorated and influential artists in American music. He is a nine-time GRAMMY ® Award winner, the first jazz musician to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Music for a jazz composition, a Jazz Master named by the National Endowment for the Arts, and a United Nations Messenger of Peace. These honors reflect a career defined not only by extraordinary artistry, but also by a lifelong commitment to elevating jazz as one of America’s most essential cultural forms.

Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra have become a defining presence at the Lied Center. This October marks his ninth appearance here, a milestone that reflects an enduring partnership dedicated to bringing world-class artistry to Nebraska. Over the years, Marsalis has helped shape some of our most memorable seasons, including our 20th, 25th, and 30th anniversaries. Each visit feels less like a single performance and more like a shared celebration.

This return carries added significance. Alongside the Oct. 9 main stage performance, Marsalis and members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will participate in an extensive residency in Lincoln. Their work will include engagement with Lincoln Public Schools students and a multi-day residency at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. For many young musicians, this is a rare opportunity to learn directly from artists of the highest caliber through coaching, conversation, performances, and collaboration.

This season also marks an important moment in Marsalis’s career. After nearly 40 years founding and leading Jazz at Lincoln Center, he is entering his final year as Artistic Director in 2026–2027. Even as he steps back from that role, he remains an active performer, composer, and guiding force

within the organization he built. It feels less like an ending and more like a passing of leadership within one of the world’s most important jazz institutions.

Over time, the connection between Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Lied Center has only deepened. Each visit feels both familiar and fresh, like reconnecting with a friend who still has stories to share you’ve never heard before. That is what makes this performance so special. It is not only a reflection on Marsalis’s remarkable legacy, but also a celebration of the energy he continues to bring to the stage. With Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, every performance is alive in the moment with music that invites us to listen more closely and connect more deeply.

Please join us for this special evening as we celebrate Wynton Marsalis, his enduring relationship with the Lied Center, and his extraordinary impact on jazz.

On Stage Launches the 2026-2027 Season for Lied Center supporters!

On Thursday, April 30, supporters and friends of the Lied Center gathered for the annual On Stage season announcement party. This event was both the official reveal of the thrilling 2026–2027 season and a chance for donors to choose the events they’d like to sponsor. Attendees were treated to a night under the big top, featuring performances by members of the Omaha Circus Arts and specially curated circus cuisine from Venue.

We also heard from long-time Lied supporters Gene and Kristen Stohs. Their journey began with the Lied Center’s inception and has carried on over the history of the venue. The passion and advocacy they show for the arts is inspiring and infectious.

123 Andrés & Capital City Tours conclude a robust Arts Across Nebraska season

123 Andrés returned to Nebraska for their rescheduled 2025 Arts Across Nebraska engagement this spring, visiting Norfolk, Nebraska City, and Kearney. The GRAMMY award winning children’s duo includes Andrés Salguero and Christina Sanabria. 123 Andrés blends music and language education with vibrancy and excitement as they include Spanish, American Sign Language (ASL), and English in their high-energy performances. While on tour, the pair served students through their expertly crafted student matinee performances. They performed for Norfolk Public Schools students at the Johnny Carson Theater, Hayward Elementary and Northside Elementary students in Nebraska City, and Kearney Public Schools and surrounding rural district students at the Merryman Performing Arts Center in Kearney. Additionally, 123 Andrés worked with teachers via Zoom prior to the tour on the benefits of language and music education integration in the classroom. In total 2,515 Nebraskans were served by the 123 Andrés tour.

Surveys for 123 Andrés indicated that teachers valued the high level of engagement as students learned words in both Spanish and ASL. One teacher stated, “I loved that the students were involved, even in the audience. The performers gave them purposeful actions to do in the audience and were able to bring them back and calm them down quickly. I especially liked that the kids learned Spanish and sign language along with the songs and countries.” Respondents expressed appreciation for professional performances being brought to rural Nebraska, mentioning the value of access to arts and entertainment within their own community.

Our final Arts Across Nebraska tour of 2025-26 saw Animal Engine’s Capital City hit the road in mid-April. Carrie Brown and Karim Muasher are the creative collaborators of Animal Engine creating devised theater pieces based on literary works. In their unique physical style they brought to life Nebraska author Mari Sandoz’s novel, Capital City, which examines the forces that

bitterly contended for wealth and power in several state capitals amidst the Great Depression. On their tour, Capital City visited Fremont, Falls City, and Auburn. Capital City served 9th-12th grade students from Fremont, Falls City, Falls City Sacred Heart, Humboldt, and Auburn high schools through student matinees and workshops. Additionally, each community hosted a public evening performance. The Capital City tour served 1,084 Nebraskans.

Capital City’s surveys were full of awe as students found the performance with just three actors captivating. One student said, “My favorite part of the performance was how fast the actors would switch from scene to scene. I think it’s amazing how the actors performed with only three people. It was cool how one second I’m looking at one scene, then the next I’m watching a flashback.” Adult audiences echoed the students’ appreciation of the company’s performance, adding gratitude for the positive message the piece brought to rural communities.

In total the 2025-26 season served 5,979 Nebraskans, performing 13 student matinees, 5 public performances, and 7 outreach services to communities across Nebraska, traveling 2,016 miles!

We are also grateful to Kat Ousey and the Friends of Lied Education committee members Sheila Schumacher (and husband Leo), Susan Klanecky, Deb Nelson, Gary Tharnish, Kim Hinrichs, Paulette Stefka, and Lisa Roth for hosting membership tables and broadening our impact with patrons in all of our partner communities this season. It makes the program extra meaningful when members can attend, connect with local communities, and participate in Arts Across Nebraska firsthand!

Welcome New Friends of Lied Members!

Cody & Shawna Alexander

Richard Alloway

Althouse Family

Jarrod & Kristen Bantam

Deb Bartels

Tammy & Robert Beck

Kristen Blankley

Raymond & Elizabeth Bloomquist

Lauren Briese

Deanna Briley

Paul Brochtrup

Benson & Oliver Brundage

David & Vickey Bulin

Marge Bunde

Carol & Bruce Burton

Neil & Cindy Butzke

Dianne Bystrom

Campbell & Company

Cabinetry & Design

Brent Comstock

Lynna Gene & George Cook

Donna Crownover

Darby Davidson

Richard DeGeorge

Benjamin & Jennifer Dennis

Laura L. Devine

Jim & Angela Dittmer

David & Annette Downey

Matthew Dunagan & Alanna Beckman

Jonathan Dwyer

Michael & Melissa Eberspacher

Julianna & Clay Ehlers

James & Julie Eilers

Ryan & Anita Foor

Ted & Barb Fraser

John D Fray

Myron-Ruth Gerdes

Maggie Glenn

Anthony L. & Kimberly Goins

Sarah N. Greer

Tracy Gruhn

Kyle & Tracy Haefele

John Heineman

Kate Heltzel

Troy & Kathleen Hendrix

Michael Hilderbrand

Tamara Hildebrand & Family

Pete & Wynn Hjermstad

Amber Honke

Russell Hooker

Jeff & Pam Jacobson

Michael & Malinda Jean Baptiste

Aaron Jensen

Judy Jochum

Jim Johnson

Michael Kemper

Teresa Keslar

Robert G. King

Friends of Lied Check

Presentation

Thanks to the generosity of all of our members, the Friends of Lied made a record donation of $675,000 to the Lied Center this spring. The presentation was made by 2025–2026 Friends of Lied President Deb Nelson and Vice President of Membership

Tami Lambie to the Lied’s Executive Director & Chief Artistic Officer Bill Stephan at the May 9 performance of SUFFS.

Ali Kluver

Keli Kolegraff

Todd & Kelly Krier

Teresa LaFave

Jeremy & Katlin Liss

Jan Lowe

Deborah McCaslin

Terry & Bonnie McCord

Kim McCormick

Jennifer McGill & Brian Doyle

Rob McMaster & Maureen Ose

Theresa Meier

Mary Sue Meyers

Jordan Moses

Darlene R. Muffly

Dale Murdoch

Liz & Joe Murray

Carrie Myers

Alison Nelson

Lynne Nevin

Susan Nimic

Hossein & Soheila Noureddini

Tracy Ohlson

Romney Reutzel Olson &

William E Olson

Rebecca J Owings

Larry & Deb Peterson

Aaron & Jill Purvis

Ron & Ann Ramsey

M. S. Reeves

Paula Rhian

Eric & Mackenzie Savaiano

Jerry & Janet Schidler

Richard Schooling

Rick & Linda Schooling

The Schubert Family

Ed & Liz Schulenberg

Alison Schwanke

Steve & Kim Scoville

Kris Siemsen & Steve Bruhn

Sisu Hairdressing

Angela Skrivan

Hannah Jo Smith & Bill McClung

Snyder & Hilliard Law

Scott & Nicole Sorensen

Jeff & Stacy Stauffer

Steven Stec

Shelly Stewart

Cindy Stuefer-Powell

Rachael Surmick

Dr. Larry & Karen Walklin

Lorraine Walsh

Janell Walther & Bryan Seck

Lynne Ward

Dan Wheeler

John & Lynn Willey

Derick Williams & Bailey Leuty

Philip & Glenda Willnerd

Ruth & Jim Wogahn

Member Appreciation

The evening of the annual gift presentation, Friends of Lied members were treated to a pre-performance thank you for the part they play in supporting the Lied. The Friends of Lied board provided red, white and blue chocolates from local gourmet chocolatier Lulubee for members to enjoy before the performance of SUFFS

Lied Center for Perf orming Ar ts

301 Nort h 12th Street PO Box 880151

Lincoln, NE 68588-0151

liedcenter.org/suppor t/friends