Lofte Community Theatre

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Lofte Community Theatre Bringing the Arts to Rural Nebraska
Omaha's Choice for Live Theater 5 years in a row: 2022-2026!
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We are pleased to share some of the cast of our upcoming production of "Arsenic and Old Lace." Here are three police off...
10/14/2026

We are pleased to share some of the cast of our upcoming production of "Arsenic and Old Lace." Here are three police officers: Thomas Gunning as Lieutenant Rooney, Eric Schaff as Officer Brophy, and Jaxon Sharp as Officer Klein. To see this fantastic production, get your tickets on our website or call 402-234-2553.

Thomas is excited to return to the Lofte Community Theatre as Lt. Rooney in “Arsenic and Old Lace”. Previously, he performed as the Stage Manager in the Lofte’s “Our Town”. He also played Editor Webb in “Our Town” and Dr. Burton in “Cheaper by the Dozen” at Bellevue Little Theater. After “Arsenic and Old Lace”, Thomas will perform as Santa Claus and the Christmas Ghost of Tomorrow in Shelterbelt Theatre’s original Holiday Shorts production. As founder of Omaha’s Prairie Falcon Players, Thomas’ adaptation of Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood debuted at the Shelterbelt last January.

Eric is excited to be appearing in his third performance at the Lofte and third this year! He and his wife Alisha live in Millard, and both have enjoyed volunteering at the Lofte during its 50th season. He would like to thank his wife and three daughters for their support and encouragement.

Jaxon is a senior at Plattsmouth High School deeply involved in Music, Speech, and Play Production. A four-year performing arts participant, Jaxon serves as Show Choir Dance Captain, Varsity Choir Section Leader, and Assistant Captain of the speech team. Highlights from his high school career include multiple Division 1 district music ratings, earning 6th place at the Class B State Speech Championship in OID, and performing with the NCDA All-State Concert Choir. Jaxon is also active in Student Council and serves as Vice President of Blue Devil Talk. He extends a heartfelt thank you to his parents, Max and Katie Sharp, for their endless support in everything he does, Molly Vaughn for being his constant source of encouragement and his favorite person in the crowd, and Michelle and Doug McKnight for sparking his passion for the stage and public speaking!

For information about our entire cast and crew, please see our program. Performances are on October 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, & 25. Shows start at 7:00 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and 2:00 on Sundays. The concession stand opens 1 hour before the show, and the house opens then, too.
More about Arsenic and Old Lace: Mortimer Brewster just wants to marry Elaine and live a normal life. Unfortunately, his family has other plans. His aunts Abby and Martha are poisoning gentlemen. His brother Teddy believes he’s digging the Panama Canal in the basement. His other brother, Jonathan, is on the run with a new face, courtesy of his sidekick, Dr. Einstein. There’s murder in the parlor and mayhem at every turn! See this classic comedy about the only thing more deadly than poison: family.

We are delighted to share some of the cast of our upcoming production of "Arsenic and Old Lace." Andrew Dankleff is play...
10/13/2026

We are delighted to share some of the cast of our upcoming production of "Arsenic and Old Lace." Andrew Dankleff is playing Teddy Brewster, and Randy Wallace is Officer O'Hara! To see this lovely production, get your tickets on our website or call 402-234-2553.

Andrew is deee-lighted to return to the Lofte stage for his 12th production, most recently seen as Herald in Cinderella. He’s grateful to continue making memories at a place that has been such an important part of his life. When he isn’t charging up San Juan Hill or digging locks for the Panama Canal, Andrew works in HR & Recruiting and enjoys golfing, theatre, and chasing his latest entrepreneurial ideas. He would like to thank his wife, Ashley, and kids, Carter and Bella, for always supporting his theatrical adventures and for graciously accepting that there is now a Teddy Roosevelt living in their house. CHAAAAAARGE!

Randy is back again on the Lofte stage, having appeared this season in You Can’t Take It With You and A Few Good Men. He has performed in over 40 productions in the area’s finest theaters over the last decade, and is always grateful to return to the Lofte, where it all started with The Producers in 2013. Thanks to Kevin for continuing to invite me to improve my craft, and to Dianne for her support in all things.

For information about our entire cast and crew, please see our program. Performances are on October 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, & 25. Shows start at 7:00 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and 2:00 on Sundays. The concession stand opens 1 hour before the show, and the house opens then, too.
More about Arsenic and Old Lace: Mortimer Brewster just wants to marry Elaine and live a normal life. Unfortunately, his family has other plans. His aunts Abby and Martha are poisoning gentlemen. His brother Teddy believes he’s digging the Panama Canal in the basement. His other brother, Jonathan, is on the run with a new face, courtesy of his sidekick, Dr. Einstein. There’s murder in the parlor and mayhem at every turn! See this classic comedy about the only thing more deadly than poison: family.

We are elated to share some of the cast of our upcoming production of "Arsenic and Old Lace." Here is Neal Herring who i...
10/13/2026

We are elated to share some of the cast of our upcoming production of "Arsenic and Old Lace." Here is Neal Herring who is portraying Jonathan Brewster, Stan Tracey as Dr. Einstein! To see this wonderful production, get your tickets on our website or call 402-234-2553.

This old classical farce marks Neal’s 11th appearance in a Lofte Community Theatre production. To say he is excited to have the opportunity to entertain the patrons of the Lofte is an understatement! Being a member of the “Born in a Barn” community is truly an honor! Neal has lived in Gretna for 31 years and recently retired, allowing him more time to enjoy his family, pets, nature, and of course theater. He is blessed to have a loving and supportive family made up of three wonderful offspring, their spouses, and two adorable grandsons!

Stan has appeared in two dozen shows at various venues over the last ten years. This season at the Lofte, he portrayed Boris Kolenkhov in You Can’t Take It With You and Judge Julius Alexander Randolph in A Few Good Men. It is difficult to name a “favorite” role but it might be accurate to say that his current role is always his favorite role. Stan thanks his wife of 39 years for her constant support and toleration of his avocation. It should go without saying that he is thrilled to again be a part of a fantastic cast and crew directed by the inimitable Kevin Colbert. And so, sit back and relax, maybe treat yourself to a glass of w**e from the concession stand … if you dare. Thank you for supporting live theater!

For information about our entire cast and crew, please see our program. Performances are on October 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, & 25. Shows start at 7:00 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and 2:00 on Sundays. The concession stand opens 1 hour before the show, and the house opens then, too.
More about Arsenic and Old Lace: Mortimer Brewster just wants to marry Elaine and live a normal life. Unfortunately, his family has other plans. His aunts Abby and Martha are poisoning gentlemen. His brother Teddy believes he’s digging the Panama Canal in the basement. His other brother, Jonathan, is on the run with a new face, courtesy of his sidekick, Dr. Einstein. There’s murder in the parlor and mayhem at every turn! See this classic comedy about the only thing more deadly than poison: family.

We are thrilled to share some of the cast of our upcoming production of "Arsenic and Old Lace." Meet Wyatt Baker, who pl...
10/12/2026

We are thrilled to share some of the cast of our upcoming production of "Arsenic and Old Lace." Meet Wyatt Baker, who plays Mortimer Brewster, and Victoria Lininger as Elaine Harper! To see this fabulous production, get your tickets on our website or call 402-234-2553.

Wyatt is excited as always to perform in a Lofte production and hopes this show reminds all to be a bit more cautious of their aunts. While death is no laughing matter, he does hope his character proves to be. Being based out of Lincoln, the opportunity to work with the amazing cast and team that the Lofte offers keeps him coming back to rehearsals. Presenting daily and nightly as someone who’s a little ‘off his rocker,’ it’s only fitting that he gets put through these outlandish scenarios and situations. He’d like to thank his family, friends, and every single audience member for supporting this production.

Victoria is a voice actor and streamer who has a heart for dark comedy, and is so is elated to be performing in one of her favorite shows with this incredible cast. Favorite past roles include Black Stache in 'Peter and the Starcatcher' and Cassie Cooper in ‘Rumors’. You can follow her (voiceovervictoria) on Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch.

For information about our entire cast and crew, please see our program. Performances are on October 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, & 25. Shows start at 7:00 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and 2:00 on Sundays. The concession stand opens 1 hour before the show, and the house opens then, too.
More about Arsenic and Old Lace: Mortimer Brewster just wants to marry Elaine and live a normal life. Unfortunately, his family has other plans. His aunts Abby and Martha are poisoning gentlemen. His brother Teddy believes he’s digging the Panama Canal in the basement. His other brother, Jonathan, is on the run with a new face, courtesy of his sidekick, Dr. Einstein. There’s murder in the parlor and mayhem at every turn! See this classic comedy about the only thing more deadly than poison: family.

Everyone has secrets, but most aren’t harmful. For some, it’s a secret family recipe passed down through generations; fo...
10/11/2026

Everyone has secrets, but most aren’t harmful. For some, it’s a secret family recipe passed down through generations; for others, it’s a secret crush on the person they sit next to in math class. But for the Brewster family, in “Arsenic and Old Lace,” the secrets tend to go a bit overboard! Abby and Martha Brewster are sisters who make their own homemade elderberry w**e. The secret is what they do with that w**e when what they perceive to be “sad” or “lonely” gentlemen visit their home. Not to mention where they put the bodies! Just by looking at them, you’d never believe that these women are killing virtual strangers. In that vein, we went to the cast of “Arsenic and Old Lace” and asked them what you expect when you look at them, versus the surprises and secrets that they have! To read more, visit our blog at https://www.lofte.org/post/can-you-keep-a-secret-arsenic-and-old-lace. And don't forget to get your tickets while you're on our website, or you can call our box office at 402-234-2553. Performances are on October 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, & 25. Shows start at 7:00 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and at 2:00 on Sundays. The concession stand opens 1 hour before the show, and the house opens for seating then, too.

More about Arsenic and Old Lace: Mortimer Brewster just wants to marry Elaine and live a normal life. Unfortunately, his family has other plans. His aunts Abby and Martha are poisoning gentlemen. His brother Teddy believes he’s digging the Panama Canal in the basement. His other brother, Jonathan, is on the run with a new face, courtesy of his sidekick, Dr. Einstein. There’s murder in the parlor and mayhem at every turn! See this classic comedy about the only thing more deadly than poison: family.

We are excited to share some of the cast of our upcoming production of "Arsenic and Old Lace." Here are Valerie Sullivan...
10/11/2026

We are excited to share some of the cast of our upcoming production of "Arsenic and Old Lace." Here are Valerie Sullivan and Judy Anderson as Abby and Martha Brewster! To see this fabulous production, get your tickets at lofte.org/tickets or call 402-234-2553.

Valerie is a new Born-in-a-Barn Player and is excited to join this talented cast. Val lives in Southern California but grew up in nearby Ashland. After moving to California, Valerie pursued her passion for singing/acting and has performed in numerous professional and community theater productions. Some favorite roles include Miss Hannigan in Annie, Reverend Mother in Nunsense, M’Lynn in
Steel Magnolias, Ruth in Blythe Spirit, Rose in Rose Bowl Queens, Charlotte in Moon Over Buffalo, and Sonia in Vonya, Sonia, Masha and Spike, and starred in the comedy revue Bottom’s Up at Gold River Resort in Laughlin, NV. Nebraska will always be home, and Val visits Midwest family frequently. While visiting family in Louisville this summer, her niece convinced her to audition for Arsenic and Old Lace. Thank you, Jen & family, for your love and support.

Judy is excited to be revisiting the Brewster family after playing Abby 12 years ago at LCP. She was most recently seen playing the Godmother in The Lofte’s production of Cinderella this summer. Favorite roles include Mrs. Potts (Beauty and the Beast), Mama Rose (Gypsy), Mother Superior (Sister Act) [at both Lincoln and Omaha Community Playhouses], Golde (Fiddler on the Roof), Bloody Mary (South Pacific), and Mother Superior in numerous Nunsense performances. For 15 years, Judy has performed her own cabarets at James Arthur Vineyards ... December 12 & 13 are upcoming dates! She retired from UNL after 38 years and is proud to be mom to two, grandma to five, and great-grandma to six little kiddos under the age of 6. Also mom to Gypsy, her 3-year-old Shih Tzu. “Joy comes not just from the roles we play, but the people we meet while doing so. Anything is possible!”

For information about our entire cast and crew, please see our program. Performances are on October 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, & 25. Shows start at 7:00 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and 2:00 on Sundays. The concession stand opens 1 hour before the show, and the house opens then, too.
More about Arsenic and Old Lace: Mortimer Brewster just wants to marry Elaine and live a normal life. Unfortunately, his family has other plans. His aunts Abby and Martha are poisoning gentlemen. His brother Teddy believes he’s digging the Panama Canal in the basement. His other brother, Jonathan, is on the run with a new face, courtesy of his sidekick, Dr. Einstein. There’s murder in the parlor and mayhem at every turn! See this classic comedy about the only thing more deadly than poison: family.

UPDATE: The contest has concluded. Congratulations to our winner: MARGIE WATERS BROMEN on Facebook!! Thank you to everyo...
10/09/2026

UPDATE: The contest has concluded. Congratulations to our winner: MARGIE WATERS BROMEN on Facebook!! Thank you to everyone who left a comment, and stay tuned for one more contest in the final production of our 50th season!

You could win 2 free tickets to our upcoming production of "Arsenic and Old Lace," which opens in just 1 week! Sisters Abby and Martha Brewster make homemade Elderberry W**e to share with visitors. What is one of your favorite homemade recipes to share with others? You don't need to write out the whole recipe here (unless you want to), just tell us what you like to make!
Users who leave a comment starting now through Sunday, October 11th at 11:59 pm will be entered to win. We'll draw the winner on Monday, October 12th, at random from commenters here and on Instagram. We will reply to the winning user's comment once the winner is decided and update this post's description. This image is also shared on Instagram, and users may comment once per platform (once on Facebook and once on Instagram) for a total of two entries per person. One winner will be chosen unless we receive over 100 comments; then we will pick two winners. Tickets are valid for any performance of "Arsenic and Old Lace" at The Lofte Community Theatre in October 2026. If you have questions, please send us a direct message on Facebook or Instagram, and we will happily answer as many as we can. Have fun!

You can also buy tickets on our website or by calling 402-234-2553. Performances are on October 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, & 25. Shows start at 7:00 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and at 2:00 on Sundays. The concession stand opens 1 hour before the show, and the house opens for seating then, too.
More about Arsenic and Old Lace: Mortimer Brewster just wants to marry Elaine and live a normal life. Unfortunately, his family has other plans. His aunts Abby and Martha are poisoning gentlemen. His brother Teddy believes he’s digging the Panama Canal in the basement. His other brother, Jonathan, is on the run with a new face, courtesy of his sidekick, Dr. Einstein. There’s murder in the parlor and mayhem at every turn! See this classic comedy about the only thing more deadly than poison: family.

Is "Arsenic and Old Lace," your first time coming to the Lofte? Have you been before but want more details or informatio...
10/08/2026

Is "Arsenic and Old Lace," your first time coming to the Lofte? Have you been before but want more details or information and aren't sure where to go? We are here to help! Check out the Know Before You Go page on our website under the "About Us" tab for all your show-day needs! It includes information on planning travel, performance details, and our concessions menu. And, as always, parking is free!

And, if you haven't yet, get tickets to Arsenic and Old Lace while you're there looking up information. Or you can call the box office at 402-234-2253. Performances are on October 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, & 25. Shows start at 7:00 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and at 2:00 on Sundays. The concession stand opens 1 hour before the show, and the house opens for seating then, too.

More about Arsenic and Old Lace: Mortimer Brewster just wants to marry Elaine and live a normal life. Unfortunately, his family has other plans. His aunts Abby and Martha are poisoning gentlemen. His brother Teddy believes he’s digging the Panama Canal in the basement. His other brother, Jonathan, is on the run with a new face, courtesy of his sidekick, Dr. Einstein. There’s murder in the parlor and mayhem at every turn! See this classic comedy about the only thing more deadly than poison: family.

This weekend we are having a special free Wreath Making event! This event is open to anyone who wants to join in on a fu...
10/07/2026

This weekend we are having a special free Wreath Making event! This event is open to anyone who wants to join in on a fun day of crafting! Bring your own wreath supplies, pack a lunch or snack, and join our scenic artist, Linda Dabbs, to create some festive art! We'll provide bottled water, but everything else is BYO! All seasons of wreaths are welcome, whether you're prepping for the holiday season, enjoying the autumn leaves, or planning ahead for next year's special occasions! Come any time and stay as long as you like. No RSVP required. We hope to see you there!

Things get wild in Terre Haute, Indiana, when Rick Steadman comes to visit! Willum (1989: Dom Custodio & 2023: Chris Ber...
10/07/2026

Things get wild in Terre Haute, Indiana, when Rick Steadman comes to visit! Willum (1989: Dom Custodio & 2023: Chris Berger), Tansy (1989: Allison Oestmann Bauers & 2023: Teagan Steinmeyer), and Axel (1989: Larry Bauers & 2023: Randy Wallace) try very hard to get Rick out of Willum's house, so they start making up local rituals, which you can see them performing in the pictures included here. Dinner consists of warm water and cottage cheese, a pagan march is done to keep Willum from transforming into a pig, and ultimately, cottage cheese is thrown out the window, landing on Rick's boss on the street below. But in the end, this comedy by Larry Shue shows the lengths people go to help good friends!

We are going to keep on celebrating our 50th season all year long! Posts like this will continue to pop up all through the rest of the season. And it's not too late to share your memories with us! Visit our website to fill out our form, or send us an email, and your memory may yet be shared on social media or documented for future and past Born-in-a-Barn Players and patrons to read.

Address

15841 Manley Road
Manley, NE
68403

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 12pm
Tuesday 8am - 12pm
Wednesday 8am - 12pm
Thursday 8am - 12pm
Friday 8am - 12pm

Telephone

+14022342553

Website

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