The Backline
1618 Harney St.
Omaha NE 68102
All Shows 18+
(Unless otherwise specified, or with Parent/Guardian)
Will Dougherty Loves Company (Standup) Join me, your eponymous host Will Dougherty, as I invite some fantastic comedians to do sets while I stay on stage to riff, banter, and derail things for the amusement of all.
July 22 - August 26
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Double Feature (Improv)* Each month two new genre's are decided on. The audience gives the player the inspiration in the form or a title, topic, or word. From there you get to see a mini movie, play, or tv episode created in the moment. This month what will it be? Slasher? Rom Com? Musical.
July 22 - August 26
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Weekly Workshops - "Recurring Sketches" (Sketch) "Recurring Sketches" is a sketch-writing workshop focused on creating a series of sketches, whether as part of a live or staged sketch show, webisode, or YouTube series. We'll focus on how to find a good idea that allows for a number of variations, as well as giving it a unique style.
July 25
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Open Mic (Standup)** Starting July 18th, The Backline will host an Open Mic for standup every Tuesday at 9pm. Each comedian will be allowed 4 minutes, and names will be drawn from a hat for those who show up before 9pm, people who show up after will be added at the end. Whether it's your first time or you perform weekly, why not try out your material in front of a great crowd at one of the best standup venues in town?
July 25 - August 29
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Experimental 3somes (Improv)* Experimental 3somes is an awesome hour of 3 person improv teams.
July 27 - August 24
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A Night Out w/ Jon Herman (Variety)* Join Backline Co-Owner Jon Herman and his absent minded intern Chad as they explore life, the issues, and Chad’s personal life. A mix of Late Night Talk Show and Sketch Comedy every 4th Thursday at 9pm!
July 27 - August 24
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Kickball-Style Jam (Improv)** Every 4th Thursday anyone can hop up on stage and improvise with Backline alum and students.
July 27 - August 24
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The Holograms (Improv)* The Holograms is Des Moines’ first, and only, all female improv team.
July 28 - August 25
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Power Hour (Standup)* This show features a bunch of great local standups doing their best quick sets. If you want to just see really great comedy, this is the show to watch!
July 28 - August 25
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Interrogated (Improv)* INTERROGATED is a fast-paced and adult-friendly improv show where we'll ask you, the audience, to confess stories from a time where you got away with something.
July 28 - August 25
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The Arena (Improv)* The ARENA is Omaha's #1 Improv Competition pitting together two improv teams!
July 28 - August 25
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Big Canvas (Short-Form) Looking for the kind of improv you see on Whose Line Is It Anyway? Big Canvas performs the only short-form improv at Backline every 2nd Saturday of the month.
July 29 - August 12
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ABOUT THE BACKLINE
The Backline is proud to be a home for all comedy in Omaha. While we are primarily a longform improv training center, any and all local comedians come through here to perform improv, standup, sketch, talk shows, etc. We keep our shows cheap and our beer cheap, with no drink minimum. We just want to help Omaha become one of the greatest cities for comedy in America.
We are also proud to ride that fine line between producing basically uncensored comedy but also being a safe place with zero tolerance for abuse and harassment.
Events marked with * denotes that it is free for Backline students and alumni
Events marked with ** denotes that it is free for everyone