Upcoming Events

It's the show that takes the narcissism inherent in comedy to its logical conclusion - WILL DOUGHERTY LOVES COMPANY!

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.

Tickets are $5 per person.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

Double Feature makes its popular return to the Backline. Every 4th Saturday of the month at 10PM, a rotating cast of Backline's favorite veteran improvisers and promising newcomers hit the stage. The concept is simple. Each month two new genre's are decided on. The audience gives the player the inspiration in the form of 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. Stick around to see the featured team of the evening, closing out the night.

Begins at 10:00, with no intermission, and runs approximately 75 minutes.

Tickets are $5 per person.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

*Free for students and alumni of Backline

Looking to hone your craft? Or maybe just try something out?

This week's workshop will be taught by Backline Founder Dylan Rohde.

"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.

Every Tuesday from 7-8:30pm you can show up to a workshop that will cover everything from Improv (mostly) and Sketch Writing, as well as Hosting and Standup. These workshops are also "Pay-What-You-Can" and you pay after the workshop, so if you can only afford a dollar, leave a buck, if you liked the workshop and your wallet is too fat, leave 20 of them.

These workshops will be taught by many of the best comedy teachers in Omaha and occasionally great guests. You can check out each individual week to see what is happening on the calendar.

(NO ADVANCE PAYMENT - PAY IN CASH AT THE BACKLINE AFTER THE WORKSHOP)

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?

Comedians all submit their name by 9pm and get their names thrown in a hat. Since names are pulled at random, comics are encouraged to sit and watch everyone else, creating a fun and encouraging audience. Everyone will get 4 minutes and 5 seconds before music plays you off. Prepare accordingly.

This show is FREE for everyone!

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

Experimental 3somes is an awesome hour of 3 person improv teams.

3 is a number with phenomenal cosmic powers and the 3 way dance of improv is no different! These are teams that have been formed together by Todd Dylan with the goal to find your newest favorite team!

Tickets are $3 per person.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

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!

Tickets are $3 per person.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

Every 4th Thursday anyone can hop up on stage and improvise with Backline alum and students. We'll do it kickball style and start with 3 team captains picking everyone who wants to participate into 3 teams, each getting about 10-15 minutes. This show is usually a bit chaotic, but always a lot of fun!

This show is free for everyone!

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

**These shows are free for everyone

The Holograms is Des Moines’ first, and only, all female improv team. Their lady long-form is not only high energy, but sharp and full of satire, guaranteed to make you forget the state of the union, even if just for one evening. Sometimes family-friendly, sometimes dirtier than the cops in Training Day, the Holograms gals will keep you engaged from their first line to their last.

Check them out every 4th Friday at 8pm!

Tickets are $3 per person.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

This show lines up some of the areas best comedians to each do quick sets of their best material. If you want to see really great standup comedy, this is the show to watch! (Packed show, so buy in advance or show up early)

This show is hosted by OEAA Comedian of the Year 2016 Rachel Ware.

If seats are available, you can also show up early and see the 8pm show for free with purchase of this ticket. (This month only)

Tickets are $5 per person.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

*This show is FREE for Backline students and alumni.

EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT AT 10PM!!!!
See Backline's top show every week for only $3!!!

10pm

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. Maybe you stole a brownie from a roommate, or spun cookies in a football field, either way we'll take them as long as they are true. Then Backline's finest improvisers create scenes based off those stories.

If you haven't been here and want a great introduction to what we do best, see this show!

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

The ARENA is Omaha's #1 Improv Competition pitting together two improv teams!

The Champions come back the next week to face a new Challenging team, each getting 15 minutes to win over your votes. The best team so far has won 13 weeks in a row, if you have a team you think can beat that, please submit.

Tickets are $3

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

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.

Big Canvas is a local non-profit short-form improv performance and training organization, and they perform back-to-back shows at 8pm and 10pm. These shows are also some of the very few that are ALL AGES, meaning feel free to bring your kids. Backline also now has a selection of sodas for those under 21.

Tickets are $5 per person.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

Looking to hone your craft? Or maybe just try something out?

This week's workshop will be taught by Backline Founder Dylan Rohde. "Improv for Acting" is an improv workshop focused on helping actors find a simple grasp on their complicated characters. Become the character, believe your instincts, breathe, and then just speak.

All participants should bring a 1 minute monologue fully prepared or printed out.

Every Tuesday from 7-8:30pm you can show up to a workshop that will cover everything from Improv (mostly) and Sketch Writing, as well as Hosting and Standup. These workshops are also "Pay-What-You-Can" and you pay after the workshop, so if you can only afford a dollar, leave a buck, if you liked the workshop and your wallet is too fat, leave 20 of them.

These workshops will be taught by many of the best comedy teachers in Omaha and occasionally great guests. You can check out each individual week to see what is happening on the calendar.

(NO ADVANCE PAYMENT - PAY IN CASH AT THE BACKLINE AFTER THE WORKSHOP)

The Nerd Roast is a specialty stand up show that features some of the area’s most talented comedians and improvisers performing as characters from pop culture, history, sports, and more in a battle of insults.

Everyone will be in character and roasting as that figure, because when nothing’s personal you get no holds barred entertainment! You may see your favorite children’s story book characters letting off profanity laced rants against one another, or long gone historical figures meeting for the first time to air their grievances. Each month will feature and new group of characters for some fresh new insults in all out verbal assaults on each other!

No living, dead, or fictional personality is safe!

Tickets are $3 per person.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

This specialty standup show features many of Nebraska's finest standup comedians getting a wrench thrown into their sets after they've hit the stage. They'll each write down challenges on a piece of paper before the show, then when they get on stage to perform, they'll pull one from a hat and have to include it into their sets. It's a super fun form, and even if you've seen these people do their sets, you've never seen them do it like this, and never will again.

(Examples- "Laugh at your own jokes," "Repeat the punchline in a lower voice," or "Be blindfolded and wear earmuffs.")

Tickets are $3 per person.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

*Free for students and alumni of Backline.

The best and only live monthly game show right here in Omaha and hosted by Dusty Stehl!

Shittiest Prizes finds some of the weirdest and cheapest finds at the Imaginarium

downtown and everyone in the audience gets a chance to participate. Scenarios will be given for the funniest answers, and while these prizes might be "shitty", this show is a blast.

This show is FREE for everyone.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

Check out the most recent Level 3's 1st of 2 class show. This will be their first-ever Harold, which is a form taught at all major improv schools across the nation.

Tickets are $3 per person

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

Every 1st and 3rd Fridays, see both Backline House Harold teams perform together! They will be performing the 'Harold' which is the basic longform improv structure taught at all major schools across the nation. These structures are just a skeletal structure encouraging callbacks and connecting ideas.

ONLY $3
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CAGE-FREE

Andrew Newton, Lindsey Theis, Mike Smith, Michael Johnson, Shelby Seier, Taylor Grote, Todd Dylan

RISKY BUSINESS CASUAL

Adam

Brownell, Alex Portillo, Andrew Morton, Andy Lapastora, Christopher

Bridges, Jenny Folmar, Matt VanEpps, Myrddin McHugh, Shannon Thunder

Hawk-Taylor

We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

The Sitcom is Backline's longest running House team and it's packed with Omaha's top improvisers! They perform a completely improvised sitcom complete with opening theme song and commercial breaks, and you get to name the show! This show is a fun narrative improv show that highlights and exploits the best tropes of siitcoms for a great show to bring your friends or a date.

Brittany Mascio, Chel Wagoner, Dylan Rohde, Eli Ami, Jon Herman, Toby Gastler, Matt Johnson, Tracie Mauk

Tickets are $3 per person.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

New Stuff is a stand up comedy show where comedian Brad Stewart brings together some of his favorite local and touring comedians and they all perform their best new material. Comedy doesn't get any fresher than this.

Tickets are $5 per person.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

This show is Rated R for graphic language, adult situations and possible nudity* (*not likely, but who knows!!)

The edgiest standup show at Backline, make sure not to come if adult humor rubs you the wrong way. We line up Omaha's top local comedians and give them a chance to perform some stuff they can't do at a typical show. If this sounds like you something you would like, then you definitely will. If this sounds disgusting to you, we have other shows you should check out.

Tickets are $5

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

You could say that all improv is just structured chaos, and you'd be correct, so we double down on that every 2nd Thursday at 8pm!

We mix together a healthy portion of both Backline alum and students, (and sometimes special guests from outside our community) to get together for sometimes the first time ever to perform 3 different shows in one hour! And these aren't just regular shows either. Each are given different forms, whether trusted forms from here or other cities, or something all brand new imagined right here in Omaha.

Tickets are $3 per person.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

Date Night is here. Gather up your special someone (or any someone) and come see three great two-person teams improvising their little hearts out. Whether you actually bring a date, this show will be just as fun to watch alone or with some friends. Who knows, maybe you'll meet a future date here.

Kalee Olson and Michael Johnson host as the duo Swipe Right, and always bringing up only the best 2-person teams Omaha has to offer. Every 2nd Thursdays at 9pm.

Tickets are $3 per person.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas.

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

*Backline students and alumni get into these shows for free.

Deuces Wild is a 2-person improv jam that pulls two volunteered audience names at random from a hat at a time to perform one or more improv scenes for about 3-5 minutes. The audience gives a round of applause when they believe their set is over with. No matter if we have Omaha's top performers or a person trying it out for their first time, these are always fun, and far less weird than any larger improv jam.

FREE SHOW = no tickets available in advance

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

**This show is free for everyone

Join us the 2nd Friday of each month at 8pm!

Dad Jokes is one of The Backline's alumi improv teams featuring Michael Johnson, Michael Smith, Cory Starman, and Kalee Olson. This is a great team you won't want to miss!

PLUS a special guest team each month!

Tickets are $3 per person

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

Come see some of Omaha's top improvisers create a local neighborhood bar up on stage. The audience will name the bar, and they will enter for nearly an hour of unbroken action at the same location.

The improvisers will actually be drinking, too.

Tickets are $3 per person

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

Missing Kitten is a monthly standup comedy show on the second Saturday of every month at 10:00 PM at The Backline in downtown Omaha. Featuring nationally touring comedians from Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, and New York City who have appeared on “Conan”, Comedy Central's “Drunk History”, “This Is Not Happening”, or “Roast Battle”, IFC, and Hulu’s “Coming to the Stage”, as well as local comedians on the rise, this can’t-miss show is hosted by Dusty Stehl and Stephen Smith.

Tickets are $10 per person

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

This show is a chance for practicing improv teams to show their stuff on the Backline stage. Featuring both well-seasoned and newly-formed teams, and a mix of veteran and somewhat newer performers, so you won't want to miss WTWICIV1!

Tickets are $3 per person

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

Ever wonder what a comedian's jokes would sound like if someone else read them? A handful of comedians sit on stage reading each other's jokes and giving each other a hard time. This show is quite unique and quite magnificent.

This show is the 3rd Thursdays every month at 9pm.

Tickets are $3 per person.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

This FREE show gives any comedian the chance to present as much of their set as they can before being cut off!

Each comedian will get a minimum of 1 minute to get the audience on their side, the host will read the audience and most likely cut them off before they reach the 5 minute mark. Only the best sets will make it, and the more submissions we get, the more critical the host will be.

Performers go in order of attendance, so show up as early as you want in the night.

This show is free for everyone.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

The latest Level 3 is graduating and ready for their next level! This will be their 2nd of 2 shows in this class, both focusing on The Harold, which is taught at every major longform improv school across the nation.

Tickets are $3 per person

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

Undocumented is a house improv team at The Backline that performs a narrative improv show in the style of an improvised documentary.

Packed with many of Omaha's top improvisers and a real fun form, this show is guaranteed to both make you laugh but also keep you engaged in an interesting story the entire time! We definitely recommend seeing this team!

Tickets are $3 per person

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

88improv has been performing together since 2003 and is easily one of the best teams in Omaha. Their monthly show every 3rd Saturday of the month always consists of long-form and sometimes short-form improv. They also keep their material family friendly, so if you are looking for one of the few shows at Backline you know you kids and grandparents will enjoy, this is one not to miss.

Tickets are $5 per person.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

This is the 2nd to last level at Backline, and focuses specifically on great scenework. These shows are always amazing to watch and more stimulating than most class shows.

Also, a special guest improv team will open for them. Definitely check this one out.

Tickets are $5 per person

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

LATE NIGHT at the BACKLINE w/ CAMERON LOGSDON !

Featuring stand up comedy, sketch comedy, improv, live music, and whatever else we can fit on stage at the Backline, this hour-long show is guaranteed to entertain you for better or for worse! Every month we'll bring in new musicians, stand up comedians, improvisers, comedy writers, and live interviews with the most interesting people in the city of Omaha and beyond all hosted by Cameron Logsdon.

Cameron is a comedian & writer from Omaha. He likes it here, but travels often. In 2016, he was selected to write for the NBC Late Night Writer’s Workshop, was nominated Best Comedian in Omaha, is an actor/writer in the televised sketch show Omaha Live, he's a Communication Studies professor at UNO, & he gave TEDtalk about teen dads. He cool.

Tickets are $5 per person

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).

Check out the latest group to go through the Level 1 Course. They spend 7 weeks learning improv and preparing to perform. These shows are always great to watch whether family, friend, or stranger!

Tickets are $3 per person.

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We've got 19 beers, ciders, and hard sodas!

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given.

Free parking available 1/2 a block away at 17th and Harney. Parking also available on the street (metered until 9pm).