The Lied Center for Performing Arts
by Lauren Silverman Durban
The Lied Center for Performing Arts has been a national leader in arts presenting and community involvement since it opened in 1990 in Lincoln, NE. Known as “Nebraska’s performing arts center,” the Lied brings the world’s greatest artists to the Midwest, including Yo-Yo Ma, Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis, Misty Copeland, Isaac Stern, the Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, STREB, Danny Elfman, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, Yuja Wang, Bernadette Peters, and many more of the top artistic talents touring the world.
In August of 2023, the Lied Center reached new heights, with the global phenomenon Hamilton bringing more than 33,000 people to Lincoln to see the show during its two-week stay. It was a record-breaking run, becoming the most-attended performing arts event in Lincoln history. That spectacular milestone was followed by a successful October run of Disney’s Aladdin, marking the first major Disney tour to come to Lincoln in over a decade. The message is clear: Lincoln LOVES Broadway!
The Broadway magic continues at the Lied Center in 2024 with a full-week run of Les Misérables in January, the mesmerizing new imagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar in February, the family fun of Shrek: The Musical in March, the hilarious Mean Girls and the fabulous bio-musical The Cher Show in April, and Aaron Sorkin’s critically acclaimed reimagining of To Kill a Mockingbird in June.
2024 will also bring unforgettable dance to the Lied Center, featuring the once-in-a-lifetime collaboration Dancing Beethoven. In February, Les Grands Ballets of Montreal will bring more than 50 of the world’s top dancers to Lincoln to bring Beethoven’s iconic 5th and 7th Symphonies to life on stage, accompanied by the full Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra. It will be a mesmerizing fusion of some of the most beloved and recognizable music ever written with truly virtuosic dancing, making for a must-see performance. Other unforgettable dance performances this season include the groundbreaking Kinetic Light: Descent, and the invitation to follow the acclaimed modern dancers of Momix down the rabbit hole for their magical production Alice.
That’s just scratching the surface of the inspiration and entertainment to be found at the Lied this season. Families of all ages are invited to the Lied to be swept away this February when the classic children’s book The Rainbow Fish comes to life in a visually stunning production featuring innovative puppetry and evocative original music. Celebrated illusionist Rob Lake will dazzle audiences this March with The Magic of Rob Lake, proving why he was called the “world’s greatest illusionist” by NBC. Comedian Brian Regan, named “the funniest stand-up alive” by Entertainment Weekly, returns in April. In May, GRAMMY Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell and renowned soprano Larissa Martínez will be joined by pianist Peter Dugan for Voice and the Violin, an evening of beloved romantic arias and modern classics. The season wraps up in June with the return of the most popular big band in the world, the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
Lied Center Executive Director Bill Stephan says, “Featuring exceptional evenings of music, theater, dance, comedy, illusion, and much more, the thrilling 2023-2024 season truly fulfils our promise of ‘something for everyone!’ Audiences have returned to live performance in record numbers, and it’s thrilling to see so many people enjoying the fun and inspiration of the arts. I invite everyone to come find JOY this season at the Lied.”
For a full listing of Lied events, including world-class offerings in dance, jazz, symphonies, and more, visit liedcenter.org.
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