Orpheum Theater

What Plays There

The Orpheum opened in 1927 as a vaudeville house, on a stage Omaha Performing Arts now calls nearly 100 years old. It ran as a movie house until 1971, then reopened as a performing arts center in 1975. Today it's the home of Opera Omaha and touring Broadway, presented by Omaha Performing Arts, and it also books performance rentals from national tours and local organizations. That mix means the calendar moves between big touring musicals, opera, and one-off bookings that aren't part of either series.

For what's on this month, check the Orpheum's listing at o-pa.org or on Ticket Omaha.

Tickets and Box Office

Buying From Official Sellers

Ticket Omaha handles ticketing for the Orpheum; it's the only official source for tickets to the venue.

Box Office Hours and Will Call

The main Ticket Omaha box office is open noon to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Holland Center, 1200 Douglas St. At the Orpheum itself, doors and the box office open 90 minutes before showtime, lobbies open 60 minutes before, and seating starts 30 minutes before. Will call tickets are available at the venue box office starting 90 minutes before the event.

Avoiding Resale Markups and Ticket Scams

Go through a third-party broker instead of Ticket Omaha, and the warning is blunt: you could pay more than face value, your seats aren't guaranteed, and it can't reach you with updates about the show. Ticket prices vary by show, so check the listing on Ticket Omaha's site before you commit rather than assuming a number. All ticket sales are final and non-refundable. Only season subscribers can exchange, and only up to 48 hours before the original performance time, by calling Ticket Omaha at 402.345.0606 or emailing ticketomaha@o-pa.org.

Seating and Capacity

Seating Layout and Best Seats

The Orpheum seats 2,600. Ticket Omaha's general seat map leaves out individual seat numbers for security reasons, but the venue's own numbering pattern fills the gap. Odd-numbered seats sit on the left side of the hall facing the stage (59 and 61 are together), even-numbered seats sit on the right (58 and 60 are together), and center seats are in the 100 level, numbered consecutively (111 and 112 are together). Glance at your ticket and you'll know roughly where you're headed before you're even inside. For the best balance of view, sound, and comfort, Ticket Omaha's own box office guide points to center orchestra (rows G–P), center loge, or center grand tier (rows B–D); seats get more affordable as you move out toward the sides and the balcony.

Accessible Seating

Accessible seating is arranged through Ticket Omaha. Pick a wheelchair or scooter spot online at ticketomaha.com (look for the designation), or call 402.345.0606 or email ticketomaha@o-pa.org ahead of your visit.

Getting There and Parking

Address and Directions

The Orpheum is at 409 S. 16th St. in downtown Omaha.

Parking Options and Costs

For evening and weekend performances, the OPPD Energy Plaza garage at 1666 Howard St. runs $10, starting about two hours before showtime, but not before 5 p.m. on weekdays. Prepay through ParkMobile or pay by credit card at the gate; the garage doesn't take cash. From the garage, the Skylink walkway carries you straight to the balcony level, with stairs or an elevator down to the rest of the house.

For a weekday matinee, skip the Energy Plaza garage. The closest option is the garage at 15th and Douglas instead. There's also a lot at 15th and Howard for $20, which does take cash. Street meters run 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and are free on Sundays and holidays. For a popular Broadway run, street parking can actually beat the garage on speed. One thing worth knowing: those garages are run by the City of Omaha, not by Omaha Performing Arts, so a parking question is a city question, not a theater one.

Getting Dropped Off and Accessible Parking

Getting dropped off or picked up? The drop-off zone is on the west side of the theater, on 16th St. Accessible parking stalls line the streets around the building and are also available inside the Energy Plaza garage, between 16th and 17th on Howard St.

Venue Policies

Bag Policy and Prohibited Items

Security at the Orpheum runs on touchless express scanners, so you don't need to empty your pockets or bag before walking through. Clear bags aren't required at the Orpheum, but your bag may still be inspected as you go through security.

Leave the backpack at home. Ticket Omaha's arrival guide says it plainly: don't bring "bags larger than 14 in. x 14 in. x 6 in. or backpacks of any kind." Omaha Performing Arts' own FAQ restricts "large bags or backpacks larger than 14 in. x 14 in. x 6 in." instead. The two venue-run pages don't quite agree, so go with the stricter read and skip the backpack altogether.

Beyond bags, the rest of the no list is long:

• Water bottles
• Pocket knives
• Laptops
• Professional cameras 4 inches or larger
• Video recording equipment
• Audio recording equipment
• Laser pointers
• Outside food or drink
• Hard coolers or similar containers
• Sealed packages of any kind
• Noise-making devices
• Alcohol
• Illegal drugs
• Weapons of any kind, including a lawfully concealed firearm
• Selfie sticks or other telescoping devices
• Flags, banners, or signs
• Animals, other than service animals
• Drones
• Hoverboards

The backpack rule above is the one most likely to catch you out, so check your bag before you leave home. Beyond that, if you're debating whether something on the list applies to you, leave it in the car.

Age Restrictions

Check the event page for a specific show's age restrictions or recommendations, and contact Ticket Omaha if you have questions about whether a show is age-appropriate; many shows are open to all ages. Fire code requires a ticket for everyone attending, regardless of age, including infants.

Accessibility Services

The building runs an inductive loop (T-coil) system, and assistive listening devices are available free at the House Manager's desk with a valid ID. Binoculars check out the same way. For Broadway shows, closed captioning runs through the GalaPro app, with iPads available for checkout if you'd rather use one of the Orpheum's; other shows need a captioning request at least two weeks ahead instead. Courtesy wheelchairs are available with ID, though staff can't transport guests to their seats.

For ASL interpretation or audio description, request it at least two weeks before your show. As a standing pattern, the first Saturday matinee of each Broadway run at the Orpheum is ASL-interpreted and audio-described. A select number of performances are also sensory inclusive, with low house lights and no strobe or fog effects, and the House Manager's desk keeps sensory kits with noise-canceling headphones and fidget items on hand for any show, checked out with ID. Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are in the Lower Lobby, and companion restrooms are also available. Ticket Omaha handles all of this at 402.345.0606 or ticketomaha@o-pa.org.

Food, Drinks, and Amenities

Bars on the orchestra, grand tier, and balcony levels sell snacks along with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and you can pre-order intermission drinks ahead of time to skip the line. The Orpheum is a cashless venue; if you show up with only bills, the House Manager's desk will convert your cash to a Visa ReadyCARD for free. There's no dress code. The venue's own guidance is to dress as comfortably or as fancily as you prefer.

Where to Eat and Drink Nearby

Ticket Omaha lists three of its ten restaurant partners near the Orpheum. Nosh, at 1006 Dodge St., is an upscale restaurant and wine lounge with more than 100 wines, premium cocktails, and artisan beers, open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, with happy hour Monday through Saturday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.; it's closed Sundays. Show your ticket the day of the show and Nosh pours a free glass of house wine with a food purchase. Olive & Ira's, inside the Magnolia Hotel at 1615 Howard St., serves crafted cocktails and fine American fare, and a same-day ticket gets you a complimentary glass of house wine with no purchase required. Gather, at 1108 Howard St. in the Old Market, serves modern eclectic American food and craft cocktails, open daily starting at 5 p.m.; mention "Omaha Performing Arts" to your server for a glass of house wine for a penny with any menu item.

Our pick: Olive & Ira's. Nosh and Gather both tie their wine perk to buying food, but at Olive & Ira's you just show your same-day ticket for a free glass of house wine.

Tips for a First Visit

Come early. Doors and the box office open 90 minutes before showtime, and Ticket Omaha's own advice is simple: get there with time to spare for security lines. The touchless scanners don't require you to empty your bag or pockets, but lines can get congested with last-minute arrivals, and the lobby still doesn't open until 60 minutes before, with seating starting at 30 minutes before. Bring a card: the Energy Plaza garage doesn't take cash, and the Orpheum is a cashless venue. Buy straight from Ticket Omaha rather than a broker; it's the only official seller, and a broker ticket isn't guaranteed. And skip the wardrobe stress: there's no dress code, so wear whatever gets you out the door.

However you get downtown, get inside before the house lights go down.