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Downtown Omaha will soon welcome a new space for the performing arts as the Dick and Mary Holland Campus prepares to open the Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement on March 19th. KETV got a sneak peek into what the space will add to the Omaha Performing Arts group. O-pa President Joan Squires shared insights into how the space evolved to meet Omaha’s future needs. “Whether you’re sitting in an audience and having an experience at, say, the Orpheum for a Broadway show, or you’re standing in Steelhouse listening to a band, or you’re at the Holland Center listening to the Omaha Symphony or a jazz artist, you get a chance to experience these great arts,” Squires said.The Tenaska Center will focus on championing arts education and community engagement in the new building just off of 11th and Dodge. The space includes classrooms and multi-purpose space to house new camps and programs for residents of all ages.The expansion, as explained by Squires, dates back to the idea for the original Holland Center. “Omaha needed a performing arts center to not just feature the symphony, to bring in all these other wonderful acts and to really have a home for the arts here, along with the Orpheum,” Squires said.For Squires, that idea led to the Holland Performing Arts Center. “That was back in 2002, and at the time it was designed and opened in 2005 and was really the origins of the entire campus today,” she said.After more than a decade working out of the Holland Center, Squires and the team at O-pa broke ground on the Steelhouse, a concert venue, in 2021, and then the Tenaska Center in 2023.”We ran out of space, and we knew we needed more space for education,” she added. The long-awaited conclusion is the Tenaska Center, which will rise to meet new audiences, giving Omaha’s future a chance to step into the world of the performing arts.”We can reach all ages. We will have camps in the summer so young people can come down for a week at a time and learn from the very best Broadway performers, or a hip-hop class, or learn how to deejay or have a jazz ensemble. During the year, we will have classes for adults and others along with students,” Squires said.With a rich history on the Holland Campus, the newest space gives Omaha a window into what they’ve seen on stage.”I can’t wait to be here and behind the scenes, watching these young people experience the best spaces to bring all parts of the community together and to be welcoming to all,” Squires said.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Downtown Omaha will soon welcome a new space for the performing arts as the Dick and Mary Holland Campus prepares to open the Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement on March 19th.
KETV got a sneak peek into what the space will add to the Omaha Performing Arts group. O-pa President Joan Squires shared insights into how the space evolved to meet Omaha’s future needs.
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“Whether you’re sitting in an audience and having an experience at, say, the Orpheum for a Broadway show, or you’re standing in Steelhouse listening to a band, or you’re at the Holland Center listening to the Omaha Symphony or a jazz artist, you get a chance to experience these great arts,” Squires said.
The Tenaska Center will focus on championing arts education and community engagement in the new building just off of 11th and Dodge. The space includes classrooms and multi-purpose space to house new camps and programs for residents of all ages.
The expansion, as explained by Squires, dates back to the idea for the original Holland Center.
“Omaha needed a performing arts center to not just feature the symphony, to bring in all these other wonderful acts and to really have a home for the arts here, along with the Orpheum,” Squires said.
For Squires, that idea led to the Holland Performing Arts Center.
“That was back in 2002, and at the time it was designed and opened in 2005 and was really the origins of the entire campus today,” she said.
After more than a decade working out of the Holland Center, Squires and the team at O-pa broke ground on the Steelhouse, a concert venue, in 2021, and then the Tenaska Center in 2023.
“We ran out of space, and we knew we needed more space for education,” she added.
The long-awaited conclusion is the Tenaska Center, which will rise to meet new audiences, giving Omaha’s future a chance to step into the world of the performing arts.
“We can reach all ages. We will have camps in the summer so young people can come down for a week at a time and learn from the very best Broadway performers, or a hip-hop class, or learn how to deejay or have a jazz ensemble. During the year, we will have classes for adults and others along with students,” Squires said.
With a rich history on the Holland Campus, the newest space gives Omaha a window into what they’ve seen on stage.
“I can’t wait to be here and behind the scenes, watching these young people experience the best spaces to bring all parts of the community together and to be welcoming to all,” Squires said.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
