Orpheum Theater
A historic performing-arts theater in downtown Omaha, Nebraska, serving as a major venue for Broadway touring productions, opera, and other theatrical programs.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Orpheum Theater is a historic performing-arts venue in Omaha, Nebraska, whose present building occupies the site of the earlier Creighton Theater. The venue traces its institutional history to 1895, when Omaha businessman John A. McShane organized a stock company to construct the original theater. Designed by Fisher & Lawrie and built by Rocheford & Gould, the first theater was named for local philanthropist John A. Creighton. Its stage included an exceptionally heavy iron curtain supplied by Paxton and Vierling, and a portrait of Count Creighton was displayed above the proscenium. The original theater later became associated with the Orpheum Circuit, a vaudeville network that by 1900 connected venues in several major western and central United States cities, including Omaha, Chicago, Kansas City, New Orleans, Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento. Over time, the Creighton designation disappeared from the venue's public name, leaving the Orpheum identity that remains in use today. A larger replacement building was developed on the same site in 1926, with its principal entrance moved to 16th Street. The building was designed for the theatrical requirements of the period and eventually became a major downtown entertainment venue. As vaudeville declined, the theater was adapted for motion pictures. It operated primarily as a movie theater from the 1940s until 1971, reflecting the broader transformation of American downtown theaters during the era of cinema's expansion. In 1972, the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben acquired the building and initiated a renovation reported at approximately $2 million. The project returned the Orpheum to use as a performing-arts venue rather than a primarily cinematic house. The theater subsequently became an important civic and cultural resource for Omaha and the surrounding region. Its main auditorium, known as Slosburg Hall, is a proscenium theater designed to support theatrical presentations, touring productions, and large-scale stage scenery. The building also contains a Wurlitzer theater organ and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Omaha Performing Arts assumed management of the Orpheum from the City of Omaha in 2002. A major renovation associated with that transition cost approximately $10 million and improved the venue's ability to accommodate more demanding scenery and production equipment. In 2004, the Skylink elevated, enclosed, climate-controlled walkway was added, connecting the OPPD parking garage with the theater and improving visitor convenience and accessibility. The venue continued to receive modernization work while retaining its historic character. In October 2013, the steel-letter marquee installed during a 1975 renovation was replaced by a digital electronic display board. The project also introduced LED poster displays in the lobby. A further update during summer 2017 included new paint, carpeting, and refreshed seating, with reported project costs of approximately $3 million. Today, the Orpheum is used for programs that benefit from a formal theatrical setting. Its principal programming includes the Omaha Performing Arts Broadway Season, presented with Broadway Across America, and Opera Omaha's season. The theater combines historic architectural identity with the technical capacity required by contemporary touring theater and opera, making it one of Omaha's principal venues for large-scale live performance.
History
The Orpheum Theater occupies a site with a long theatrical history in downtown Omaha. Before the current building, the location was home to the Creighton Theater, organized in 1895 by John A. McShane through a stock company. Fisher & Lawrie designed the original theater, Rocheford & Gould served as general contractors, and Paxton and Vierling installed an iron curtain weighing approximately 11 tons. The theater honored local philanthropist John A. Creighton and originally displayed a large portrait of Count Creighton over the proscenium. The Creighton Theater became part of the Orpheum Circuit, a vaudeville network that had expanded to nine cities by 1900. The circuit linked Omaha with entertainment markets including Chicago, Kansas City, New Orleans, Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento. The Creighton name was eventually dropped from the theater's public identity. By 1926, a larger building was planned on the same site. The replacement theater was oriented toward 16th Street and became the physical foundation of the present venue. When vaudeville declined, the building was adapted for film exhibition and functioned as a downtown movie theater from the 1940s through 1971. The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben purchased the property in 1972 and funded a renovation reported at approximately $2 million, helping restore the building to use as a live performing-arts venue. The City of Omaha later transferred management responsibilities to Omaha Performing Arts in 2002. A further renovation, reported at approximately $10 million, upgraded the theater for larger scenery and more complicated stage productions. The 2004 Skylink walkway connected the venue to the OPPD parking garage through an enclosed, climate-controlled pedestrian route. Later improvements included the replacement of the 1975-era marquee with a digital display in 2013, the addition of LED lobby poster displays, and a 2017 interior refresh involving paint, carpeting, and seating. The main auditorium is known as Slosburg Hall and uses a proscenium configuration. The building also houses a Wurlitzer theater organ and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Under Omaha Performing Arts management, the venue presents the Omaha Performing Arts Broadway Season in association with Broadway Across America and hosts Opera Omaha's season, alongside other programs suited to a traditional theatrical setting.
- 2017
Interior renovation completed
[1]The theater received updated paint, carpeting, and seating.
- 2013
Digital marquee installed
[1]The 1975 steel-letter marquee was replaced with a digital electronic display, accompanied by LED lobby poster displays.
- 2004
Skylink opens
[1]The elevated, enclosed Skylink walkway opened, connecting the theater with the OPPD parking garage.
- 2002
Omaha Performing Arts assumes management
[1]Omaha Performing Arts took over management from the City of Omaha and supported a major modernization project.
- 1972
Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben acquires the building
[1]The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben purchased the theater and began a major renovation to restore it as a performing-arts venue.
- 1971
Movie-theater period ends
[1]The building's long period as a downtown movie theater ended.
- 1940
Conversion to movie-theater use
[1]After vaudeville's decline, the theater added a screen and operated primarily as a cinema from the 1940s.
- 1926
Present theater building constructed
[1]A larger replacement theater was built on the same site, with its entrance positioned on 16th Street.
- 1900
Theater joins the expanding Orpheum Circuit
[1]The Omaha venue was associated with the Orpheum Circuit, which had expanded to nine western and central United States cities.
- 1895
Original Creighton Theater organized
[1]John A. McShane organized a stock company to build the original theater on the site, then known as the Creighton Theater.
Products and positioning
A historic Omaha performing-arts venue that combines a National Register-listed theater setting with the technical infrastructure required for Broadway touring productions, opera, and other large-scale theatrical presentations.
Proscenium auditorium · 1926
Slosburg Hall
The Orpheum's principal auditorium is a proscenium theater known as Slosburg Hall. It is configured for theatrical presentations and can accommodate the scenery, sets, and production requirements associated with touring Broadway shows, opera, and other large-scale live performances.
Touring theater program
Broadway Season
The theater hosts the Omaha Performing Arts Broadway Season, presented with Broadway Across America. This program brings touring Broadway productions to Omaha and uses the Orpheum's formal theatrical environment and stage capacity.
Opera program
Opera Omaha season
Opera Omaha presents its season at the Orpheum for programs that benefit from a traditional proscenium theater. The venue provides the auditorium, stage, and theatrical infrastructure required for opera productions and related performances.
Historic theater instrument
Wurlitzer theater organ
The Orpheum contains a theater organ made by Wurlitzer. It forms part of the venue's historic character and connects the building with the performance and cinema traditions of early twentieth-century American theaters.
Brand decisions
2013
Upgrade exterior and lobby presentation systemsOtherBackground
The theater's steel-letter marquee dated from the 1975 renovation and no longer provided the flexibility of a modern event-display system.
Action taken
The marquee was replaced with a digital electronic display, and LED poster displays were installed in the lobby.
Aftermath
The venue gained more flexible event signage while retaining its historic theater identity.
2002
Modernize the venue for larger productionsStrategyBackground
Omaha Performing Arts assumed management from the City of Omaha and sought to improve the theater's capacity for complex touring productions.
Action taken
A major renovation upgraded the building to accommodate larger scenery and more complicated stage sets.
Aftermath
The Orpheum continued as a major Omaha venue for Broadway touring productions, opera, and other theatrical programs.
Reported renovation cost. $10 million (2002)
1972
Return the theater to live performing artsStrategyBackground
The building had operated primarily as a movie theater from the 1940s through 1971, following the decline of vaudeville.
Action taken
The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben purchased the building and began a major renovation intended to restore it as a performing-arts venue.
Aftermath
The renovation re-established the Orpheum as a live performance venue rather than a primarily cinematic house.
Reported renovation cost. $2 million (1972)
Recent events
Orpheum Theater launches “100 Years in 100 Days” campaign[3]
Reported:
The Orpheum Theater launched a social media campaign called “100 Years in 100 Days” to celebrate the venue’s history through daily posts on Facebook and Instagram, and invited the public to submit stories and memories.
Sources3 sources
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