About the Omaha Mobile Stage Program
In June 2026, Partners for Livable Omaha transitioned the Omaha Mobile Stage program to new ownership, officially sunsetting this chapter of our work.
Launched in 2021 in response to the pandemic, OMS transformed a repurposed box truck into a mobile venue that brought free, accessible performances, youth showcases, creative workforce training, and neighborhood-based arts programming to thousands of people across the Omaha metro.
We are deeply grateful to the artists, crew members, interns, partners, funders, neighborhoods, and audiences who helped bring this program to life. OMS demonstrated the power of creative placemaking to build connection, support local talent, and make public life more joyful.
As Livable Omaha continues to focus its work on housing, aging in place, and neighborhood livability, we celebrate OMS as a successful and beloved program that helped shape who we are today.
Supported Creative Workforce Development
OMS focused on creative workforce development, youth engagement in the arts, and increased accessibility to live event production resources for underserved communities. Our internship program provided seasonal paid training, mentorship, and real-life work experiences for aspiring stagehands and audio engineers.
Thank you to our 2025 Production Crew!
Benjamin Asbach
Nathanael Atwood
Keiria Lowe
MaKenzie Mellem
Jim Schroeder
Logan Smith
Bobbi Trujillo
Laura Vinopal
Since its inception in 2021, OMS was been guided by four placemaking goals.
Increaseaccess to the performing arts for all ages
Support performing artists and neighborhood businesses
Increase vibrancy and intergenerational social connection
Strengthen creative workforce and community networks
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The Omaha Mobile Stage Youth Talent Show Summer Series is an outdoor amateur talent competition series for ages 3 through graduating high school seniors. The series has been active for 4 seasons.
The 2025 Youth Talent Show series featured more than 190 youth participants from across 38 different zip codes and from more than 68 different schools and performing arts studios.
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We use a sliding-scale rental model to provide the general public with equitable access to a state-of-the-art mobile stage venue with professional audio and lighting equipment and event production services.
To learn more about the 2021-2022 designbuild process with UNL’s FACT studio, visit www.factlab.org/project/omaha-mobile-stage.
In a survey to Youth Talent Show acts following the 2025 series, participants agreed that:
75% the series increased accessibility to the live performing arts for all ages.
75% the series helped the youth increase their self-esteem and confidence
78% the series increased the youths’ performance skills
67% the series increased the youths’ creative, improvisational, and problem solving skills
69% saw a decrease of performance anxiety.
On average families spent $45 at concession stands, local restaurants, or food trucks.
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Youth Talent Show Testimonials
“My favorite part of the event was performing live in front of a very supportive audience, professional crew and staff members, amazing judges and watching other peers perform.”
— Youth Talent Show contestant
“Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience! This talent show truly pushed me to further develop my stage presence and I cannot express my appreciation enough!!!”
— Youth Talent Show contestant
“Thank you all so much for giving all the youths this great opportunity, bringing the community together, making Omaha a wonderful and colorful place for families.”
— Parent of Youth Talent Show contestant
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Audio Engineer Internship Testimonials
“OMS has continually offered pathways to music-related fields and makes several contacts in the area. I have also had direct access to those within the OMS team in case I need help.”
-Audio Engineer Intern, 2022
“OMS helped me learn how to quickly set up a stage, run sound checks, and run a mixing console live.”
-Audio Engineer Intern, 2024
“From this internship, I learned how to work as a team in a live setting. Also being in charge, making sure things run smoothly, and learning some good trade skills.”
-Audio Engineer Intern, 2023
Accomplishments
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2025
Provided free arts enrichment and entertainment to 13,500+ visitors at 24 free events in the Omaha metro
Hosted more than 180 unique performances that featured more than 160 individual adult performers and more than 200 individual youth performers
Paid $42,750 to creative workers, including event planners and managers, audio engineers, stagehands, and professional artist stipends
Provided paid work to 7 participants in our creative workforce development program
Received 1 national design award
Ran a social media awareness campaign, focused on the greater Omaha metro, that included 170+ posts and was viewed over 600,000 times
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2024
Provided free arts enrichment and entertainment to 23,000+ visitors at 28 free events in the Omaha metro
Hosted more than 220 unique performances that featured more than 140 individual adult performers and more than 230 individual youth performers
Paid over $68,360 to creative workers, including event planners and managers, audio engineers, stagehands, and professional artist stipends
Provided paid work to 8 participants in our creative workforce development program
Supported a semester-long music tech studio at UNO’s School of Music for the creation of SOUNDSPARK
Received 1 national design award
Ran a social media awareness campaign, focused on the greater Omaha metro, that included 200+ posts, 19 original videos, and reached 153,000+ people
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2023
Provided free arts enrichment and entertainment to 11,500+ visitors at 30 free events in the Omaha metro
Hosted more than 215 unique performances that featured more than 50 individual adult performers and more than 230 individual youth performers
Paid over $135,500 directly to creative workers, including event planners and managers, designers, audio engineers, stagehands, and professional artist stipends
Provided paid work to 11 young adult participants in our creative workforce development program
Supported a semester-long music tech studio at UNO’s School of Music for the creation of Noisefest
Featured in 12 news outlets
Received 2 national design awards
Ran a social media awareness campaign, focused on the greater Omaha metro, that included 240+ posts, 19 original videos, and reached 161,000+ people
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2022
Hosted 14 free live entertainment events in the Omaha metro
Hosted more than 90 unique performing artists of all ages
Began a creative workforce development program to train and mentor audio engineers and stagehands
Featured in 10 local publications and 1 national outlet
Celebrated the end of OMS's construction
Ran a social media awareness campaign that included over 200 posts, 5 original videos and reached 54,000+ people
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2021
Purchased and repaired the OMS truck
Supported a semester-long designbuild studio at UNL’s Nebraska Innovation Studio and College of Architecture for 16 undergraduate students
Completed the OMS design, including the custom truck fit-out plan and equipment selections
Hosted a public event to announce the final design
Completed the first 50% of OMS's construction tasks
Supported Omaha and Lincoln-based metal workers, mechanics, musicians, and designers
Launched a social media awareness campaign that included 190 posts and 12 original videos and reached 8,300 people