"No neighborhood should have to perform their culture on the ground just because they don’t have access to staging or equipment.”
Partners for Livable Omaha, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to “the educational and charitable support of the live performing arts,” has a new project under its wing: the Omaha Mobile Stage (OMS). With the purchase of an 18-foot box truck and an unyielding desire to bring performances to as many communities as possible, the Omaha Mobile Stage was born. Community programming includes celebrations for events such as Earth Day, Cinco de Mayo, and cultural arts displays.
“We came up with the concept of [Omaha Mobile Stage] during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jessica Scheuerman, co-designer for OMS and founder and executive director for Partners for Livable Omaha. “If you remember life back in 2020 and 2021, all the venues were closed and life was at a standstill. There was this urgent need in the performing community to change what the options were so shows could still go on. Virtual content was emerging as the solution, but I thought, ‘Why don’t we have an alternate option?’”
Outdoor staging allowed the show to go on. The first big project under Partners for Livable Omaha, the Omaha Mobile Stage puts on anything from musical performances to children’s magic shows. The stage is also available to rent for block parties, neighborhood celebrations, or any outdoor staging needs. “We’ve staged all sorts of musical performances, spoken word poetry, hip-hop, kids’ magic shows—really all genres,” Scheuerman reflected. “Because the stage can go anywhere and do anything, it can adapt to the community it’s in; we can develop content that’s important to specific neighborhoods.”
The 16-foot wide, 12-foot deep stage, which two stagehands can set up in 30 minutes or less, is able to travel, so it alleviates the common problem of audiences not having transportation to theater events, bringing culture to people who may not otherwise have access to the arts. The stage hosts programs like “Show Wagon,” a youth talent show, and “Pull Up and Vibe,” an open mic series. Begun by Keiria Marsha, who is in charge of programming for the mobile stage, “Pull Up and Vibe” has grown into a popular festival with several performers and vendors.
“Our mission is to give a safe space to artists and creatives to be able to showcase their talents,” Marsha said. “I’m a singer-songwriter. Before this project, I didn’t have a safe space for myself as an artist to create or to give out to the world what I felt was my talent. So I created ‘Pull Up and Vibe,’ because I felt that I needed to create that space for artists who couldn’t get booked because of the type of artists they are.” The event usually lasts through the Spring, but this year there will be events throughout the summer, visiting places like Millwork Commons and the Gene Leahy Mall.
“The overarching goal [of the Mobile Stage] was to create something that could help build community,” Scheuerman said. “We want to have this out in every community. This is a stage that people can rent; it’s a great way to activate a vacant lot or parking lot. We have a sliding scale rental program, so if a community group, neighborhood, or group of artists wants to rent it, we can help them plan ahead, with capacity building, fundraising, and anything else they need.
“It’s a regional asset,” she continued. “We’ll go about an hour away from Omaha. It’s for artists, for city governments, for you.”
The stage not only caters to artists and performers, but also provides ample opportunities for students. “We work with the UNO school of music to recruit interns,” Scheuerman explained. “We also work with the Metro Career Forward program; the end goal is accessibility. It’s a great teaching venue for students.”
The conception of “Pull Up and Vibe” has brought communities together, as well as the two women who make it possible. “It’s blossomed into this beautiful partnership we have now,” Marsha said of her collaboration with Scheuerman. “Over the years I’ve learned a lot from Jessica, and I really value this partnership we’ve developed.”
For more information, visit livable.org and omahamobilestage.org.
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2024 issue of Omaha Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
