Andrew Garey, 3/26/2025
The Lofte Community Theatre presented another great play: Hollywood, Nebraska written by Kenneth Jones, directed by Kevin Colbert and supported by stage manager Linda Dabbs. The play is set in a fictional Nebraska town of Hatcher in the western panhandle region. It feel like any small Nebraska town. Most of the show takes place in a dining room that can be found in most midwestern homes. As mentioned in the show, it is the “brown” time of year otherwise known as autumn.
The plot follows two women, Jane (Brandy Hall) and Andrea (Madison Garey), as they are forced to come home from Hollywood and Broadway back to small towns, old history, and corn. Jane arrives to help her mother, Alma (Melinda Schneider), recover from an injury and meets the neighbors, single father Robert (James Skinner) and his teenage daughter Katie (Milli Potmesi). Jane’s old friend, Andrea, comes back to deal with her deceased father’s estate and meets Robert’s coworker, Lance (Hunter Sieckmeyer). With this small cast, all the characters have something to say, as one does in any small Nebraska town.
Under the experienced eye of the director, every actor and actress is well suited for their character. Jane, Alma, and Andrea are great. Each brings the right amount of emotion and strength to their roles. Love is found in a very believable way as much as you expect your neighbor across the street would. The emotional impact of past traumas and new uncertain futures that were discussed between characters were not melo-dramatic, but realistic and grounded. A few pointed scenes have to be mentioned, such as the heated disagreement between Alma and Jane, Andrea’s emotional monologues, and Robert’s relationship trauma. Of course, the audience got a kick out of Lance’s antics.
The design and visual style of the play is as much like the script as it is like Nebraska. The interiors of houses and rooms are simple and realistic. No major special effects are needed here but the audience can see the china on the shelf, Husker hats hanging next to the door, and wall paper piling. Everyone has been in this room and talked to their friends over coffee or wine.
Like a Willa Cather novel (which they mentioned), the beauty of this play is the simplicity and realism. These two women traveled from the Big City of Lights back to their rural communities and found that everyone has their own hurt. Each person may have gotten over past pain but it can still rear its ugly head. One of the best lines is the statement: “When you leave home, you learn about home; when you come back home you learn about yourself“. Two thumbs up.
The first weekend of showing is over, but there is still time to see the show. On Thursday March 27 the tickets are only $12! Make sure to head to Manley, Nebraska this weekend to see Hollywood, Nebraska.
To get tickets Get tickets at lofte.org/tickets or call 402-234-2553.
Performance dates: March 27, 28, 29, and 30. Shows start at 7:00 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and 2:00 on Sundays.
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