Upcoming Events

The ARENA is Omaha's #1 Improv Competition pitting together 2 improv teams to find out which Omaha team is the best. Each competition is followed by previous Champions that get their own weekly slot until someone beats their record! As an added bonus, the show will start off with a set from previous Champions!

Whichever team wins the votes of the audience comes back the next week to face a new Challenging team, each getting 20 minutes to win over your votes. The #1 team "4 Average People" has won 16 weeks in a row! Will a team ever beat that record? You decide!

Pandemic! @ the Disco! (aka the artists formerly known as PanNick! @ the Disco aka the artists formerly known as PanNick) are Omaha’s premiere (and only!) two person musical improv team. This duo performs the hero's journey, taking suggestions from the audience to define the hero, portrayed by Matt Johnson. We then watch as that hero goes on a journey meeting less-than-helpful supporters, silly antagonists, and bewildered bystanders- all portrayed by Musical Director and accompanist Robyn Helwig.

Pandemic! @ the Disco is a top performer on the Backline’s arena board, having won a streak of 14 weeks, and is also the only team to have made it on the board twice (having won 8 consecutive weeks in 2019 as PanNick! @ the Disco).

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.) Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Online sales end 30 minutes before showtime. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm). No need to print tickets, just give your name at the door.

William Allen Watts II Presents: Comedy Wars

Comedy Wars is a recurring three round standup competition show featuring a different special guest each month. The winner of those match-ups going head-to-head against The Champion of the previous Comedy Wars in the final round to potentially take their crown. You, the audience, decide who wins and who goes home!

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.) Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Online sales end 30 minutes before showtime. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm). No need to print tickets, just give your name at the door.

Date Night is here!

Gather up your special someone (or any someone) and come see great two-person teams improvising their little hearts out. Whether you actually bring a date, this show will be just as fun to watch alone or with a group of friends. Who knows, maybe you'll meet a future date here.

Hosted by Justin Edmonds

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.)

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm).

"The Strangers" is a 2-person improv show featuring Timmy Tamisiea and Will Meinen; two people who at one time didn't know each other and now they do!

Timmy trained and taught in Chicago and LA and continues to perform around the country with the Westside Comedy theater. Will got his start at The Backline, and trained/performed in Chicago at the iO and Second City theaters.

Both Timmy and Will moved back home to Omaha during the pandemic and decided to start performing together, initially as strangers and now as friends.

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.)

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm).

​Nebraska's comedy scene has flourished since the pandemic! 

The Backline would love to showcase some of the newer comedians that we think are going to be doing big things some day. These are all relatively young comedians who have mostly been around only a year or two, getting booked for great shows and winning competitions. This is a great show for a group of friends out downtown for the night looking for something fun thing that's not just a bar (but we also have drinks too!)

Hosted by Backline owner Dylan Oakes Rohde, Featuring Ross Doehling, Breanna Kalhorn, Noe Ramirez, and Lauren Vana!

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.) Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Online sales end 30 minutes before showtime. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm). No need to print tickets, just give your name at the door.

What tickles your fancy? Improv or stand-up? You don’t have to choose with this show! Local comedian Jake Parker brings you some of Omaha’s funniest performers in this monthly showcase. Don't miss out on this unique conglomeration of talent!

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.) Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm). No need to print tickets, just give your name at the door. 

Our house sketch and musical teams bring you a night of laughter! You've seen traditional improv--now meet our other offerings! Sketch teams and musical troupes will entertain you and bring you to tears. What better way to spend your Tuesday?

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.) Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm). No need to print tickets, just give your name at the door. 

Like an Open Mic for improv & sketch, the Open Stage will offer 4 minutes of stage time for each performer. This can mean that a team of 5 can do a 20 minute set, or maybe the 5 people only need 10 minutes and they each use their remaining 2 minutes with other teams or ideas. Hosted by Todd Dylan and Dylan Rohde every Tuesday.

The Backline will be showcasing both veteran and up-and-coming comedians every Wednesday at 7pm. Delivering a funny and diverse cast so anyone in our audience can find their new favorite local comedians! (Sometimes we'll have guests from other cities!)

Also, stick around after this show for our Open Mic at 8pm where anyone can get up on stage!

Brooke Barsell & Todd Dylan host The Backline Open Mic (standup) every Wednesday at 8pm. Each comedian will be allowed 4 minutes, and names will be drawn from a hat for those who show up before 8pm, people who show up afterward will be added to a 2nd list. Whether it's your first time or you perform weekly, why not try out your material in front of a great crowd at one of the best standup venues in town?

Since names are pulled at random, comics are encouraged to sit and watch everyone else, creating a fun and encouraging audience. 5 seconds of grace period before music plays you off. Prepare accordingly.

This show is FREE for everyone!

Dad Jokes (featuring Michael Johnson, Michael Smith, Justin Edmonds, Taylor Grote, and Rachel Ware) has been voted as one of the best improv shows at The Backline. They don't tell 'jokes' and they aren't your dad, but you'll love them just the same. Their show is some of the best longform improv comedy you can find in Omaha!

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.) Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Online sales end 30 minutes before showtime. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm). No need to print tickets, just give your name at the door.

Just Relax Comedy presents A Night Of Laughter. Join us for a night of great stand up comedy from the Just Relax crew. Featuring a new comedian each month joining them for an hour of laughter. 

Just Relax is a group of hilarious friends who have been traveling the Midwest since 2021. Tyrel Frazier, Noe Ramirez, Brent Bradley, and Rachel Ware have 15 years of combined experience on stage, and promise you a fun night of drinks, laughs, and unforgettable comedy.

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.) Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Online sales end 30 minutes before showtime. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm). No need to print tickets, just give your name at the door.

Yer Mom's Comedy Show presents standup comedians aimed at “Keeping parents sane one punch line at a time!” Join comic moms-Kendra Karbowski, Patty Fanciullo & Anneliese Wright, as they bring up some of the best talent the Midwest has to offer. Special guest comedians will keep the entertainment going and we’ll end the evening with our “MomTime” Comedy chat

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.)

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm).

Babes in JOYLAND is Brooke Barsell’s monthly show featuring new up and coming comedians along with a hot fresh headliner. This is often a sold out show, so make sure to get your tickets in advance!

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.)

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm).

These are official Backline House Teams bringing you three different improv teams and shows, with new teams every six months! Check out veteran improvisers alongside the best up-and-coming talent!

Catch these teams twice a month on Tuesdays at The Backline and stick around afterward for an open stage!

INTERROGATED is easily one of the best improv shows in Omaha and features Backline's top improvisers (sometimes featuring special guests too!) This fast-paced and very much 'adult-friendly' improv where we'll ask you, the audience, to confess true stories from a time where you got away with something. Maybe you stole a brownie from a roommate, or spun cookies in a football field, either way we'll take them! Our performers will create scenes based off these stories in a structured 'game-based' style of improv you'll only see similar to in LA and NYC.

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.)

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm).

This show is packed with Nebraska’s greatest comedians doing their BEST material. Each comedian only has three minutes to impress the crowd, and land the chance to come back and close out the show. If you’re looking for an hour of fast paced high energy comedy, Power Hour is the show for you! Rachel Ware hosts this notoriously sold out show every third Friday of the month at 10pm.

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.)

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm).

Roastle-Mania is THE monthly roast battle in Omaha! 8 contestants step up in this roasting tournament to determine our Omaha Roasting Champion! Come out to the Backline comedy and be part of the show, the audience decides our winners! Hope to see you, and get ready for about 80 minutes of pure laughter, and fun!


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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.)

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm).

Making yourself vulnerable can be one of the scariest things a person does. So is public speaking. Now combine the two things and know that you just get to sit and watch from the safety of your chairs. Omaha's standup comics are about to get real and share some of their vulnerable material. If you are looking for things to do in Omaha on a Saturday night downtown, you won't find anything more fun.

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.) Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm). No need to print tickets, just give your name at the door. 

Biscuits is layered with many of Omaha's funniest improvisers and ready to butter you up for a hot show. Often fast-paced and never flaky, Biscuits will always rise to the occasion! Improv like your grandma definitely didn't used to make. (Each show also features a guest team opening for them!)

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.)

Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm).

Bring your most brave and daring friends to get up on stage and face either being tricked or possibly getting some cool treats!​ 

Presented by The wUw Show, they did their first ever prank show for April fools this year and it was an absolute blast. The biggest question everyone has is how do you prank someone who volunteers to be pranked. For every challenge, they'll have a set up that people can volunteer for like let's say a spicy hot sauce challenge or a prank phone call. In our last show they asked someone to make a prank call not knowing that an actor was on the other line pranking them. All in front of a live crowd. Guaranteed to be a memorable night out with your friends for sure!

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.) Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Online sales end 30 minutes before showtime. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm). No need to print tickets, just give your name at the door.

Bottle Episode is an improv comedy special where the performers are characters stuck in a central location for the duration of the show. The catch? The comedians are served real drinks during, and must keep the show afloat as they become more inebriated. Each "Episode" features a new location and a new list of Omaha's top comedians. This episode features long running Omaha favorites, Dad Jokes (featuring Michael Johnson, Michael Smith, Justin Edmonds, Taylor Grote, and Rachel Ware) and the theme is HAUNTED HOUSE. Can these comedians survive getting hammered while haunted?

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.) Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Online sales end 30 minutes before showtime. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm). No need to print tickets, just give your name at the door.

Saturday October 29th I have a fun comedy show for you!! Comedians in costumes! Doing jokes in characters! Could be a Dahmer or a clown or a cheerleader, who knows! And you can vote for your favorite!! Only $10!

The Backline Breanna Kalhorn Serenity Dougherty Alec Elysia Hulanie Lamar HarkerRoss Doehling Ben Weber Liam Chleborad and a big shout out to Liam for making this poster!!!

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.) Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Online sales end 30 minutes before showtime. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm). No need to print tickets, just give your name at the door.

Genre-based improv comedy with new genres selected for each show. Maybe the groups will be improvising an action movie, slasher flick, or maybe something like a Disney Channel Original Movie. A great option for a date, with some friends, or even just by yourself!

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.) Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Online sales end 30 minutes before showtime. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm). No need to print tickets, just give your name at the door.

The Broken Magic Comedy Hour is a standup comedy series brought to you by founding OK Party Member and national touring stand up comic Zach Peterson. Featuring some of the best stand up comics in the midwest and beyond, The BMCH is a professionally run stand up show that will have you coming back for more month after month.

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.) Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm). No need to print tickets, just give your name at the door. 

This show is Rated R for graphic language of adult situations.

A fearless standup show at Backline, but also one to avoid if you easily get rubbed the wrong way. We line up Omaha's top local comedians and give them a chance to perform some stuff they can't do at most shows. If this sounds like you something you would like, then you definitely will. If this sounds disgusting to you, we have other shows you should check out.

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.) Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Online sales end 30 minutes before showtime. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm). No need to print tickets, just give your name at the door.

Thanksgiving has passed and it’s time to burn those extra calories off the best way possible. With laughter! Whether you’re looking to spend more time with family and friends, or if you’re looking to get away from them, this is the show for you. Three of Omaha’s best Comedians (Cameron Logsdon, Tyler Walsh, and David Kousgaard) will help you forget those weird political fights you had on Thursday! Thanksgiving Leftovers is guaranteed to be a fun, and funny, way to finish off your holiday weekend.

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No Drink Minimum. 18+ (or under with parent or guardian.) Please arrive no later than 5 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets may be released for resale at that time, no refunds will be given. Online sales end 30 minutes before showtime. Parking available on the street (metered until 9pm). No need to print tickets, just give your name at the door.