Crane River Theater is established around the belief that lifting up the arts will only help in creating richer and more vibrant communities. Our mission is to serve the community of Kearney and surrounding areas as a professional theater company providing a home for the presentation, education, and promotion of the arts. Crane River Theater is proud to collaborate with countless organizations in our area to host an array of special events each year, thereby exposing many new people to the joy of the arts.  Stay informed of all upcoming productions, programs and events by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Give Where You Live

Give Where You Live is a special fundraising event that will unite donors from all over to support nonprofits in the Kearney area and improve our quality of life. It is a community effort led by the Kearney Area Community Foundation that allows organizations like Crane River Theater to continually grow and find new donors. 

Thank you to all of our donors during Give Where You Live 2023! Your generosity helped us raise more than $32,000 to put toward our productions and programs. You can find more information HERE.

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Family Fun Fest

Crane River Theater, in partnership with the Kearney Cultural Partners, is excited to be a part of Family Fun Fest 2024! The event will take place in Fall 2024 – stay tuned for more details!

It’s a day of free family fun, filled with music, art, theater, dance, culture, and more! Kids can step into a giant bubble, run the obstacle course, meet Disney Princesses, take part in a Shinja, Zumba or Yoga workshop, step inside a fire truck, create balloon animals, jump in the bounce houses, and visit all of our interactive stations. Families can also enjoy special live performances featuring Edgerton Explorit Center, Garan Coons – Native American Dancer, and more!

Kearney Cultural Partners is a coalition of more than twenty non-profit organizations dedicated to educating and promoting arts and culture in our area. Members include The Archway, Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary, Trails and Rails Museum, Kearney Park and Recreation, Classic Car Collection, Crane River Theater, Downtown Kearney, G.W. Frank Museum of History and Culture, Kearney Area Arts Council, Kearney Area Children’s Museum, Kearney Artist Guild, Kearney Community Theatre, Kearney Concert Association, Kearney Creates, Kearney Family YMCA, Kearney Public Library, Kearney Symphony Orchestra, Merryman Performing Arts Center, Museum of Nebraska Art, Nebraska Firefighters Museum, Prairie Art Brothers, UNK Music, Theatre & Dance, UNK Art & Design, and the World Theatre.

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I Spy… Arts and Culture in Kearney!

Visit locations. Spy clues. Solve the phrase. Enter to win prizes!

Take a tour around Kearney, SPY clues, and solve the mystery phrase! Visit participating locations and spy the letter in their window (you will not have to go inside locations). Match the letter to the corresponding logo to solve the phrase. Stay tuned for upcoming dates for this event.

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june 2024

20jun7:00 pm9:00 pmBeauty and the Beast7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Yanney Heritage Park

21jun7:00 pm9:00 pmBeauty and the Beast7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Yanney Heritage Park

22jun7:00 pm9:00 pmBeauty and the Beast7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Yanney Heritage Park

24jun7:00 pm9:00 pmBeauty and the Beast7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Yanney Heritage Park

25jun7:00 pm9:00 pmBeauty and the Beast7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Yanney Heritage Park

26jun7:00 pm9:00 pmBeauty and the Beast7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Yanney Heritage Park

27jun7:00 pm9:00 pmBeauty and the Beast7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Yanney Heritage Park

28jun7:00 pm9:00 pmBeauty and the Beast7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Yanney Heritage Park

29jun7:00 pm9:00 pmBeauty and the Beast7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Yanney Heritage Park

july 2024

25jul7:00 pm9:30 pmBeautiful: The Carole King Musical7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Merryman Performing Arts Center

26jul7:00 pm9:30 pmBeautiful: The Carole King Musical7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Merryman Performing Arts Center

27jul2:00 pm4:30 pmBeautiful: The Carole King Musical2:00 pm - 4:30 pm Merryman Performing Arts Center

28jul2:00 pm4:30 pmBeautiful: The Carole King Musical2:00 pm - 4:30 pm Merryman Performing Arts Center

30jul7:00 pm9:30 pmBeautiful: The Carole King Musical7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Merryman Performing Arts Center

31jul7:00 pm9:30 pmBeautiful: The Carole King Musical7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Merryman Performing Arts Center

august 2024

01aug7:00 pm9:30 pmBeautiful: The Carole King Musical7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Merryman Performing Arts Center

02aug7:00 pm9:30 pmBeautiful: The Carole King Musical7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Merryman Performing Arts Center

03aug2:00 pm4:30 pmBeautiful: The Carole King Musical2:00 pm - 4:30 pm Merryman Performing Arts Center

04aug2:00 pm4:30 pmBeautiful: The Carole King Musical2:00 pm - 4:30 pm Merryman Performing Arts Center

october 2024

03oct7:00 pm9:30 pmTo Kill A Mockingbird7:00 pm - 9:30 pm The World Theatre

04oct7:00 pm9:30 pmTo Kill A Mockingbird7:00 pm - 9:30 pm The World Theatre

05oct7:00 pm9:30 pmTo Kill A Mockingbird7:00 pm - 9:30 pm The World Theatre

06oct2:00 pm4:30 pmTo Kill A Mockingbird2:00 pm - 4:30 pm The World Theatre

december 2024

19dec7:00 pm9:30 pmIt's A Wonderful Life7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Merryman Performing Arts Center

20dec7:00 pm9:30 pmIt's A Wonderful Life7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Merryman Performing Arts Center

21dec2:00 pm4:30 pmIt's A Wonderful Life2:00 pm - 4:30 pm Merryman Performing Arts Center

21dec7:00 pm9:30 pmIt's A Wonderful Life7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Merryman Performing Arts Center

22dec2:00 pm4:30 pmIt's A Wonderful Life2:00 pm - 4:30 pm Merryman Performing Arts Center