Bill is the longest serving Executive Director of the Lied Center. He commented on the uniqueness of the Lied which holds a variety of performances. They have plays including musicals, symphonies, musical concerts quartets and solos, and variety shows. They have shows with international influence such as an Austrian brass ensemble and Irish song and dance.
From their website: Our mission is to educate, inspire and entertain the people of Nebraska through the performing arts.
Bill stated that at the Lied you can see the greatest acts in the world - performances that you cannot see anywhere else.
He talked about a local play - "House Divided" - by UNL Professor Christina Kirk.The story is about Abraham Lincoln and tells the story of how the country was divided - but also his family. Mary Todd Lincoln's half-sister was a confederate. It was about Lincoln managing public and private divide. Bill reflected that many of the issues then still linger today. So, the leadership of Lincoln can have an impact on us today as much as it did back then.
Bill shared that one of the cool things about the Lied and UNL is that we have a chance to create new works. He hopes that "House Divided" will be picked up by others and have a life beyond the Lied.
He showed us a video previewing 13 of the 40 upcoming shows. We saw pictures and heard about the variety of performances such as:
Back to the Future The Musical
Encanto - a sing-along film concert
The Illusionists Magic of the Holidays
The Midtown Men - Holiday Hits - Rock and Roll
Rent In Concert- star-studded - Lincoln is one of the few cities where they can be seen
Moulin Rouge The Musical
123 Andres in Concert - Family oriented performance that includes child-friendly singing - Latin duo that performs in both English and Spanish
Annie - one of the best family musicals
Alton Brown Live - food scientist with comedy
He encouraged people to get season tickets - you can select 5 shows and get first selection of seats. Any additional shows you attend are discounted 10%.
He also talked about the value of the Broadway Subscribers. The more subscribers we have the more likely we can get great Broadway performances. Broadway sees the number of subscribers and decides whether or not to put us on their tour schedule
Bill stated that the artists engage with the Lincoln Community. Many times the artists will visit the UNL school of music of theater and interact with the students - even perform.
We were also told that the Lied is not just in Lincoln. Bill shared that the Arts Across Nebraska program is strong - and growing. From the website: Arts Across Nebraska connects Lied Center artists to Nebraska communities throughout the state. We provide up to three tours every year at an affordable rate to presenting partners. The Lied is responsible for contracting with the artists, routing, and providing technical assistance. Each tour stop includes public performances, student matinees, and educational outreach. More information about our 26th season can be found below.
BIO:
Bill Stephan has been serving as Executive Director at the Lied Center for Performing Arts since 2009. Prior to that time, he was Director of the Nampa Civic Center in Idaho for ten years and the Managing Director of Idaho Dance Theatre. Over the past two decades, he has presented hundreds of the greatest artists in the world ranging from Yo-Yo Ma and Wynton Marsalis to Harry Connick Jr. and American Ballet Theatre. During his career, he has founded several non-profit arts organizations and created major performing arts programs. In 2012, he was recognized as an expert in the public facilities management industry when he was awarded the designation of Certified Venue Executive by the International Association of Venue Managers. Mr. Stephan is a graduate of Boise State University with a degree in music and business. Bill is an active member of the Major University Presenters Consortium (MUPS), Broadway League, Association of Performing Arts Presenters, International Association of Venue Managers, Arts Midwest, Rotary Club 14 and is the past President of the Plains Presenters.
Under Stephan’s leadership over the past ten years, the Lied Center has more than doubled ticket sales & contributed income, built the Lied Commons, renovated the Carson Theater, created the Glenn Korff Broadway Series and many other achievements. The Lied Center for Performing Arts at the University of Nebraska is one of the top 100 theaters in the world (Pollstar Magazine) based on annual tickets sold.
Bill is the great, great grandson of Adam Hedrick who was a Nebraska Homesteader in 1882 in the area Edgar/Deweese, Nebraska area.