The River Bride Enchants Local Audiences

August 15th, 2025

Transporting audiences into the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, the Omaha Community Playhouse’s (OCP) upcoming production The River Bride aims to enthrall with its poetic charm. Set in a small fishing village along the banks of the Amazon River, the story explores the quiet tension of unspoken desires and the risks we fear to take.

“There is so much that is kind of told to us… and I think sometimes in that, [we need] the freedom to be bold in our choices as young adults,” says director Alex Rodriguez.

This 90-minute production offers a rich blend of live music, Brazilian mythology, and a poetic script that ties it all together. “The play premiered at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, so the language is heightened and elevated — like classical texts might be. Like a Shakespeare or a Greek,” Rodriguez explains. “[The playwright] was inspired by Federico García Lorca’s statement that ‘a play is a poem standing up,’ which is such a beautiful quote. And so I took that and kind of ran with it.”

The blend of lyrical language and Brazilian mythology elevates this story into something rarely seen on Omaha stages.

But the experience goes beyond dialogue. The show’s immersive design invites audiences deep into its rainforest setting. Cacophonies of thunder and the lush chorus of the jungle echo throughout the show, while the set itself extends into the audience itself.

“There’s somewhat of a lyrical quality in the staging, with moments of slow motion,” Rodriguez adds. “It kind of leads to what I call more creative slash varied imaginative solutions.”

The River Bride runs at the Omaha Community Playhouse through September 14. More information can be found at omahaplayhouse.com.