Willa Cather Foundation Events

University of Nebraska-Kearney professor of art foundations, photography, and design Derrick Burbul closes out our summer gallery roster with selections from his Myths of the West series. 

Holding both English and photography degrees, Burbul is uniquely situated to explore the visual rhetoric surrounding the myths of the western United States. He was educated at the University of Wisconsin-Superior and earned an MFA in studio arts with an emphasis on photography from the University of Idaho. 

Enjoy a special evening of classical music! An internationally acclaimed group, the Opus 76 Quartet creates an immersive listening experience, featuring pieces written by composers such as Brahms, Wagner, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Mozart. The quartet captivates audiences of all ages and cultural backgrounds, a clear demonstration of their commitment to the future of classical music.

An all-inclusive fee of $175 includes round-trip transportation, lunch and dinner, guided tours of historic sites, access to permanent exhibits, and viewing of special collections in the archive.

Delve into World War II history with the 2025 One Book One Nebraska selection! Join authors Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee as they share excerpts from The Long March Home: A World War II Novel of the Pacific and discuss their approach to writing historical fiction. 

Set against the backdrop of the attack on Pearl Harbor, The Long March Home tells the harrowing story of young American soldiers and prisoners of war fighting to survive the Bataan Death March, one of the worst atrocities of modern warfare. 

You voted and we listened! Because of a community vote, AMFM will be brought to Red Cloud to perform as part of our 2025 season. Formed in 2013 in Lincoln, AMFM covers 80s music across all genres. Whether it's rock, pop, new age, or dance, band members create an ultimate retro dance party that's a great time for any generation! Dust off your parachute pants, tease your hair, and get your tickets today!

We look forward to welcoming Kansas artist Laura Mead and her dream-like botanical prints to the Red Cloud Opera House Gallery this autumn. The works on display, whether printed on paper, polymer clay, or silk, are more than just a representation of the prairie; instead, they are created by and with native prairie plants that are grown and hand-selected for use by the artist, on her own acreage.

Help us welcome three writers from our first Willa Cather Residency for Writers cohort as they share recent publications! Joanna Biggs, Richard Scott Larson, and Kirsten Sundberg Lunstrum will all read excerpts from their books as they reflect on their unique writers in residence experiences. 

We are excited to host Kansas artist Laura Mead to learn the secrets of botanical printing on textiles during a 1-day workshop in Red Cloud! During the workshop, the artist and National Willa Cather Center staff will lead group participants in plant selection at the Willa Cather Memorial Prairie, before we gather in the Creative Hub to learn the techniques that Mead uses to create her beautiful artwork.

October 18, 2025, from 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. 
Enrollment will be limited to TEN participants!

Lauren Anderson returns to Nebraska to bring her soulful performance to the Red Cloud Opera House stage! Her earthy yet sharp vocals are a perfect match for the bluesy rock music featured in her shows. Reserve your tickets for this 2025 audience choice show today!

Celebrate the holiday season with Elvis not once but twice! Joseph Hall returns as the King of Rock and Roll to bring nostalgic holiday classics to the opera house stage. Be sure to reserve your tickets for a jolly night out with family, friends or colleagues. It'll be a Blue Christmas without you!

This show is generously sponsored by Campbell Connection, Gary and Bev Meyer, Red and Pam Meyer, Ridgeline Exteriors LLC, and Van Beber Properties LLC.