The Shirley Tyree Theater

A new space for community gathering and storytelling made possible through YOUR SUPPORT!

Shirley Tyree Theater Ammenities 90 seat theater gathering area scene shop green room and accessible lobby

In the summer of 2022, The Union for Contemporary Art broke ground on a pivotal next stage of our commitment to support the arts while strengthening our community by creating new space for bold storytelling and community fellowship.

Construction is now complete, and the historic F.J. Carey Block building at 2401 North 24th Street has been fully renovated to be used as a community gathering space: The Shirley Tyree Theater.

Renovation of this historic brick structure will provide expanded opportunities for The Union’s Performing Arts program and breathe new life into a building which has served the North Omaha community for generations. Included in the building renovation plans are spaces for a 90-seat theater, lobby and ticketing area, set-design workshop, and an open-format rehearsal/gathering space.

None of this would be possible without the generous investments of our community. THANK YOU for your support!

Kathy Tyree addresses a crowd in the lobby space during the theater dedication event

A crowd gathers in the lobby of the Shirley Tyree Theater during the theater dedication event

A group of theater performers poses for a photo during the theater dedication event

A large crowd mingles and fills the space during the theater dedication event

Family of Shirley Tyree pose next to a bronze bust of her in the lobby during the theater dedication event

The exterior corner of the Shirley Tyree Theater as seen from 24th st and Willis Ave at night

Union theater rendering Interior view of the theater with people taking their seats under low lighting

Shirley Tyree: Our Inspiring Namesake

The Union for Contemporary Art is honored to uplift the legacy of Ms. Shirley Tyree through the Shirley Tyree Theater.

Ms. Shirley Tyree was born in Louisiana on February 22, 1939. It is no coincidence that this community jewel would enter the world during what later would become Black History Month. She moved to Omaha with her family as a child and attended Kellom Elementary and graduated from Tech High School (now the TAC building). Shirley Tyree was one of the first Black Managers at Northwestern Bell Phone Company and one of the initial members of the Nebraska Black Managers Association. Her trailblazing spirit was supported by her strong faith in God. She was a longtime member at Morning Star Baptist Church.

It is an honor for The Union to lift up Ms. Shirley Tyree and shine a light on the strong foundation she helped build that we all currently stand on. It is with great pride that we name our new building after a woman who dedicated her life to making Omaha a better place for us all.

Learn More

Blood at the Root Actor and actress sit back to back together center stage laughing with school books in their laps

Blood at the Root Actress looks out of frame wearing a worried look and holding a protest sign that reads Drop the Charges Against D

Blood at the Root Actor stands alone on stage wearing an angry expression with a clenched fist mid statement

Blood at the root two actors sit on either side of the stage which is all dark except for a spotlight on each actor

Blood at the Root Actor stands alone in darkness looking defiantly out of frame Actress stands alone against a brick wall holding a rope taut between her hands

Black and white archive photo of FJ Carey Block building Text overlay reads FJ Carey Block building October 1929

Honoring History: Preserving the F.J. Carey Block Building

The Shirley Tyree Theater occupies the historic F.J. Carey Block next door to The Union. The building, which is now more than 110 years old was recognized in 2016 by the National Park Service as one of 28 historically-significant buildings contributing to the North 24th and Lake Streets Historic District

Before being reborn as the Shirley Tyree Theater, the building housed multiple laundry businesses including the original Carey Cleaners (the building’s front brick facade still bears the Carey name) and the long-running Standard Laundry Company. During the 1950s and 60s, multiple automotive body shops occupied the space. The most recent tenant of the building was the Simple Simon Day Care.

(Archival photo from the KMTV/Bostwick-Frohardt Photograph Collection, permanently housed at The Durham Museum.)

Theater Advisory and Development Teams

The work of planning, developing, and constructing The Shirley Tyree Theater has been guided by the insight and dedication of many. Our Theater Advisory Committee is filled with performing artists of many disciplines who have worked with The Union for several years and are committed to the growth of performing arts in North Omaha and beyond. Our development team of architects, sound and lighting designers, and construction managers have worked tirelessly to maintain the integrity of this unique building's character here on North 24th Street.

Part of this process has included a concerted effort to connect with and hire BIPOC- and women-owned local subcontractors, particularly those based in North Omaha.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

+ Anthony Holmes
+ TammyRa Jackson
+ Kathy Tyree
+ Homero Vela
+ Nik Whitcomb

DEVELOPMENT TEAM

+ Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture
+ Field Day Development
+ Lund-Ross Constructors
+ Morrissey Engineering
+ Schuler Shook
+ TD2 Engineering & Surveying

THANK YOU SUPPORTERS!

SHIRLEY TYREE THEATER FOUNDING DONORS

The Sherwood Foundation
Weitz Family Foundation
Peter Kiewit Foundation
Holland Foundation
Fred and Eve Simon Charitable Foundation
Sunderland Foundation
Anonymous
Michael and Nancy McCarthy
Kevin McCarthy
Douglas County Visitor Improvement Fund Grant Award
Nebraska Department of Economic Development

ADDITIONAL GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM:

Anonymous
Karen Berry and John Pollack
Katie and Corey Broman
Anne and Jim Carroll
Susie and Dennis Collins
Tony and Claudia Deeb
Dede McFayden-Donahue and Pat Donahue
Elouise Ewing
Sherry Fletcher
Devin Fox and Rob Block
Courtney Gerdes
Marcey Gibson
Kristin Girten
Don and Andi Goldstein
Kathy Gonzales
Dan Crane and Megan Green
Rachel Grossman
Haley Haas
Becky Hallberg
Heider Family Foundation
Shari Hofschire
Kay A Horwath
Jackson Street Booksellers
Emma Johnson
Richard and Frances Juro
Don Keelan-White
Taryn Kelley
Keys Family
Megan King
Suzanne King
Meg and Jerry Kinney
Steve and Debbie Krambeck
Shannon and Andrew Lang
Mary and Mike LaVelle
Kevin Lawler
Mike and Susan Lebens
Rev. Ryan P. Lewis
Moira Mangiameli
Karen and Mike Markey
Anonymous
Morrissey Engineering
Maggie and Bob Mundy
Lynne Mytty
Keith Allerton and Rebecca Noble
Omaha Steaks
Sally Otis
Carolyn Owen Anderson
Barbara Ann Schlott
Todd and Betiana Simon
Kip and Deborah Squire
Sandra K Squires
Lund-Ross Constructors
Sue and Mary Stroesser
The Sturdivant-Wilsons
Melissa Teply
Jim and Susan Tracy
Union Pacific Foundation
Vic Gutman & Associates
Barbara and Wally Weitz
Katie Weitz and Tim Wilson
Meredith and Drew Weitz
Roger and Kate Weitz
Douglas and Debra Wesselmann
Johnny Lynn Williams
Susan Witkowski
Kevin Wycoff
Adam and Sarah Yale

Logos of Shirley Tyree Theater supporters arranged together