To find the answers to many of our frequently asked questions, please review the listing below. Click each question of interest to expand the answer for more information. All answers are made visible by clicking the Expand All link below.

  1. What is the Lied Center for Performing Arts?

    The Lied Center is an arts presenter, bringing professional Broadway productions, musicians, dance companies, theater companies, orchestras and more from all over the world to perform here in Lincoln, Nebraska. While the Lied Center is affiliated with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and located on UNL's city campus, the organization is self-sufficient through donations, grants, and ticket sales. The Lied Center is also a separate entity from the UNL School of Music, and the Johnny Carson School of Theater and Film, though sometimes their productions are held in our facility and our ticket office often sells tickets to their performances.

  2. Where does the name Lied come from?

    Ernst Lied (pronounced “lead”), a 1927 graduate of UNL, went on to make a fortune in the Las Vegas real estate market. His charitable foundation, under the leadership of Christina Hixson, helped fund the building of the Lied Center and its performance fund. The Lied Foundation has also provided funding for UNL's Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, as well as the Lied Transplant Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Somewhat confusingly, there is also a Lied Center of Kansas, a performing arts venue at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

  3. What should I wear to a performance at the Lied Center?

    The Lied Center has no formal dress code. Although some patrons prefer to dress more formally, jeans and tennis shoes are perfectly acceptable. When in doubt, business casual is always appropriate.

  4. What and where is Will Call?

    A specific place, usually the ticket office, from where a patron can pick up tickets that have been ordered and paid for in advance. Unless we are expecting a large amount of "will call" patrons, we do not designate a specific window for this purpose and any ticket office personnel can help you. For performances not in the Lied Center, "will call" stations will be at that venue.

     

  5. When should I arrive? How will I know where to go once I arrive?

    The doors at the Lied Center are generally open one hour before the performance. The pre-performance talk in the Lied's Steinhart Room begins 30 minutes before the performance or when the room is full (whichever is first). If you do not wish to attend the performance’s pre-talk, plan on arriving at least 30 minutes prior to the performance. This will give you enough time to use the restroom, find your seat and read through the program. If you need to pick up tickets from "will call," you may want to arrive a few minutes earlier. Ushers will direct you to your seat and are happy to answer any questions you may have about locations of restrooms, concessions, etc.

     

  6. What happens if I arrive late?

    If you arrive late, ushers will seat you at the earliest appropriate time during the performance, usually at the end of a piece. The Lied Center does have observation rooms at the back of the hall where you may see and hear the performance before the next appropriate seating time.

     

  7. What if I have to leave the performance early?

    If you need to leave the performance early, we ask that you leave at a point in the performance when moving around would be of minimal disturbance to those around you, such as during the applause at the end of a song. 

  8. How long is a typical performance?

    Most performances run about two hours, including a 15-20 minute intermission. Events in our Family Series are typically one hour in length, with no intermission. If you would like to know the length of a particular performance, please call the Lied Center ticket office at 402.472.4747.

     

     

  9. Why is there an intermission, and what should I do during it?

    While originally intended to give the performers a break, intermission also provides an opportunity for the audience to socialize, use the restroom, or consume refreshments. Many patrons also prefer to remain in their seats and read the program. Intermission is usually 15-20 minutes long, and the lights will dim signaling that intermission is nearly over.

     

  10. What is an encore? Do I have to stay for the encore?

    An encore is an additional performance of a musical piece at the end of the regular concert and is requested by the audience by extended clapping or a standing ovation. It is fine to leave before the encore, but please do so before the encore begins (while the audience is still clapping).

     

  11. When should I clap?

    Many classical works have three or more movements or sections with short pauses between them. It has become customary over time not to clap during these short pauses but to wait until the entire piece is over. During jazz performances however, the audience will often clap after an artist has completed an impressive solo - even though the piece is still going on. When in doubt, just follow the crowd!

     

  12. Can I bring my cell phone? Can I take pictures or video?

    We ask that you turn off or silence all noise-making electronics, including cell phones, because the noise they make and even the glow of the screen can be disruptive to other patrons. Due to copyright restrictions on the artists' work, taking pictures and video is prohibited at all performances. If you need to receive an emergency message while attending a Lied event, please have the messenger contact you via emergency number, 402.472.7731. If you are anticipating a possible emergency call, please leave your name and seat number at the Lied coat check.

     

  13. Can I eat or drink in the concert hall? Are there refreshments available for purchase?

    The only refreshment which may be taken into the performance space is Lied Center bottled water, available for sale at the concession areas. Refreshments can often be purchased before the performance and during intermission, but we ask that they be consumed in the lobby. Concessions are not available at every Lied event. Certain shows, like events in our Family Series, do not have an intermission.

     

  14. What if a person sitting near me distracts during the performance, and I would like to change my seat?

    If a situation arises that is limiting your ability to enjoy the performance and you need to change seats, please notify one of the ushers. They will do their best to accommodate you.

     

  15. Is there some way I can share my thoughts after a performance, or find out what others thought about it?

    Yes, on the Lied Center’s website there is a "Comments" feature for every show. We encourage you to share your feedback.

     

  16. What is a pre-performance talk?

    The Lied Center holds pre-performance talks in the Steinhart Room before most of the main stage season events. The Lied Center invites a member of the company or an expert from the community to give background and context to the performance you are about to see. Many patrons report that hearing the pre-performance talk enhanced their enjoyment of the show. Pre-talks are 20 minutes in length to leave plenty of time for patrons to get to their seats. They begin 30 minutes before the performance or when the room is full (whichever is first). Once a pre-talk has begun, no one else will be admitted to the Steinhart Room out of respect for the speaker and the audience.

     

  17. Does the Lied Center ever rent or sell my personal information?

    The Lied Center for Performing Arts takes the privacy of our customers very seriously. Our primary use of customer information is to communicate about upcoming events and notify customers about any time-sensitive event changes or cancellations. We never rent, sell or trade phone numbers, mailing addresses or e-mail addresses. Occasionally, the Lied will pass on discounts and values offered to our patrons by partner organizations. When sending out notices for non-Lied season events, personal data is kept confidential and private within the Lied Center and its marketing contractors. If you do not wish to receive such mailings, please let us know by sending us an email at liedcenterinfo@unl.edu or by calling us at 402.472.4700.

     

  18. Can I hold an event at the Lied?

    The Lied Center has many versatile facilities that are available for rental. Each year we host a variety conferences, private performances, weddings, and other special events.