Backline Comedy

Founding (2011)

Dylan Oakes Rohde, a Nebraska native who had trained and performed at UCB and iO West in Los Angeles, returned to Omaha in 2011 to found Backline Comedy. His first class was held in the basement of Studio Gallery, an art space on Dodge Street, with students drawn primarily from Wayne State theater graduates and Craigslist listings. Rohde structured Backline around the "yes, and" approach developed in Chicago and Los Angeles, adapting it for the Omaha context.

Growth and Programming

From that single basement class, Backline expanded into Omaha's primary comedy venue, eventually running four nights a week with programming spanning long-form improv, sketch comedy, and stand-up. Rohde also founded the Omaha Comedy Fest, bringing national acts to the region. By 2025 the theater described itself as "Omaha's home for locally sourced comedy for almost 15 years," serving as the city's main incubator for comedic talent.

Ongoing Operations

Backline Comedy continues to operate at 1618 Harney St in Omaha, offering classes, house ensemble performances, and its multi-genre performance schedule.

Backline Comedy presents long-form improv, sketch comedy, and stand-up in a community-building model influenced by Rohde's UCB and iO West training. The venue functions as both a performance space and training center, producing Omaha performers through structured class tracks. Its multi-genre programming distinguishes it from single-format venues, making it the cultural hub of Omaha's comedy scene.