The Backline has been Omaha’s home for “locally sourced” comedy for almost 15 years. We serve up laughs 4 nights a week. We were named one of the best affordable date nights in Omaha by “Oh My Omaha”. Whether you are interested in sketch, improv, or stand-up- we have great shows for you!
Meet Our Squad
Get to Know the Dynamic Team Behind the Laughter
Dylan Oakes Rohde founded Backline in 2011 teaching improv classes in the basement of a small art gallery. Raised in small town Nebraska and graduate of Wayne State, Dylan then trained and performed at the top 2 improv theatres in Los Angeles (UCB and iO) before moving here to teach. Now he travels the country (and the world) teaching improv, helps run the Omaha Comedy Fest (also founded), a junkie for karaoke, plus working on a number of other projects including an animated series.
Sam Hatfield, a performing musician and event host in Omaha since 2020, joined the Backline community by taking a Sketch Writing Class in July 2022 – and officially came aboard the Backline team as a tech director in January 2023! She’s now a regular musical improviser and occasional standup comedian.
Penelope Flowers joined the Backline as a student in 2023 and then as an employee in 2024 when she needed a job and Dylan let her have one. She’s studying animation and works on the marketing and artwork for the theatre/whatever else anybody asks her to do. When not at the Backline, Penelope stops existing.
