Buried Phoenix by Laura Leininger-Campbell

Phoenix Rising cast

Performance photos by Shannon Smay, courtesy of Shelterbelt Theatre

Buried Phoenix logo

Nine show world premiere at Shelterbelt Theatre

Buried Phoenix enjoyed its world premiere at the cutting-edte Shelterbelt Theatre on July 10, 2025. The 9 performance run was a near sellout, with each show gaining audience as word spread about the play’s humor and intensity.

Produced by Jennifer Gilg and directed by Amy Lane, Ph.D., the (almost) all-female cast featured some of the area’s most popular actors, led by Equity veteran Kathy Tyree as Beatrice Price, and rising star AJ Adhiambo in the lead role of Lark.

The Shelterbelt Theatre is cherished for supporting and producing new plays for over 35 years.

Characters Lark and Mei

What's Buried Phoenix about?

In 1994, the lives of three generations of artists intersect within New York’s chaotic Millinery District when Lark, an aspiring actress, takes a job with eccentric hat designer Beatrice Price. Lark’s odyssey within the dark canyons of gritty Manhattan will introduce her to a group of fierce, dynamic women that will challenge her estimations of herself, and inspire the rest of her life.

“Buried Phoenix” illuminates a poignant journey through the eyes of five defiant women, all struggling to make their voices heard.

Character Lark at Foku's door

Awards & Recognition

  • 2026 Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards: six nominations, including Best New Script and Best Drama
  • Finalist, Ashland National Playwrights Festival 2023
  • Finalist, Seven Devils 2023 Play Foundary 2023
  • Semi-finalist, Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference 2023
  • Quarter-finalist: Screencraft Stage Play Contest 2023
  • Runner-up, 2021-22 Henley Rose Playwright Competition

premiere earns six Oeaa nominations

The 2025 Shelterbelt Theatre premiere of Buried Phoenix was honored with six nominations for the 2026 Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards (OEAAs)! Nominations included:

  • Best New Original Local Script: Laura Campbell
  • Best Drama: Laura Campbell
  • Outstanding Director: Amy Lane
  • Outstanding Actor: Kathy Tyree
  • Outstanding Supporting Actor: Cecilia Poon
  • Outstanding Prop Design: Hannah Clark
  • Outstanding Scenic Design: Tim Combs
AJ Adhiambo brings amazing relatable and likeable energy to the character of Lark, having both wonderful comedic timing and also deep layers of vulnerability that are palpable in her poignant scenes.
Kathy Tyree absolutely nails it as Beatrice. Her charisma and command of Beatrice’s depth, strength, and pain are stunning to hear and see. She will bring chills to you.
Cecilia Poon is such a wonderful counter-balance to the other personalities as Mei, the most level-headed character with her own quiet strength and deadpan humor that is a joy to hear.
Mary Kelly and Judy Radcliff as the sisters Anne and Mary Romano are just delightful to watch in every scene. They capture the absolute essence of their Queens/NYC setting, and I love hearing their banter.
It is an absolute honor to get to hear and watch these actors, every night. I would say “share the stage with them”, but me, I just lurk in the shadows (you’ll see…).
Thank you again to Laura for an incredible, lovely new story, and to Amy Lane whose love of storytelling absolutely steers this show into something incredible.
Eric Solonis

Eminent Domain playwright Laura Leininger-Campbell with cast

Some of the cast of the Shelterbelt Theatre production

The backstory

Excerpted from the interview by Maria Cade for WOWT

Phoenix Rising is a personal story of a Nebraska native who moves to New York City to become an actress, and ends up working in a hat shop.

“This is kind of a memory play for me,” said playwright Laura Leininger-Campbell. She based the play on real-life experiences she had while working in the store and the people who she interacted with.

“The job that I had was really hard,” Leininger-Campbell said. “But I got to interact with a group of really dynamic people. I wanted to write a play that was about how artists relate to each other over generations.”

“I wanted to do a play here that had Omaha actors and I wanted to share some of my story with my community and allow folks to come and really laugh,” Leininger-Campbell said.

Leininger-Campbell said an area milliner, Margie Trembley, shared her knowledge and artwork for the show and set.