Stories from the Nebraska Sandhills

In this special edition of Nebraska Stories we feature stories from the Nebraska Sandhills. “Shakespeare & The Wild West” You've heard of Shakespeare in Love? We follow Nebraska Shakespeare to Valentine, the heart of cowboy country, for a performance of Twelfth Night. The company has been around since 1987, creating year-round, high quality Shakespeare productions. And then they head off to Omaha for an acting workshop with middle school students. “Shifting Sands” Sarah Switzer Sortum and her brother, Adam Switzer, are hard at work making changes on their family's Burwell ranch to embrace new conservation methods and encourage eco-tourism. “The Girl from Broken Bow” Katie Farritor discovers a surprising story behind a portrait of her ancestors taken by 19th Century sod house photographer Solomon Butcher. “Fort Hartsuff on the Sandhills Frontier” Fort Hartsuff sits along the North Loop River on the edge of the Sandhills. The former U.S. Army post was active during the waning years of the Indian Wars from 1874 to 1881. Today, the restored historic site provides tourists a look into the daily life of 19th Century soldiers. “Piano In Tow” Because of her passion for music and appreciation of how it has shaped her life, Nicole Narboni tows her nearly 1000 pound grand piano across Nebraska to share her love of classical music with audiences in rural communities who often don’t have the opportunity to attend live performances.