OMAHA — “Superior Donuts” drew Susan Baer Collins out of retirement as the director of the comedy-drama at the Omaha Community Playhouse.


Bob Fischback, longtime reviewer for the Omaha World-Herald, who retired in 2015, joins Collins as her assistant director.


“Superior Donuts” by Tracy Letts has been turned into a sitcom on CBS. The TV show is based on this play and stars Judd Hirsch as Arthur and Jermaine Fowler as Franco.


The play has many laughs, great characters and many dramatic moments. It is much different than the current TV series. The characters are mostly the same, and the setting in downtown Chicago at a doughnut shop is where all the action takes place.


As you take your seat in the Howard Drew Theatre at the Omaha Community Playhouse, located at 69th and Cass Streets in Omaha, you find yourself in a doughnut shop in historic Uptown Chicago.


You walk across the floor of Superior Donuts and notice that the chairs are overturned and a large naughty word has been written on the wall behind the counter. The set design by Matthew D. Hamel is fantastic, and the costumes by Lindsay Pape are good.

Lighting design by Aja M. Jackson is well done. Stephanie Shattuck is the all-important stage manager.


There is one of the best fight scenes I have ever seen on stage. The 2½-hour production covers how neighborhoods have changed and even the coffee business has had drastic changes.


This play has it all: laughs, tears, brutality and action. It is a show about relationships. There are many doughnuts throughout the play, and you will want to eat doughnuts — which are, naturally, available at the concession stand in the lobby.


I highly recommend crossing the river to see “Superior Donuts,” which is playing at the Omaha Community Playhouse through June 4.


See complete review by Loyal Fairman in the Nonpareil