Rebecca Noble – Class of 1972
Rebecca “Becky” Noble grew up in Kansas City. The love of performing came early. Her mother, a professional singer, instilled in her the love of singing. Becky sang before she talked. When her father received a promotion that would move them to Omaha, she begged to stay in Kansas City with her best friend and family, but her parents wouldn’t hear of it. Their Omaha realtor told them if they wanted to send Becky to the best high school for music, she should go to Burke. Becky started at Burke as a junior in the fall of 1970. She participated in the musicals and sang with Concert Choir, Chamber Choir and Ensemble.
When Becky graduated in 1972, she went to Hastings College. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in education and vocal performance. In 1976, she returned to Omaha and began teaching in the Omaha Pubic Schools. She also continued to perform, appearing at the Playhouse in Shenandoah and then as the first Mrs. Fezziwig in the long-running A Christmas Carol.
Leaving Omaha in 1977, she taught in Iowa for 7 years and then moved to Boston where she was fortunate to sing with Chorus pro Musica, and for 4 summers with the Pittsburgh Symphony. She then went on the road, first with the Nebraska Theatre Caravan’s production of A Christmas Carol, and then in the national tour of The Sound of Music.
Becky came back to Omaha and became a founding member of Soli Den Gloria Cantorum, a professional ensemble that toured nationally and internationally. In 1991, Becky founded Cabaret Theatre, a professional performing group that included fellow Burke alumni, Camille Metoyer Moten and Paul Tranisi. The group continues to perform 33 years after its inception. She purchased the Dundee Dinner Theatre. When the theatre closed, Becky returned to education as the Curriculum Specialist for Visual and Performing Arts at the OPS arts magnet, South High Magnet School.
Performances continued at area theaters and in 2015 Becky received the Barbara Ford Award for Best Supporting Actress at the Omaha Community Playhouse. In 2020, she received the Governor’s Arts Award for Excellence in Arts Education. She retired in 2022 and in 2023 was named the Executive Director of the Omaha Community Playhouse.
Becky is joyfully married to Keith Allerton. They enjoy singing together, traveling, gardening, cooking and great wine!
Forever grateful to have lived her life making art, Becky’s greatest wish is that we would all embrace the lessons taught by the arts. “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” – Pablo Picasso
