Dwayne Ibsen speaks after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Performing Arts category during a virtual presentation of the16th annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards (OEAA).
Dwayne Ibsen’s list of accomplishments reads like a Who’s Who of the costume industry: 18-years as a theater teacher and director; Director of move than 400 theater productions; Designer, creator and builder of 1000s of costumes in more than 40 states; Former National Costumers Association (NCA) president; Winner of more than 18 category awards; Winner or runner up of five coveted Grand International Awards.
So it was no surprise when Ibsen, who founded Ibsen Costume Gallery in 1981, was honored with another award to add to his collection. On February 20, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Performing Arts category during a virtual presentation of the16th annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards (OEAA), an event that recognizes and celebrates local Omaha visual artists, performing artists, and musicians.
“I am honored a little bit overwhelmed to have been selected for this honor,” Ibsen said when accepting the award. He went on to thank myriad individuals “who have taken me to the place I am today,” and credited his mother for his love of all things theatrical. “My mother decided I was going to become a performer,” he recalled. “It was my parents who started this whole thing!”
Costumers who have interacted with Ibsen throughout his lifetime in the costuming industry acknowledge how well-deserved the honor is.
“Dwayne is simply a creative force, incredibly talented and a truly dear friend of 30 years, says former NCA member Jim Miller. “His creativity and talent aside, he is wise, kind, wicked smart, a great colleague, life advisor and always there to listen. From our first meeting, he opened his mind, his business and offered advice without hesitation. I simply say, my heartfelt bravo and well-deserved congratulations!”
You can see Ibsen’s full speech in a live stream of the award on YouTube and Facebook.