Local Links

For a complete listing of Arts in Columbus, visit Columbus Arts or Arts in Ohio!

 

Act Out Productions
2517 N. Fourth St.
Columbus, OH 43202
614-263-9448
This company is a for-profit theatre venture focusing primarily on the presentation of Gay and Lesbian drama, culturally diverse drama, and recent off and off-off Broadway plays, founded by OSU Theatre alum Frank Barnhart. The company also specializes in the presentation of workshops and tours throughout the nation. A recent production includes the Ohio premier of The Members of the Tribe by Nancy S. Heiden. Act Out Productions Act Out Productions has produced such award winning shows as: The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me, 2 Boys in a Bed on a Cold Winter's Night, Ten Percent Revue, The Only Thing Worse You Could Have Told Me, Beautiful Thing, and Making Porn.

 

Actors Theatre
1000 City Park Ave.
Columbus, OH 43206
614-444-6888
This company presents free Shakespearean plays between June and August. Performances are held at the Schiller Park Amphitheater in Columbus' historic German Village. Actors also performs staged readings throughout the remainder of the year. Several OSU faculty and students have worked in all phases Actors productions. Auditions for the season usually occur in March.

 

Broadway Across America Series
The series produces touring performances of major Broadway productions. Shows coming for the 2002-2003 season include: Les Miserables,The Allergists Wife, 42nd Street, Seussical, Beauty and the Beast, Riverdance, Jesus Christ Superstar, Aida, The Full Monty and Stomp. Shows are performed at the historic Ohio and Palace Theatres.

 

Central Ohio Theatre Roundtable
The OSU Department of Theatre is a member of the Theatre Roundtable, which was established by Firman H. Brown, Jr, Chair of the department (1982-1992). The Roundtable is a consortium of Central Ohio theatres and individuals which exists to further theatre as an art for in Central Ohio; to promote dialogue among local theatres; encourage the development of theatre-in-education; foster theatrical diversity; work to expand the general theatre going population; and act as an advocate for local theatres.  

 

2 CO's Cabaret
790 N High Street
Columbus, OH 43201
614-470-2COS
2CO's Cabaret presents a unique mix of theatre and music in an intimate 90-seat theater. Patrons are seated at tables of 8-10 and can order appetizers and beverages throughout the show. The theatre opens an hour prior to curtain. Shows run every Thursday through Saturday at 8 pm with each run lasting six weeks.

 

Creative Arts Institute / Columbus Storytellers Guild
8021 Kennedy Road
Blacklick, OH 43004
614-759-9407
The Creative Arts Institute promotes storytelling and language arts, organizes concerts and conferences, and publishes a magazine, Adventures in Storytelling. It also promotes video production and folk arts. Membership is open to interested artists.

 

Columbus Children's Theatre
372 Dublin Ave.
Columbus, OH 43215
614-224-6672
Founded in 1963, Columbus Children's Theatre dedicates itself to educating and involving the youth of greater Columbus in all facets of theatre arts. The company offers a Children's Series, a season of performances for family audiences, academy classes, and workshops for grades K-12. Its professional touring company travels all over central Ohio. In summers, there are two companies: Young Adult (16-21) and Youth Performance Company (10-16).

 

Columbus Dispatch Blog: Michael Grossberg

Michael Grossberg, the Dispatch theater critic, has covered theater and written widely about the arts in Columbus and across the country since 1985 for the newspaper. A leader for two decades in the American Theatre Critics Association, Michael is a member of New York's Outer Critics Circle, which presents annual Broadway and off-Broadway awards, and co-founder of the Central Ohio Theatre Critics Circle, which presents annual citations for outstanding local theater.

 

Contemporary American Theatre Company (CATCO)
77 South High St., Second Floor
Columbus OH 43215
614-461-0010
614-469-0939 (Box Office)
CATCO is a resident professional theatre company operating under contract with Actor's Equity Association. It presents contemporary, classic, and new works, with an emphasis on American theatre. CATCO also offers adult theatre classes, touring productions, and play readings. OSU Theatre alum Geoff Nelson is the artistic director, and Jonathan Putnam (MFA Acting 1991) is a member of the resident company. Many other OSU Theatre students, graduates, faculty and staff, have worked with CATCO in all stages of productions. The 2002-2003 season includes an exciting range of productions including: The Laramie Project, Lobby Hero, A Tuna Christmas, Escanaba in da Moonlight, Kindertransport, Proof and Hungry Ghosts.

 

Dublin Arts Council
Old Dublin Firehouse
7125 Riverside Drive
Dublin, Ohio 43016
Dublin Arts Council is dedicated to enriching the community by providing literary arts, visual arts, music, theatre and community arts. Dublin Arts Council events often occur at Dublin Scioto HS Performing Arts Center, Dublin Coffman HS Performing Arts Center, and Dublin Community Recreation Center. Student, single, family, friend, patron, and business memberships are available.

 

The Imaginating Dramatics Company
1900 Northam Road
Upper Arlington, OH 43221
614-486-8301
614-486-0594
The Imaginating Dramatics Company is a Children's Theatre Academy serving youth in the Central Ohio area. This traveling theatre company offers free performances in libraries, schools, bookstores, and special "coffee house performances" in their studio. Special performances given at Ohio Wesleyan are $3.

 

MadLab
105 North Grant Ave.
Columbus, OH 43215-1803
614-470-2333
MadLab's mission is to expand the parameters of contemporary performance and to revitalize live performance by utilizing experimental, environmental, and technological means. MadLab is a venue for alternative arts in Columbus and welcomes all disciplines -- theater, music, performance art, visual art, and any other "undefinables." MadLab manages and conducts its experiments in a 65-seat, modularly designed, flexible "black box" space. Artists who have ideas for events to produce can contact MadLab.

 

Opera/Columbus
177 Naghten St.
Columbus, OH 43215
614-469-0939
Opera/Columbus is Central Ohio's professional grand opera company. It produces operettas and early musicals. Season performances are held October through May at the Palace and Southern Theatres. Season subscriptions are available.

 

Phoenix Theatre Circle for Children
Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts
77 South High Street
2nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614-464-9400
614-464-9402
Phoenix Theatre Circle produces plays for young people. Performances are held during the week for schools and on weekends for family audiences. The company also conducts residencies and workshops in local primary schools. Shows are at the Studio 2 Theatre at the downtown Riffe Center.

 

Reality Theatre
Axis Nightclub
775 N. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
614-265-7337
Reality Theatre is a 16-year-old theatre devoted to producing shows that deal with gay and lesbian themes in addition to off-Broadway styled productions. All of the shows produced by Reality Theatre contain adult themes. OSU Theatre alum Mollie Levin is the company's artistic director, and OSU theatre students often work in the company's productions. The 2002-2003 season includes: After Dark, The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told and Naked Boys Singing.

 

Rosebriar Shakespeare Company
3211 Indianola Ave. Apt. 3
Columbus, OH 43202
614-470-1616
The Rosebriar Shakespeare Co. is dedicated to making the plays of William Shakespeare and other classical dramas accessible to modern audiences. The company provides many work opportunities for local performers and artists. Performances take place at Davis Discovery Center's Van Fleet Theatre.

 

Senior Repertory of Ohio Theatre Company
51 Jefferson Avenue
Columbus, OH 43215
614-228-7458
The Senior Repertory of Ohio Theatre Company was created in 1985 to create theatre that enhances positive images of aging and celebrates the life experiences of senior citizens. The company's aim is to continue to be a national player in Senior Adult Theatre through creating original works, participating in innovative collaborations, adhering to an uncompromising mission, and helping to set standards for a national Senior Adult Theatre. OSU Theatre's Dr. Joy Reilly founded and formerly acted as Artistic Director of SRO.

 

Shadowbox Cabaret
164 Easton Town Center
Columbus, OH 43219
614-265-ROCK
Shadowbox is an independent, artist-managed, ensemble company operating in a Grant-Free Zone. Evenings at the Cabaret include one-act or full-length plays, original comedy sketches, and live music. A combination of original sketch comedy, theater, and live rock 'n' roll from the house band, "Bill Who?" is performed in a 220-seat theatre. Shadowbox gives its performances an "R" rating for adult comedy and strong language; however, they also offer Lunchbox shows with a "PG-13" rating for those who wish to attend with their children.

 

Wexner Center for the Arts
The Ohio State University
1871 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43210
614-292-3535
The Wexner Center is a multi-disciplinary arts center located on campus at Ohio State. As an OSU student, you are automatically a student member of the center, which entitles you to discount tickets and many other benefits. At the Wexner Center you'll find a diverse array of contemporary arts. There are visual arts exhibitions by major artists and emerging talents, films and videos by leading filmmakers of the past and present, and performing arts from around the world. The Wexner Center is also committed to being an active "laboratory" for the development of new works. The 2002-2003 season opened with a performance of To You, The Birdie! (Phèdre) by The Wooster Group, Quick Time by ZT Hollandia, Shelf Life by Big Art Group, Drummer Wanted by Richard Maxwell New York City Players, and Alladeen by The Builders Association/moti roti.

 

Women at Play
Katherine H. Burkman
P.O.BOX 3062
Columbus, OH 43210
614-457-6580
Women at Play is made up of ten women who write and perform their own plays. The company regularly hires guest artists, men and women, for their productions. Each season typically consists of a Fall production of a Pinter play, Beckett play, or a play that focuses on women's experiences, and a Spring production of Women at Play's new collaboratively written play. Many of the group's productions are site specific (in a home, a glass gallery, a beauty salon, a garden, a café. . .), while others take place in theatres. In addition to productions, the company offers open playwriting workshops that allow participants to take part in the company's collaborative approach to creating drama.