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Best Theatre/ Performing Arts in Columbus-OH

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Shadowbox Cabaret
164 Easton Town Center Columbus, OH 43219-6074
(614) 416-7625
Shadowbox Cabaret is no stuffed shirt. The live entertainment here includes sketch comedy, hilarious plays, and a house band that serves up loud rock 'n' roll. And aren't the arts better when you can drink? Officially, the bar is secondary to the performance, but the show just doesn't feel right unless you have a gin and tonic in-hand. Some sketches hit better than others, but even at $30 a ticket, Shadowbox is a novel way to spend an evening. We hope Sneaky's suggestion inspires you to, ahem, think outside the Box.
Ohio Theatre
39 E State St Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 469-0939
The Ohio is Columbus' grand old dame of theaters, so the old-timey spelling of "theatre" is appropriate. They host a steady stream of live entertainment, including Broadway shows, concerts, ballet, stand-up, and the renowned Columbus Symphony. Favorite events include the Summer Movie Series, where the theater shows classic films from the 30s through the 90s. Their annual presentation of the Nutcraker is always a hit during the holiday season.
Palace Theatre
34 W Broad St Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 469-1331
The Palace Theater, like the Ohio, is a vintage theater in downtown Columbus that has also been spared the wrecking ball. The inspiration for the Palace is the France's Palais de Versailles. Ooh la la! Coincidentally, the theater is located in the ground floor of the Frenchy-sounding LeVeque Tower, an architecturally-interesting building in its own right. The Palace hosts CAPA events, Broadway shows, and performances as diverse as from Chris Rock (righteous!) and Kenny G (whaaa...?).
Southern Theatre
21 E Main St Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 340-1896
Opened in 1896, the Southern Theater is the oldest surviving theater in Central Ohio. It is about half the size of its big sisters, the Ohio and Palace Theaters, but is pretty astonishing to behold. A restoration in 1998 returned the Southern to its past glory. Around the corner from the Westin Hotel on the south side of downtown (hence the name), the Southern hosts its fair share of CAPA events and provides a home to the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Chamber Music Columbus, and the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra.
Riffe Center Studios
77 S High St Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 461-1382
The Riffe Center is a relatively small (250 seats) and new (built in 1989) theater in Columbus' Riffe Tower and is named after the former Ohio Speaker of the House, Vern Riffe. You're not going to visit the Riffe for a civics lesson, though. It's more likely that you'll be seeing an excellent contemporary play by Red Herring Theater or taking your kids to a Phoenix Theater for Children event. The Riffe Theater also hosts the occasional comedian, such as Brian Regan, but is more likely to host an all-hands meeting for any of the state's various agencies. Considering Ohio's recent political scandals, it gives a whole new meaning to "performing arts."
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