by Alicia Kelso

How lucky we Columbusites are to have such a diverse collection of theaters in our midst. And while we certainly don’t choose which event to attend based on the venue, this city’s performance spaces provide enough history, resiliency and intrigue to add that extra something special to each production.

Classic Theaters
The Lincoln Theatre, 771 E. Long St.
The Lincoln once thrived with performances by music legends Count Basie, James Brown, Etta James, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and Columbus native Nancy Wilson. The venue (originally the Ogden Theatre and Ballroom) opened in 1928 and featured the inaugural performance by then 3-year-old Sammy Davis Jr. on Thanksgiving Day that same year.

The theater was at its height in the 1930s and ‘40s, when the African-American community formed its own entertainment district after being excluded from other facilities in the city. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, when the city’s infrastructure grew and many residents migrated to suburbs, the theater took a hit. It was scheduled for demolition in 1991, but was deemed worthy of preservation the following year and was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The renovated 574-seat venue reopened in May with much of its historical integrity intact – including the original Egyptian Revival motif, elaborate ceiling, columns and proscenium arch. The Lincoln now entails three highly functional levels, the auditorium, ballroom and Jazz Arts Group’s Academy.

Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St.
The Ohio Theatre, with its lavish Spanish Baroque architecture and 21-foot-high chandelier, opened in 1928 as a Loew’s movie house. Designed by Scottish-born architect Thomas W. Lamb (who also designed the Palace Theatre and the original Madison Square Garden), the theatre functioned as a silent movie house with a live orchestra and a grand organ – the “Mighty Morton” – that still rises from the orchestra pit.

During the 1950s and ‘60s, with the popularity of television and suburban sprawl, the theater took a hit and closed. When it faced the wrecking ball, CAPA (the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts) was formed (in 1969) and led the community effort to save it. The Ohio Theatre became the first downtown movie theatre in the United States to be fully restored after it was saved from razing.

The celebrated project fit into a $400 million revival downtown, with the development of the Hyatt on Capitol Square, the Columbus City Center and office buildings. Recognized as the “Official Theatre for the State of Ohio,” it has been a National Historic Landmark since 1977. The venue boasts more than 100 CAPA shows a year, as well as performances by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, BalletMet, Broadway Across America – Columbus and more, making it the state’s busiest performing arts facility.

Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.
Vaudeville’s popularity of live comedians and dancers energized the Palace when it was built as part of the Keith-Albee chain in 1926. As the heyday of vaudeville faded, the theater became an RKO (Radio Keith Orpheum) Palace in 1930, featuring motion pictures from Hollywood’s RKO Studios.

During the 1930s through the 1950s, this theater – resembling France’s Palais de Versailles with its grand staircase, beautiful mural and elegant fountain – was one of the most active live show venues, featuring performers such as Louis Armstrong, Glenn Miller, Jack Benny and Jackie Gleason.

Business slowed with the suburban sprawl and the theater closed in the mid-1970s. A few years later, Columbus businesswoman Katherine S. LaVeque personally funded a renovation, which reopened the venue. In 1989, she sold it to CAPA, which continues the theater’s management.

The Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St.
One of the oldest theaters in the state, the Southern opened in 1896 to showcase live performances by touring acts. The facility has always been ahead of its time, originally lit by electricity, not gas, and constructed of stone, brick and iron instead of wood. It was one of the first fireproof buildings downtown.

Competition from the Ohio and Palace theaters forced the Southern to close in 1931. It reopened five years later as a movie house. The venue, which is tied to the Southern Hotel (now the Westin Great Southern Hotel), closed again in 1979.

A development group led by Columbus resident Bill Bonner renovated the hotel and gifted the theatre to CAPA in 1986. It reopened in 1998 after a 14-month restoration and showcases performances by the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Music Columbus.

Modern Theaters
Capitol Theatre, 55 E. State St.
This venue opened in 1989 as part of the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts. It offers a smaller, intimate performance space, including CAPA shows and performances by BalletMet, the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus, the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra and Ohio State University Dance.

Studios in the Riffe Center Theatre Complex, 77 S. High St.
CATCO, Red Herring Theatre Ensemble and the Phoenix Theatre for Children all make their home at the studios.
Studio One: This 250-seat flexible space can accommodate arena, cabaret and proscenium seating.
Studio Two: This arena-style black box theater accommodates up to 175 seats.
Studio Three: This dance space/meeting room sits up to 60.

Columbus Children’s Theatre, 512 Park St.
The Columbus Junior Theatre of the Arts was founded in 1963 to offer theatrical experiences for children throughout Central Ohio. Classes were originally held in a space on West Broad Street and then moved to Main Street. The organization relocated to 504 N. Park St. in 1985.
In 1997, CJT began leasing its current space next door, at 512 Park St., which includes 175 seats and allowed for audience numbers to increase 60 percent. Now called the Columbus Children’s Theatre, the troupe currently owns the performance facility, a rarity for a performing arts organization.

Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Ave.
Shedd Theatre: A 350-seat proscenium theater that was recently renovated and includes new lighting and sound equipment.
Van Fleet Theatre: A 190-seat black box theater that was recently renovated and includes new lighting and sound equipment.

McCoy Center for the Arts, 100 W. Granville St., New Albany
The Jeanne B. McCoy Center for the Arts opened last year in New Albany with 786 seats, a partial fly loft, rehearsal studio, dance studio, classrooms and more. The space has the ability to vary the acoustic environment for music, dance or theatrical presentations. Its octagon shape is inspired by the American opera house design of the Civil War era.

Alicia Kelso is editor of CityScene.