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Ohio Theatre

From classical music to modern dance, yearly family traditions to hot concerts, the world’s best artists come to the 2,791-seat, historic Ohio Theatre. The breathtaking details (including the 21-foot-high chandelier!) of its opulent, Spanish-Baroque architecture make any night at the Ohio an event to remember!

The Ohio Theatre is located at 39 E. State Street, between 3rd and High Streets, across the street from the Ohio Statehouse.

We offer free booster seats for our youngest patrons at the Ohio Theatre. Booster seats are first come, first served, and our inventory is very limited. To receive a booster seat, please ask for a house manager upon your arrival to the Ohio Theatre.

NEW! The Ohio Theatre now offers 2 nursing stations!

Each nursing station is equipped with a comfortable chair, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, facial tissue, paper towels, access to electrical outlets, and private lighting.

The nursing stations are in the women’s restroom of the lower level of the Ohio Theatre, and are accessible by elevator. The stations are available while the building is open, and through intermission during performances.

The easiest way to find the nursing room is to enter the Ohio Theatre through the business office doors, in the walkway between the Ohio Theatre and the Sheraton Hotel.

Theatre Accessibility:

• Accessible seating is available in the far aisles of Orchestra 1 & 4.
• Elevators are located in the business office lobby.
• Stairs are required for seating in the loge, mid, and rear balcony.
• Accessible restrooms are on the east side of the main lobby near the basement stairs.
• Audio description and ASL services are available upon request.
• Listening devices are located near the front lobby doors. Please ask the house manager for assistance.
• Complimentary wheelchairs are available in the entryway between the Pavilion and Main Lobby.

A Favorite with Artists

With more than 100 performances each year, the Ohio Theatre is one of the state’s busiest performing arts facilities. Its lush interior, outstanding acoustics, and state-of-the-art stage facilities have made it a favorite of leading CAPA-presented performers such as Carole King, Julie Andrews, Yo-Yo Ma, Yanni, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Kenny G, Canadian Brass, Liza Minnelli, John Denver, the Boston Pops, Garrison Keillor, Lyle Lovett, Itzhak Perlman, and Dan Fogelberg.

Palace for the Average Man

When Scottish-born architect, Thomas W. Lamb designed the Ohio Theatre, he envisioned “a palace for the average man.” It opened in 1928 as a Loew's movie house, complete with its own orchestra and theatre organ. In addition to movies, live performance shows touring the Loews circuit found a home on the Ohio stage. During the heyday of vaudeville, many top performers played the Ohio, including Milton Berle, Ray Bolger, Cab Calloway, Buddy Ebsen, Martha Raye, Jean Harlow, Ginger Rogers, Kate Smith, and a young emcee with a violin named Jack Benny.

A Woman’s Touch

To decorate and furnish the Ohio, Loew's chose Anne Dornan, one of the first women to graduate from the Columbia School of Architecture. Dornan traveled around the world to select art and furnishings, even going on a safari to find appropriate decorations for the "Africa Corner" in the lower lounge of the Ohio. Approximately $1 million was spent on art and furnishings - more than the cost of the building itself!

Save the Ohio!

The Ohio Theatre thrived as a movie house until the suburban sprawl of the 1960s drew traffic out of downtown. Like many other grand theatres of the past, the Ohio was headed for demolition. In 1969, the citizens of central Ohio mounted a “Save the Ohio” campaign, raising more than $2 million in less than a year in an unprecedented effort. The newly formed Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) subsequently purchased and renovated the Ohio Theatre, creating a home for Columbus' performing arts organizations that is today recognized as the Official Theatre for the State of Ohio.

Ohio’s Theatre

Today, the Ohio Theatre is home to the Columbus Symphony, BalletMet, and Broadway in Columbus, and also hosts CAPA-presented performances, as well as a wide variety of touring artists and shows each year. Our audiences experience world-class performing arts of all genres from every corner of the world right in their own backyards!

Events at Ohio Theatre

Saturday, November 2
Columbus Symphony

Pictures at an Exhibition

Ohio Theatre
Event Starts 7:30 PM
Ohio Theatre
November 1517
Columbus Symphony

Handel's Messiah

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
Tuesday, November 19

Marching 110: Ohio Theatre

Ohio Theatre
Event Starts 8:00 PM
Ohio Theatre
Saturday, November 23
Live Nation

An Evening with Jon Stewart

Ohio Theatre
Event Starts 7:30 PM
Ohio Theatre
November 29December 1
CAPA and Short North Stage

A Christmas Carol

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
December 6 8
Columbus Symphony

Holiday Pops

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
December 1228
BalletMet

The Nutcracker

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
December 2026
BalletMet

My First Nutcracker

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
January 1419
PNC Broadway in Columbus

Peter Pan

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
January 2425
Columbus Symphony

Mahler 2

Masterworks

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
Friday, January 31
Columbus Symphony

Friday Coffee Dress: Beethoven's Eroica

Ohio Theatre
Event Starts 10:00 AM
Ohio Theatre
January 31February 1
Columbus Symphony

Beethoven's Eroica

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
February 1316
BalletMet, CAPA, Columbus Symphony, Opera Columbus

West Side Story

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
February 1823
PNC Broadway in Columbus

& Juliet

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
Friday, February 28
Columbus Symphony

Friday Coffee Dress: Appalachian Spring

Ohio Theatre
Event Starts 10:00 AM
Ohio Theatre
February 28March 1
Columbus Symphony

Appalachian Spring

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
March 2122
Columbus Symphony

Bolero

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
March 2530
PNC Broadway in Columbus

Funny Girl

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
More Info On Sale Soon
April 4 5
Columbus Symphony

Bach & Brahms

Masterworks

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
April 2227
PNC Broadway in Columbus

A Beautiful Noise

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
More Info On Sale Soon
Friday, May 2
BalletMet

Senior Dress Rehearsal: Sleeping Beauty

Ohio Theatre
Event Starts 11:00 AM
Ohio Theatre
May 2 4
BalletMet

Sleeping Beauty

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
Friday, May 16
Columbus Symphony

Friday Coffee Dress: Tchaikovsky Spectacular

Ohio Theatre
Event Starts 10:00 AM
Ohio Theatre
May 1617
Columbus Symphony

Tchaikovsky Spectacular

Masterworks

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
May 2324
Columbus Symphony

Britten War Requiem

Masterworks

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
June 3 8
PNC Broadway in Columbus

Kimberly Akimbo

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
More Info On Sale Soon
July 820
PNC Broadway in Columbus

Hamilton

Ohio Theatre
Ohio Theatre
More Info On Sale TBA