Ohio Theatre
The Ohio Theatre is located at 39 E. State Street, between 3rd and High Streets, across the street from the Ohio Statehouse.
Directions
From the North
Take I-71 South, then merge onto I-670 West toward Dayton (exit 109 A). Take exit 4B for US-23 South/Third Street. Continue on 3rd Street. Turn right on State Street.
From the South
Take I-71 North to 4th Street exit and turn left onto 4th. Take 4th to State and turn left onto State. Theatre is on the left.
From the East
Take I-70 West to 4th Street exit and turn right onto 4th. Take 4th to State and turn left onto State. Theatre is on the left.
From the West
Take I-70 East to 4th Street exit and turn left. Take 4th to State and turn left onto State. Theatre is on the left.
Parking
PREFERRED
Columbus Commons Main Garage
Located across the street from the beautiful Columbus Commons, this is the closest parking to the Southern Theatre and just a quick three-minute walk to the Ohio Theatre. Entrances are located on E. Main Street and E. Rich Street. Cash and card are accepted. Find more Information here.
55 E. Rich Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: 614-461-4454
PREFERRED
Columbus Commons Underground Garage
The closest and most convenient parking to the Ohio Theatre, you’re just steps away from the entrance. With covered parking and an elevator to the Ohio Theatre, this garage is the best choice for anyone attending an event at the Ohio Theatre. Cash and card are accepted. Find more Information here.
191 S. 3rd Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: 614-461-4454
Ohio Statehouse Underground Parking Garage
The subterranean lot under Columbus Statehouse.
Note: All entrances and exits are open at this time, but construction may be ongoing. For the latest construction updates, click here.
1 Capitol Square
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: 614-728-2557
More Parking Options
For more parking options visit the Downtown Columbus website.
Looking for something else?
Explore a variety of local restaurants, hotels, and more.
Theatre Accessibility
- Accessible seating: Located in the far aisles of Orchestra 1 & 4.
- Elevators: Available in the business office lobby.
- Stairs: Required for seating in the loge, mid, and rear balcony.
- Accessible restrooms: Located on the east side of the main lobby near the basement stairs, with universal changing tables available.
- All-gender restroom: Located on the 3rd floor of the Galbreath Pavilion.
- Audio description & ASL services: Available upon request by contacting access@capa.com.
- Listening devices: Available near the front lobby doors. Ask a house manager for assistance (ID or credit card may be required).
- ListenWiFi (formerly known as ListenEverywhere): Use your phone for assisted listening with the ListenWiFi app. Download for Google or Apple.
- Wheelchairs: Complimentary wheelchairs available in the entryway between the Pavilion and Main Lobby.
KultureCity locations:
- Quiet Area: 2nd floor of the Galbreath Pavilion, by the elevators.
- Headphone Zone: Theatre area is considered a headphone zone.
- Sensory Bags: Please ask a House Manager for a Sensory Bag at the front entrance of the theatre; an ID or credit card may be required to be held during your use of the Sensory Bag.
- View KultureCity page here.
Family Accessibility
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Booster Seats
Free booster seats for young patrons.- Available on a first-come, first-served basis, with limited availability.
- Request a seat from a house manager upon arrival.
- Available in the entryway between the Pavilion and Main Lobby and the House entrance from level 3 in the Pavilion to the Loge.
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Nursing Stations (NEW!)
Two nursing stations available for your comfort.- Located in the women’s restroom on the lower level, accessible by elevator.
- Equipped with comfortable chairs, hand sanitizer, wipes, tissues, paper towels, electrical outlets, and private lighting.
- Available while the building is open and during intermission.
- Enter through the business office doors, in the walkway between the Ohio Theatre and the Sheraton Hotel.
Take a Visual Tour
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!
Photo Gallery
Ohio Theatre History
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!
