Welcome to the Actors’ Theatre of Columbus.
- Open: See link below for schedule of events.
- Location: (Map It) Southside of Schiller Park at 1000 City Park Avenue in the historic German Village in Columbus, Ohio
- Phone: 614-444-6888
- Web: click here
Actors’ Theatre of Columbus: Enjoy open-air Shakespearean theater for free on Memorial Day through Labor Day. These free performances in the park began more than 20 years ago. It is said that the tradition started when a dog led co-founders Patricia and Gary Ellson there. Once there, they found an unused bandshell. Having a love for Shakespeare, the two sought permission to use the stage to offer free shows to the community. Well, as they say, the rest is history. What was started as an amateur group grew into a professional production, and has attracted hundreds of thousands of spectators. Enjoy this fascinating tradition.
Welcome to the Akron Symphony Orchestra in Akron.
- When: See the link below for the schedule of events
- Location: (Map It) 92 N. Main St. in Akron, Ohio
- Phone: 330-535-8131
- Web: www.akronsymphony.org/
The Akron Symphony Orchestra is a professional orchestra that performs Classic Series concerts, Family Series concerts, Sundays at the Elms chamber music concerts, Concerts for Kids preschool concerts, free Picnic Pops in the parks concerts, a popular Gospel Meets Symphony concert, Holiday Pops and other special concerts and educational outreach programs.
Welcome to the Ashtabula Arts Center and community theatre.
- When: See the link below for the schedule of events
- Location: (Map It) 2928 W. 13th St. in Ashtabula, Ohio
- Phone: 440-964-3396
- Web: click here
The Ashtabula Arts Center is a non-profit fine arts center. The G. B. Community Theatre and the summer Straw Hat Theatre offers quality performances of popular shows and musicals nearly every weekend of the year. Ticket prices vary. The art gallery displays a free monthly art exhibit. The Varied musical events offered throughout the year include coffeehouses and outdoor concerts. The Ballet Theatre Company Ashtabula produces the Nutcracker each December as well as a Spring Dance show in May. Numerous classes and workshops are offered year-round in music, theater, dance, and the visual arts. Individual music instruction is also available. All events are reasonably priced. Financial aid is available.
Welcome to the BalletMet Columbus dance academy.
- When: See link below for schedule of events
- Location: (Map It) 322 Mount Vernon Avenue in Columbus, Ohio
- Phone Numbers: General – 614-229-4860, Box Office – 614-229-4848
- https://www.balletmet.org/
BalletMet Columbus ranks among the nation’s 15 largest dance companies, and its Dance Academy ranks among the five largest professional dance-training centers. Since its inception in 1978, BalletMet has added 102 company premieres to its repertoire and produced 79 world premieres. It has also developed DanceReach, a series of educational and outreach programs that serve 40,000 people annually, as well as a Community Outreach Scholarship program that provides full tuition for talented minority and underserved youth.
Welcome to BMI Event Center in Versailles, Ohio.
BMI Event Center in Versailles, Ohio, is a multi-purpose venue. BMI primarily hosts concerts but also other events, including laser light shows, corporate events, craft shows, family gatherings, church events, reunions, weddings, and receptions. The Event Center holds 2,500 people and includes the main floor and a mezzanine.
The event center hosts a wide range of music genres: rock, country, metal, Christian, pop, and the classics. Some of the past performers include Jackyl, Jeremy Camp, Joe Diffie, Jack Russe’s Great White, The Oak Ridge Boys, Lita Ford, Winger, Firehouse, Little River Band, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Newsboys, Neal McCoy, Barren Cross, Stryper, & Chaotic Resemblance. The center hosts, on average, 4 concerts every month. A state-of-the-art, one-of-a-kind video wall extends 2/3’s the way around the event center that can transform your event. The sound, stage and décor lights, & laser lights are exceptional.
Amenities include spacious rooms for 200-1200+ guests, 1000 seat dining area, a staging area for a live band, ceiling, stadium, and stage lighting, sound system and technician, full bar services, kitchen access/use, 4 projection screens with the largest one measuring 32’, 2/3rds surround video wall and air conditioning. Full bar services include your choice of a cash bar or an open bar. Choose from their beverage stock or special order your favorites. There are many great catering options available. Each event is tailored to you specifically.
Versailles is located in Darke County, approximately 20 miles from the Indiana border, 1 hour Northwest of Dayton, and about 1 hour Southwest of Lima. Ohio Magazine named Versailles as one of the 5 Best Hometowns for 2022-2023 to live, work, and visit. The Event Center can be viewed at BMIEventcenter.com or on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Questions can be directed to angie@bmieventcenter.com or jenny@bmieventcenter.com
Welcome to The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati.
- When: See the link below for the schedule of events
- Location: (Map It) 4015 Red Bank Road in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Phone: 513-569-8080
- Web: click here
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is the oldest children’s theatre in the country and is the only professional theater in the region that devotes its entire MainStage season to children. They bring 82,000 people downtown annually and reach over 68,000 students through their touring productions, and their TCT Academy offers arts training to children in a variety of disciplines.
The TCT MainStage at the Taft series includes daytime performances for school audiences and weekend performances for the public. Four Broadway-quality production runs are held each year (of which one is a world-premiere musical), with individual shows formatted into one-hour, family-friendly events.
TCT on Tour brings the magic of live theatre directly to those who would otherwise be unable to enjoy it. They tour six productions each season, serving children of all ages with titles taken from classic literature, fairy tales, history and other works studied in school curricula. TCT on Tour prides itself on productions that are educational and entertaining, as well as affordable for schools and other venues across the broad geographic spectrum of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and beyond.
TCT Academy offers arts training to children in a variety of disciplines through a twelve-week, one hour/week class sessions, one-week themed summer camps for introductory arts makers or audition-based, three-week STAR Camp Red Bank program, and one-month, audition-based STAR Intensive NKU summer program for children with demonstrated talent and interest in the performing arts.
Cleveland Comedy in Cleveland, Ohio. What makes Cleveland a comedy capital? Find out in the article below.
CLEVELAND LAUGHS
Excerpt from a past edition of OhioTraveler
by Bijan C. Bayne is a freelance writer and critic
Bob Hope, Tim Conway, Arsenio Hall, Drew Carey, Steve Harvey. These entertainers and others have started their careers in Cleveland before hitting the national comedy scene. With every city that produces such a stream of talent, one wonders if there is something tangible to which to attribute the legacy. Is there something intrinsically funny about Cleveland or its residents, and where can one go to experience stage humor in the city today?
British-born Leslie Townes “Bob” Hope moved to the U.S. with his family at age five, his father a stonemason, his mother a light opera singer-turned-cleaning woman. His family’s Doan’s Corner neighborhood was home to several vaudeville theatres such as The Alhambra. As a youngster, Hope earned money singing on the trolley en route to Luna Park. In 1915, he won a Charlie Chaplin imitation contest at the amusement park. By 16, he had dropped out of school. He and his Cleveland girlfriend, Mildred Rosenquist, aspired to the dancing success of Vernon and Irene Castle, the country’s most popular hoofing couple. It was as part of a two-man dance team that Hope, who also tried his hand at boxing under the pseudonym “Packy East”, was discovered as a dancer during the vaudeville era by the legendary comic actor Fatty Arbuckle. Dance teams employed comedy lines and repartee as a staple of their acts, and Hope’s quick wit led him to the New York’s famed Palace Theatre. The rest, as the saying goes, is history.
One requisite of effective comedy is the ability to speak comfortably before audiences. Another is wit. Steve Harvey’s parents were a churchgoing mother and a construction worker dad who supplemented the family’s finances during the slow winter months by booking numbers in the organization headed by the aptly named Don King. Harvey aspired to work as a t.v. comic from his teens- he graduated Glenville High School in the Richard Pryor era of 1975. Arsenio Hall, like Harvey, was exposed to the oral tradition of the Black church- his father was a minister. Harvey, Hall and Carey all attended Kent State, though frat boy Carey was expelled. In 1986, Carey rode the success of winning a local comedy contest to an emcee position at the Cleveland Comedy Club. By then, Hall was opening for acts such as R & B singer Patti LaBelle. It is worth noting that the signature “Whoop, whoop, whoop” chant favored by Hall and his late-night t.v. studio audience was very similar to that used by Browns fans in the section of the Municipal Stadium end zone known as The Dawg Pound. As for his church roots, many recall Hall’s archetypical Black preacher in the 1988 film “Coming to America”.
What about suburbia? Funnyman Tim Conway was born in Willoughby and grew up in Chagrin Falls. After majoring in speech and radio at Bowling Green, and a stint in the Army, he took a job answering mail for a Cleveland radio station. Conway became a writer in the promotions department. He later worked with Cleveland broadcasting legend Ernie Anderson on WKYC and WJW t.v. (“Ernie’s Place”) and recorded a comedy album with Anderson before landing a starring role on the 1960’s sitcom “McHale’s Navy”. No matter the training ground or the era, there have always been mentors and outlets for Cleveland comics.
Observational comics, as opposed to practitioners of the one-liner, are known to have open minds. Think George Carlin, Steven Wright, Jerry Seinfeld. The Midwest has few more open-minded cities than the one that produced progressive politicians the likes of Mayors Carl Stokes and Dennis Kucinich, the former who was America’s first Black to govern a major city.
The city has long laughed at itself, another characteristic of a comic mind. From a mammoth football/baseball stadium lovingly nicknamed “The Mistake on the Lake”, to the notoriety of the “Major League” movie series based on the woes of the then-hapless baseball Indians, Clevelanders have joined in the fun Americans have had at its expense. Native son Carey even set his popular sitcom in his hometown.
Mike Polk, a promotions writer for a local t.v. station and freelance comedy writer performs stand up and improv. Says Polk, “the Cleveland comedy scene has a pretty rich history and has produced some rather respectable stars over time. I think that Cleveland is such a remarkable breeding ground for comedic minds for the same reason that it is a swing state. The state is eclectic, with many differing opinions and cultures. There is a little bit of everything and it is all concentrated in small areas.
Within fifteen miles of the Cleveland area, you have the blue-collar working class, intense poverty, extreme affluence, and rural farm dwellers. Unlike other parts of the country where areas have a consistent mindset with rare exceptions, ie: California is liberal and blue, Alabama is rural and red, etc. Cleveland is all over the map. I believe that it is this exposure to tons of different types of people and circumstances that feeds comics and makes their material approachable to so many people. Cleveland’s underdog status is a factor as well. We are consistently the nation’s poorest city. We are losing people and jobs at an alarming pace. Our weather is, at times, wretched. Crime is high. Our sports teams are cursed. Our river caught on fire. Much like the fat kid in grade school, we as Clevelanders have been forced to develop a sense of humor about ourselves and what goes on around us as a self-defense mechanism.”
According to Polk, Cleveland has ample opportunity for stand-up comics to work on their acts before moving on to bigger and better things. There have been open mic comedy nights periodically at various bars and clubs, which last until owners decide karaoke is more profitable and interactive. The two main venues in town, for rising comics, Hilarities and the Improv, provide a stage for area comics in addition to bringing in national headliners.
This city’s rich legacy of laughs inspires one to check out the scene, form one’s own opinions and catch a rising star. History shows it is well worth the effort.
Where to go for a laugh in Cleveland:
The Improv – Cleveland
(216) 696-4677
1148 Main Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio
Web: click here
Hilarities / Pickwick and Frolic
2035 East 4th Street
Cleveland, Ohio
(216)-241-7425
Web: click here
Something Dada Improv Comedy Co.
1900 Superior Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio
(216) 696-4242
Web: click here
The Cleveland Institute of Music provides many free events.
- When: See link below for schedule of events
- Location: (Map It) 11021 East Blvd in Cleveland, Ohio
- Phone: 216-791-5000
- Web: click here
The Cleveland Institute of Music is a leading international conservatory. Hundreds of concerts are presented each year by CIM’s illustrious faculty, student, and visiting artists. Concerts are held on the main campus in Cleveland’s University Circle. Visitors may see fully staged operas, the CIM Orchestra, a wide variety of chamber music and faculty recitals, student recitals, plus the Mixon Hall Masters Series which features some of the world’s most prominent artists. Concerts are presented several times a week.
Welcome to the Cleveland Play House at Playhouse Square in Cleveland Ohio.
- When: See the link below for the schedule of events
- Location: (Map It) Paid parking garage is at 1901 E. 13th St., Cleveland, Ohio, and connects to the Allen Theatre Complex which is the location of the Cleveland Play House at 1407 Euclid Avenue
- Web: click here
The Cleveland Play House in Playhouse Square was the recipient of a recent Regional Theatre Tony Award. Founded in 1915, it is America’s first professional regional theatre. Throughout its rich history, CPH has remained dedicated to its mission to inspire, stimulate and entertain diverse audiences in Northeast Ohio by producing plays and theatre education programs of the highest professional standards. CPH has produced more than 100 world and/or American premieres, and over its long history, more than 12 million people have attended over 1,600 productions. Today, Cleveland Play House celebrates its centennial while performing in three state-of-the-art venues at Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland. Our Mission: To inspire, stimulate and entertain diverse audiences across Northeast Ohio by producing plays and theatre education programs of the highest professional standards.
Playhouse Square Theatre District in Cleveland features the Connor Palace, State, Ohio, and several other theatres.
- When: See the link below for the schedule of events
- Location: (Map It) 1501 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland, Ohio
- Phone: 216-771-4444
- Web: click here
Playhouse Square Theatre District in Cleveland is the largest performing arts center outside of New York City and hosts nearly 1,000,000 guests and 1,000 curtains each year. The Playhouse Square complex is located along Euclid Avenue incorporating the Connor Palace, State, Ohio, and several other theatres. A multitude of talent can be seen in opera, dramas, dance, and musicals. The theaters and talent can best be described as “amazing.” You can’t miss it. Just look for the world’s largest outdoor chandelier hanging over the street.
Welcome to the Columbus Children’s Theatre.
- When: See link below for schedule of events
- Location: (Map It) 177 E Naghten St in Columbus, Ohio
- Phone: 614-224-6673
- Web: click here
Columbus Children’s Theatre has offered a variety of drama and performance programs of interest to young and old alike since 1963. Located near the North Market, CCT offers approximately six productions each year. CCT also offers a year-round academy where a novice thespian, ages K-8, has the opportunity to learn and practice his/her craft. There’s also a professional touring company, which has been bringing quality live theatre to Ohio schools since 1972.
Welcome to the Columbus Symphony.
- When: See link below for schedule of events
- Location: (Map It) 55 E. State St. in Columbus, Ohio
- Phone: 614-228-9600
- Web: click here
Columbus Symphony’s goal is to advance a symphony orchestra of the highest artistic standard for the enrichment, enjoyment, and well-being of central Ohio. This mission is achieved through a diverse set of programming that promises something for everyone throughout the year.
The Columbus Symphony offers eight programs annually: Classical, Concerts for Kids, State Street Pops, Picnic with the Pops, Popcorn Pops, Youth Orchestras, Community Outreach Programs, and Young Peoples’ Concerts. Special events and engagements are also available. Call for a complete concert schedule, announcements, special offers, and a free e-newsletter.
Welcome to the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts in Cincinnati.
- When: See link below for schedule of events
- Location: (Map It) 4990 Glenway Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Phone: 513-241-6550
- Web: click here
The Covedale Center for the Performing Arts: The Covedale has been converted from a 1947 movie house to a live theatre seating about 400 people. It features some of the best local performers and performances. The season ahead features classic shows, sure to delight every audience and a variety of other shows.
Welcome to the Little Theatre Off Broadway in Grove City, Ohio.
- Open: Year-round
- Location: (Map It) 3981 Broadway in Grove City, Ohio
- Phone: 614-875-3919
- Web: click here
Little Theatre Off Broadway in Grove City is tiny but packs an audience and puts on a show that people rave about. The experience is so intimate that the last row is closer to the stage than the front row in many other theatres. There’s simply no better way to enjoy a live musical, comedy, or drama. It features six live shows per season, including two musicals, two comedies, and two dramas. It is known for big-time talent and small-town intimacy, where the actors get to know their audience.
Welcome to The Living Word Outdoor Drama in Cambridge.
- Open: Friday and Saturday evenings from mid-June through September
- Location: (Map It) 6010 College Hill Road in Cambridge, Ohio
- Phone: 740-439-2761
- Web: click here
The Living Word Outdoor Drama in Cambridge: This outdoor drama features the life and ministry of Jesus Christ on a 400 panoramic set in one of the country’s most realistic recreations of Old Jerusalem. The drama offers reenactments of The Sermon on the Mount, The Palm Sunday Entrance, The Last Supper, The Crucifixion, The Resurrection, and The Ascension. A tour of the set and special music are both offered starting an hour before the show.
Welcome to the Majestic Theatre in Chillicothe.
The Majestic Theatre in Chillicothe is America’s oldest continuously operating theater – The Majestic Theatre! Built in 1853 as the Masonic Opera House, it hosted dramas, comedies, and minstrel shows and was later a popular stop along the Vaudeville circuit. It hosted legends such as Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Laurel & Hardy, George Arliss, and Sophie Tucker. It was the first location in Chillicothe to show motion pictures using the Edison Vita Scope. Today, the Majestic Theatre still produces a wide variety of entertainment featuring plays, concerts, comedy shows, and classic movie nights.
Welcome to the Midland Theatre in Newark, Ohio.
- Open: See link below for schedule of events
- Location: (Map It) 36 North Park Place in Newark, Ohio
- Phone: 740-345-5483
- Web: click here
The Midland Theatre in Newark is a great place in central Ohio to experience the arts. From live music performances to dance performances, the Midland Theatre has it all! Legendary musicians have performed there, including Three Dog Night, Jon Vezner, Barbara Bailey Hutchison, The Smothers Brothers, and many more. The Midland Theatre is dedicated to producing positive experiences of the arts and promoting value around the community. Recently restored from its original building in 1928, the Midland Theatre inspires people of all ages and enriches the lives of all audiences that experience the wonderful shows and programs.
Welcome to the Murphy Theatre in Wilmington.
- Open: See link below for schedule of events
- Location: (Map It) 50 West Main Street in Wilmington, Ohio
- Phone: 937-382-3643
- Web: click here
The Murphy Theatre of Wilmington has been entertaining people from all around since 1918. Murphy Theatre was built by Charles Webb Murphy, prior owner of the Chicago Cubs, who sought to make a theatre that would bring a heart to his hometown. The theatre offers a range of shows from musical performances of many genres, to well-known stand-up comedy routines and tickets are available in floor, box, and balcony seating. It is an experience for any age The Murphy’s grand, old-fashioned marquee still shines its lights over the center of town.
Welcome to Ohio Shakespeare Festival in Akron where performances are seen year-round, indoors or outdoors.
- Open: See link below for schedule of events.
- Location: (Map It) Indoor stage is at Greystone Hall, 103 South High St. in Akron, Ohio. (Map It) Outdoor performances at Stan Hywet Hall at 714 N. Portage Path in Akron, Ohio.
- Phone: 330-374-7574 or 330-574-2537
- Web: click here
Ohio Shakespeare Festival in Akron: Don’t read Shakespeare, see Shakespeare. The Ohio Shakespeare Festival regards the actors, the script, and the audience as the quintessential elements of the theatre. This professional theatre company is dedicated to articulating the inherently theatrical components of Shakespeare and his fellow playwrights throughout the ages in a manner that enables the collected imaginations of the artists to meet the collective imagination of the audience in a public celebration that transforms the world in which we live.
Welcome to the Ohio Valley Opry and Twin City Opera House in McConnelsville.
- Open: Shows are on the third Saturday January – November and the first Saturday in December.
- Location: (Map It) 21 West Main Street in McConnelsville, Ohio
- Phone: 740-525-9218
- Web: click here
The Ohio Valley Opry performances are at Twin City Opera House in McConnelsville. It’s a great place to spend an evening enjoying a marvelous show. The Ohio Valley Opry offers a musical variety including bluegrass, country, and gospel music. An array of artists and acts have had the pleasure to play at the Ohio Valley Opry, including Johnny Staats and the Delivery Boys, Carolyn Connor, John Billotte, Connie Smith, and Jack Greene. The Ohio Valley Opry also offers group (of any size) packages, which can include exclusive pre-show tours and/or reservations for all accommodations, like lodging, food, and attractions.
Concerts by The Cleveland Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra: https://www.cincinnatisymphony.org/pops/ (Cincinnati)
The Cleveland Orchestra: www.clevelandorchestra.com (Cleveland)
Columbus Symphony Orchestra: columbussymphony.com (Columbus)
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra: https://daytonperformingarts.org/ (Dayton)
Toledo Symphony Orchestra: www.toledosymphony.com/ (Toledo)
These renowned orchestras and others throughout the state sometimes perform smaller, free concerts at various locations in their respective greater metropolitan areas throughout the year. Keep an eye open for announcements in local newspapers or by periodically visiting the respective Web addresses listed above to find out when the next free event is being planned.
Welcome to the Players Guild Theatre in Canton, Ohio.
- When: See link below for schedule of events
- Location: (Map It) 1001 Market Avenue N in Canton, Ohio
- Phone: 330-453-7617 (Box Office)
- Web: click here
The Players Guild Theatre in Canton is a volunteer-based, professionally directed theatre. Players Guild Theatre offers instruction in theatre arts through production experience, workshops, special programming, and outreach activities. At Players Guild Theatre, volunteers work side by side with professionals in order to maintain the highest standards of production, encourage individual creativity and enhance their understanding and appreciation of live theatre.
Welcome to the Pump House Center for the Arts in Chillicothe.
- Open: See link below for schedule of events
- Location: (Map It) 1 Enderlin Circle in Chillicothe, Ohio
- Phone: 740-772-5783
- Web: click here
The Chillicothe Pump House Center for the Arts is home to nine to ten visual art exhibits. The Pump House gift gallery highlights local artists of Southern Ohio and free tours are available. All exhibits are located in the historic Pump House facility, whose history dates back to 1883 and includes a listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can enjoy the gallery’s historic Victorian Gothic architecture and the beautiful gallery that the house provides for art. The Pump House also hosts the Gallery Stroll event that takes place every second Saturday of the month from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in downtown Chillicothe. The event is designed to promote the downtown area and its businesses as well as the arts, performing, and visuals. The facility is available for rent by group, individual, or business events.
Welcome to the Renaissance Theatre in Mansfield, Ohio.
- Open: See link below for schedule of events
- Location: (Map It) 138 Park Avenue W. in Mansfield, Ohio
- Phone: 419-522-2726
- Web: click here
The Mansfield Renaissance Theatre is the largest performing arts center in North-Central Ohio. It first opened in January 1928. It seats 1,600 people. In the past, it has been the host of the Miss Ohio Scholarship Pageant and the state competition for the Miss Ohio Pageant. The Renaissance has an extensive history from the 80 years it has been operating and offers visitors a place to indulge themselves with great performances, as well as learn about The Renaissance’s historic contributions. Formally known as the Ohio Theatre, The Renaissance has been renovated, but still maintains its classic charm. In May 1983, The Renaissance Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places and still remains as a piece of beloved history in Mansfield.
Welcome to the Ritz Theatre in Tiffin, Ohio.
- Open: See link below for schedule of events
- Location: (Map It) 30 South Washington Street in Tiffin, Ohio
- Phone: 419-448-8544
- Web: click here
The Ritz Theatre in Tiffin: At the beginning of the 20th century when movies were becoming popular, theaters were becoming a popular place in towns and cities. The Ritz Theatre was no exception to this; being a very popular place from the day it opened its doors in 1928. Over 1,000 people would pack into the theatre to watch a movie, accompanied by a live orchestra and organs. Since its opening, the Ritz Theatre has been entertaining thousands and thousands of people. Currently, the Ritz Theatre, after being renovated in 1998, still holds performances in its classy and historic theater. With its classic, Renaissance-like style, the Ritz Theatre features a variety of performances, including musical performances, plays, and even movie nights, which can be experienced in a unique and distinctive way.
Admission to the “Roaring Twenties Live” in Bucyrus is approximately $35.00 per person (group reservations needed).
- When: Dates may be reserved for groups only.
- Location: (Map It) The show may be booked at various Bucyrus places as well as the former Speakeasy, Dillinger Event Center, located on West Mansfield Street on the Square in downtown Bucyrus, Ohio
- Phone: 419-562-0720 or toll-free 866-562-0720
“Roaring Twenties Live” in Bucyrus, Ohio: “Roaring Twenties Live” is a production that involves history, singing, dancing, and lots of fun. This production takes you back to the Roaring Twenties during prohibition. One of the locations where the play is produced in the actual tunnel area where the gangsters traveling from Chicago to New York by train spent many hours during the 20s and early 30s. During the performance, you may get the opportunity to meet “Al Capone”. The production is full of excitement and surprises. The production was presented by the Bucyrus Tourism & Visitors’ Bureau with local performers. Buffet dinner follows the show.
The performances began with the rediscovery of a basement lair inside a building that was erected in 1916 and was named the Highway Hotel. During the 1920’s it was a popular spot for gangsters traveling from Chicago to New York and returning trips. At that time there were tunnels under the city of Bucyrus and the tunnel in the Speak Easy still exists (Other tunnels have been replaced by modern basements, etc. due to new construction, etc). The area was called the Highway Grill; Late 1930’s it was a Rathskeller and then the area was closed until renovation and reopening of the historic Speak Easy was completed in 2003. Everything is now just as it was in the 1920s. The woodwork, tables, etc. are original. The elevator is still the original and is hand-operated. A play has been written based on history, facts of the era, singing, dancing, gangsters, and just bringing the 1920s alive. The production is by local all-volunteer talent. A minimum of 35 persons is required for the production. There are two shows available for tour groups… 30-minute and a one-hour length show.
Welcome to Shadowbox Live in Columbus, Ohio.
- Open: See the link below for upcoming shows
- Location: (Map It) 503 S. Front St., Suite 260 in Columbus, Ohio
- Phone: 614-416-7625
- Web: click here
Shadowbox Live features two stages; The Main Stage and The Up Front Performance Space. The Main Stage is a versatile performance space designed in the black box theater tradition to support the ever-changing, genre-shifting bodies of work presented across original production artforms. The venue uses a cabaret seating plan to host audiences around tables and chairs, where they can enjoy food and drinks before the show. The Up Front Performance Space hosts independent performing artists and presenters that want to bring their passion projects to a live audience. This 90-seat cabaret has developed a reputation for providing a unique experience for performers and patrons alike, presenting weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly show series.
Welcome to the Cleveland SignStage.
- When: See the website below for details about this unique theatrical classroom program
- Location: (Map It) 11635 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland, Ohio
- Phone: 216-325-7559
- Web: click here
The Cleveland SignStage was founded by one Deaf and one hearing actor in 1975. Since then the theatre has established a sound reputation for bringing new and colorful expressions of theatre to the stage. Since moving in with the Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center, SignStage has transitioned into a deaf awareness program within the Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing department. SignStage is now an educational outreach program that uses theatre techniques to educate its audiences through school assembly programs, workshops, and residencies. We combine American Sign Language with the imagery of mime and theatrical text to bring a unique style of education to our audiences.
Welcome to Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville.
- Open: See link below for schedule of events.
- Location: (Map It) 52 Public Square in Nelsonville, Ohio
- Phone: 740-753-1924
- Web: click here
Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville, Ohio is a unique second-floor theater that has been the cornerstone of Nelsonville’s Historic Arts District since 1879. With more than 75 events every year, they serve Southeast Ohio and beyond as a one-of-a-kind venue for a wide range of music, theatre and community functions.
The Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival in Akron is free.
- When: Various dates throughout the Summer
- Location: (Map It) Various locations throughout greater Akron, Ohio
- Phone: 330-972-7900 or 216-661-6645
- Web: click here
Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival in Akron: This event is a tribute to Heinz Poll, the founding artistic director of the Ohio Ballet. And in the tradition of free public performances, different reputable dance companies each present a unique dance experience for tens of thousands of onlookers at various sites in downtown Akron. Enjoy the magic of dance in this unique family-friendly atmosphere.
Welcome to the Tecumseh Outdoor Drama in Chillicothe, Ohio.
- When: June – September (Monday through Saturday).
- Showtime: 8:00pm.
Location: (Map It) Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre at 5968 Marietta Road in Chillicothe, Ohio
Phone: 1-866-775-0700
- Web: click here
The Tecumseh Outdoor Drama in Chillicothe: Witness the epic life story of the legendary Shawnee leader as he struggles to unite the various tribes in an effort to drive the encroaching whites from their sacred homelands in the Ohio country during the late 1700s.
The huge, outdoor stages of the Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre afford the audience a unique viewing experience. You will sit beneath the stars in the beautiful Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre as sheer spectacle surrounds you with a herd of galloping horses, live military cannon in action, and the most dazzling battle sequences offered on the American stage.
This professionally produced outdoor drama is written by seven-time Pulitzer Prize nominee and Emmy recipient, Allan W. Eckert. The script has been acclaimed as the best of its kind in the outdoor drama industry and continues to fascinate thousands each summer.
Millions of visitors have witnessed this great outdoor drama, making it the most popular of its kind in the State of Ohio and the entire Mid-Western United States.
Enjoy an exciting “Behind-the-Scenes” Tour with cast members as your tour guides. The stuntmen of TECUMSEH! give a dazzling display of stage combat and flintlock firing, then pitch headfirst from a twenty-one-foot cliff, get up, and explain how they did it. The tours last approximately one hour and along with detailed historical information also include demonstrations of weaponry, stunts, and make-up as well as explanations regarding communication systems and stage design. Tours are offered at 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM.
The Tecumseh Terrace Buffet features a Buffet Dinner of wholesome American food. Served from 4:30 PM until 7:30 PM, the menu includes Broaster Fired Chicken, baked ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, corn, salad bar, bakery rolls, and dessert includes baked apple streusel and chocolate pudding, coffee, and soft drinks. Cash, MasterCard, and Visa are accepted at the buffet. Snacks, including pizza, popcorn, sweets, and soft drinks are available at the concession stand from 4:00 PM through intermission.
Stroll through our mini-museum and enjoy the displays of prehistoric Indian artifacts from the Scioto Valley. In cooperation with the Ohio Historical Society, this exhibit is offered Free of charge, Monday – Saturday, from 5:00 PM to 7:45 PM.
Visit our Mountain Gallery Gift Shop where you can find many unique and popular gifts. Selections include jewelry, pottery, T-shirts, and books to serve as souvenirs of your evening at TECUMSEH!
During Meet and Greet, immediately following the performance, cast members will assemble in the pavilion area for autographs and photographs. This is the perfect opportunity for you to talk to the actors one-on-one!
Welcome to The Ohio Light Opera in Wooster, Ohio.
- Open: See the link below for the schedule of events.
- Location: (Map It) Freedlander Theatre at 329 E. University St. in Wooster, Ohio
- Phone: 330-263-2345 or 330-263-2345
- Web: click here
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The Ohio Light Opera in Wooster, Ohio has been performing for more than 40 seasons. It dedicated itself to the exploration and production of the best of traditional operetta and musical theater. It has grown to encompass all forms in the light opera canon. Each summer, between seven and nine titles are presented in a revolving format of approximately 60 performances over an eight-week period. Nearly 20,000 patrons each season see productions in The College of Wooster’s intimate Freedlander Theatre.
Welcome to Trumpet In The Land Outdoor Drama at Schoenbrunn Amphitheatre in New Philadelphia, Ohio.
- When: Early June – late August (Monday through Saturday at 8:30pm)
- Location: (Map It) Schoenbrunn Amphitheatre at 1600 Trumpet Drive NE in New Philadelphia, Ohio
- Phone: 330-364-5111
- Web: click here
Trumpet In The Land Outdoor Drama at Schoenbrunn Amphitheatre in New Philadelphia, Ohio:
Paul Green’s Trumpet In The Land sweeps you back in history to a time when Ohio was the western frontier of America. Witness the founding of Ohio’s first settlement, Schoenbrunn, and the eventual Gnadenhutten massacre of 96 Christian Indians at the hands of American militiamen.
The White Savage is the life of Simon Girty who was labeled a savage due to his alliance with the Native Americans and the British during the American Revolution. His loyalty to the Indians and his savagery in battle were legendary and his name brought fear to all along the frontier in the late eighteenth century.
Professional actors, brilliant lighting effects, galloping horses, and spectacular battle pyrotechnics bring both of these epic productions to life on the stage of the 1,400-seat outdoor amphitheater.
Welcome to the Woodward Opera House in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
- Open: See link below for schedule of events.
- Location: (Map It) 107 South Main Street in Mount Vernon, Ohio
- Phone: 740-263-6737
- Web: click here
The Woodward Opera House is located in downtown Mount Vernon and is listed as a national landmark. The Woodward opened in 1851 and is America’s oldest authentic 19th-century theater still in existence today. A popular theater in the late 1800s, the Woodward is associated with Mount Vernon native, world-famous musician, Dan Emmett. Currently, the historic Woodward Opera House is open for tours and is being restored to its 19th-century appearance but with all the 21stcentury services needed for operating a theater. Tours of the opera house are available during the Dan Emmett Music & Arts Festival, First Fridays events, and Mount Vernon’s Christmas Walk. Special group tours can be arranged by calling.
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