Ohio Theater
About
Broadway shows are performed in this historic theater.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

Top ways to experience Ohio Theater and nearby attractions

The area
Address
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • cheri t
    Ocala, Florida82 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Theatre!
    Went to see Tina, and even though we were in te nose bleed seats, we still had a good view. The accustics were great! The building itself is beautiful! Seats very comfortable. If in Columbus again and have the opportunity to see a show at this venue, I definately will!
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 13 May 2024
  • SHIPY2010
    United States582 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    First time visitor, can’t wait to return
    First Time visiting to enjoy The Lion King! Being my first time visiting I may be sharing too much info but I would have loved to know this before my arriving. Ohio Theater was great at Pre Arriving communication, I appreciated the email reminders with important things to know, also follow their Facebook as they communicate there of any downtown events that may cause delays or confusion. They informed that the Gallbreath Pavillon doors would open 90 minutes before showtime for happy hour. To find that entrance standing at the main front entrance, turn left and walk around the block. You will see the first set of doors, but you need to walk all way down to second set of doors to enter through security. Men’s restroom is right here at this entrance if needed, man will need ticket to get in so don’t leave him behind. Once inside there is a concession stand here, or you can go up the stairs to next level where there is another concession stand. They accept US cash or card. Ladies room is on second level to the far left. We sat on right side of that second level. Lobby doors opened 60 minutes before where there is another concession stand and not many seating options. Once in the lobby area there is a ladies room down the first hall to the right keep walking in the lobby towards theatre doors and there is another hallway to the right with the men’s room. A few seats here to wait the 30 minutes for theatre doors to open. We had Orchestra Seats with Extra Magic, this area is down the steps from this lobby area at Aisle 2 entrance. The Magical Extra inclusions was right at the bottom of steps and beside the entrance so was perfect! Walking in there was many ushers to escort you to your seats and hand you the playbill. Temperature was perfect, last weekend in June and I was wearing a cardigan sweater and felt comfortable. Seats were also very comfortable, wider that some older theater seats. When show was over, there was an exit to the right that took you directly out to side exit of theatre. We had a room booked at Doubletree by Hilton and walked back to hotel felt completely safe. All the staff we encountered was all very friendly and welcoming. Great experience and I’m looking forward to attending more Broadway in Columbus shows!
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 30 June 2024
  • Julie B
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful!
    Beautiful theatre! It was an incredibly busy night when we visited (The Lion King!), but there were a lot of staff working and they were all great, kind, and helpful. The theatre is not huge so you can get a good seat pretty much anywhere (as long as you do not have an oversized individual sitting in front of you!!)!!
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 4 July 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles513 reviews
Excellent
419
Very good
82
Average
9
Poor
0
Terrible
3

Pamela P
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
I have taken my 4 children to see a Christmas Carol at the Ohio Theater every year since 1982, even as adults. I started the tradition with my grandchildren when they were 5 years old. Even after moving out of state I would arrange for all of us to make the 4 hour drive (each way), pay for accommodations and the cost of gas and food. Prior to this year our last time was in 2019 and we were all excited to be able to return this year. However, our disappointment with the new version was horrible. Key elements were missing, scenery was terrible and more than 90% of the dialogue was unintelligible. I heard multiple people echoing the same sentiments throughout the theater, even expressing comments such what “dialect” the actors were using. With great sadness we all agreed that we would not return in the future to the Ohio Theater to see this production again. We will attempt to find the traditional play in another state even if it requires further travel. The money and time invested in attending this production was not worth it. I wish the actors success in their careers in the future.
Written 28 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

James
Naples, FL1,334 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 • Couples
While visiting Columbus, we bought tickets for the Broadway “Hairspray” performance. The interior of the theater is beautifully adorned and layered out for 2700 patrons. There were two long lines when we arrived, but they moved quickly and we were in our seats in about 15 minutes. Great show in a great historical venue (1928).
Written 15 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SHIPY2010
United States582 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Couples
First Time visiting to enjoy The Lion King! Being my first time visiting I may be sharing too much info but I would have loved to know this before my arriving. Ohio Theater was great at Pre Arriving communication, I appreciated the email reminders with important things to know, also follow their Facebook as they communicate there of any downtown events that may cause delays or confusion. They informed that the Gallbreath Pavillon doors would open 90 minutes before showtime for happy hour. To find that entrance standing at the main front entrance, turn left and walk around the block. You will see the first set of doors, but you need to walk all way down to second set of doors to enter through security. Men’s restroom is right here at this entrance if needed, man will need ticket to get in so don’t leave him behind. Once inside there is a concession stand here, or you can go up the stairs to next level where there is another concession stand. They accept US cash or card. Ladies room is on second level to the far left. We sat on right side of that second level. Lobby doors opened 60 minutes before where there is another concession stand and not many seating options. Once in the lobby area there is a ladies room down the first hall to the right keep walking in the lobby towards theatre doors and there is another hallway to the right with the men’s room. A few seats here to wait the 30 minutes for theatre doors to open. We had Orchestra Seats with Extra Magic, this area is down the steps from this lobby area at Aisle 2 entrance. The Magical Extra inclusions was right at the bottom of steps and beside the entrance so was perfect! Walking in there was many ushers to escort you to your seats and hand you the playbill. Temperature was perfect, last weekend in June and I was wearing a cardigan sweater and felt comfortable. Seats were also very comfortable, wider that some older theater seats. When show was over, there was an exit to the right that took you directly out to side exit of theatre. We had a room booked at Doubletree by Hilton and walked back to hotel felt completely safe. All the staff we encountered was all very friendly and welcoming. Great experience and I’m looking forward to attending more Broadway in Columbus shows!
Written 30 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

3000calories
Buffalo, NY1,657 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Family
The theater is beautiful and the acoustics are perfect. If a tall person is in front of you some of the stage will be cut off from site. Also it is extremely hot in the theater so use the playbill to fan yourself and do not wear heavy clothes.
Written 30 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cheri t
Ocala, FL82 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Friends
Went to see Tina, and even though we were in te nose bleed seats, we still had a good view. The accustics were great! The building itself is beautiful! Seats very comfortable. If in Columbus again and have the opportunity to see a show at this venue, I definately will!
Written 13 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Julie B
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Family
Beautiful theatre!
It was an incredibly busy night when we visited (The Lion King!), but there were a lot of staff working and they were all great, kind, and helpful.
The theatre is not huge so you can get a good seat pretty much anywhere (as long as you do not have an oversized individual sitting in front of you!!)!!
Written 4 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

thomasmcsweeney2014
Chaiyaphum Province, Thailand386 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2015 • Solo
This fully restored theater was built by the Loew's Movie Theater chain in partnership with United Artists in 1928. This was the age of the silent theater, so a huge grand pipe organ was build and was named the "Mighty Morton" with an accompanying orchestra pit. Designed by the Scottish-born architect, Thomas W. Lamb who gave the theater a Spanish-Baroque style. 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 $1,000,000 was spent on art and furnishings -- more than the cost of the building itself! Built in a time before amplified sound, the theater was designed to be acoustically perfect. However, within a year when sound pictures were the rage, a sound system was added. However, with the advance of other forms of entertainment, radio, TV, cable and the movement of the Columbus population to the suburbs, attendance dropped and this theater was closed in 1969. To save the theater from distruction, the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) was formed to raise money and develop a plan for the future of the theater. CAPA was successful and original building was completely restored to its original appearance in stages throughout the 1970s. In the 1980s, the theater was expanded to better accompany live performances and stage productions. Today the Ohio Theatre is home to The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, BalletMet, and The Broadway Series, as well as more than 100 CAPA events each year, including music from all genres and corners of the world, dance, theater, comedy, children's entertainment, and the time-honored Summer Movie Series. The Ohio Theatre's lush interior, excellent acoustics, and state-of-the-art stage facilities have made it a favorite of performers and patrons alike, and recent renovations to the backstage and dressing rooms guarantee that the Ohio Theatre will continue its grand tradition as the “Official Theatre for the State of Ohio.”
For my family, the Broadway Series was always a special hit and we would attend often. It must has stuck as my daughter is now a stage actress in the Manhatten Theater District and my son is a Scenic Designer at Freelance and a CNC Router & Waterjet Operator at Showman Frabricators in Long Island, NY (Showman Fabricators supplies scenery and specialty fabrication to Broadway, Television, Architecture projects, Special Events and the Museum and Retail Display industries). Buying CAPA season tickets is the way to go. One of my family's movie favorites was Fright Nite Friday double feature with local TV and radio legend Fritz the Nite Owl. Yet another family favorite was their Summer Movie Series the longest-running classic film series in America and celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2015. So on my recent return to Columbus, I had to stop in and catch a classic at the Ohio Theater. I fortunate enough to see Hitchcock's "Notorious", a 1946 classic mystery action romance with Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, and Claude Rains on June 5th. The seating was plush, the atmosphere relaxing, and the film was hot. Come enjoy the Grand Old Lady of Theater.
Written 6 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Crystal B
Mount Vernon, Ohio, United States22 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2012
We saw the Columbus Balletmet Nutcracker; well done and great family friendly entertainment. I purchased a "cheap" seat ($20) off to the far left. I could not see about 1/3 of the stage. I would recommend paying the additional $15 for a better seat.
Written 15 January 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ralph Martins
Columbus, OH70 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019
This is a grand old theater, but do try to get seats that aren't too far away from the stage, as it becomes hard to see what's going on if you're on the second level.
Written 11 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TresaCrouch
Piketon, OH68 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2018 • Friends
The Ohio Theater is beautiful. TheNutcracker was fun to watch and experience for the first time. The theater was easy enough to get to and garage parking was right across the street.
Written 8 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 500
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

OHIO THEATER (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

All Columbus HotelsColumbus Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Columbus
All things to do in Columbus
RestaurantsFlightsHoliday RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesCar Hire