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Columbus Theater Reviews

View the latest BroadwayWorld reviews of live + streaming theatre in Columbus.

Review: SNS' THE PROM at Garden Theater Photo Review: SNS' THE PROM at Garden Theater
by Paul Batterson - March 17, 2024

Broadway Musicals are often fantasies, musical representations about things that could not possibly happen. The saddest thing about Short North Stage’s production of THE PROM, which runs from March 14 through April 7 at the Garden Theater, is that it is based partly in truth....

Review: MAMMA MIA! Delivers Dynamo Performance at the Ohio Theatre Photo Review: MAMMA MIA! Delivers Dynamo Performance at the Ohio Theatre
by Dylan Shaffer - March 18, 2024

With familiar hits such as “Dancing Queen,” “Mamma Mia,” and “Honey, Honey,” MAMMA MIA! has a leg up on most musicals: audiences already know the songs. But to surmount and overcome the expectations of audiences is no easy feat. The 25th Anniversary Tour of MAMMA MIA! blows all expectations out of t...

Review: PAT METHENY at Riffe Center Photo Review: PAT METHENY at Riffe Center
by Paul Batterson - March 10, 2024

In his two-hour set, Metheny, the only artist to win Grammys in 10 different categories, was like a magician as he revealed the skills that garnered him gold records for Still Life (Talking), Letter from Home, and Secret Story....

Review: SKELETON CREW at Studio 2 At Riffe Center Photo Review: SKELETON CREW at Studio 2 At Riffe Center
by Paul Batterson - March 04, 2024

Rico Parker joins a talented quartet of actors, performing with Wilma Hatton (Faye), Clarissa Rai (Shanita), and Alan Tyson (Reggie), in bringing this two-act, two-hour show to life. Each actor brings out certain nuances to his or her character, revealing the character’s strengths and concealing his...

Review: Gender-Swapped COMPANY Falls Flat at the Ohio Theatre Despite Genius Sondheim Photo Review: Gender-Swapped COMPANY Falls Flat at the Ohio Theatre Despite Genius Sondheim Score
by Christina Mancuso - February 14, 2024

Nominated for a record-setting 14 Tony Awards and winning 6 in the original production in 1970, Stephen Sondheim’s COMPANY was one of the first musicals to deal with contemporary dating, marriage, and divorce.  Originally played by a male lead, Director Marianne Elliott (with approval from Sond...

Review: INFAMOUS LOVE SONGS: AN OVER THE RHINE VALENTINE'S CONCERT at Lincoln Photo Review: INFAMOUS LOVE SONGS: AN OVER THE RHINE VALENTINE'S CONCERT at Lincoln
by Paul Batterson - February 11, 2024

The two seem to have that innate ability to write simple poetry without making them seem like something you would find at the Valentine’s cards bin at Walmart....

Review: THE DREAM AND BEYOND at ShadowBox Live Photo Review: THE DREAM AND BEYOND at ShadowBox Live
by Paul Batterson - January 31, 2024

Shadowbox Live reached deep into their skill sets to celebrate the 11 leaders’ achievements through art, words, dance and song while educating the audience on their significance.  ...

Review: THE WORRIES OF WESLEY (OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP HAVING ANXIETY, OR NOT REALL Photo Review: THE WORRIES OF WESLEY (OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP HAVING ANXIETY, OR NOT REALLY, BUT I AM TRYING TO) at Riffe Center
by Paul Batterson - January 29, 2024

In lesser hands, THE WORRIES OF WESLEY could turn into an afterschool special on television. However, Alan Tyson’s direction and Moss’s idiosyncratic screenplay turn the issue of anxiety into something far deeper...

Review: THE COLOR PURPLE at Garden Theater Photo Review: THE COLOR PURPLE at Garden Theater
by Paul Batterson - January 26, 2024

A show about domestic violence and oppression doesn’t sound like a cheery night at the theater. Here’s what makes the show work: the music and lyrics, especially in the opening three numbers, are about as uplifting as one can get in a show and secondly, there are opportunities for redemption for eve...

Review: THE DRUMS OF WAR at Abbey Theater of Dublin Photo Review: THE DRUMS OF WAR at Abbey Theater of Dublin
by Paul Batterson - January 21, 2024

Director Joe Bishara uses overhead projections of the actual leaders in the play, allowing the audience to compare the actors on the stage and the Roosevelt and Churchills on newsreels....

Review: PILLOW TALK Finds Soft Spot Among the Shadowbox Live Crowd Photo Review: PILLOW TALK Finds Soft Spot Among the Shadowbox Live Crowd
by Paul Batterson - January 09, 2024

Produced and directed by Julie Klein, PILLOW TALK provides a collection of Shadowbox Live’s best skits of the past year, hits the right notes for a variety of patrons. the two-act mixture of rock and roll and comedy opened Jan. 5 and runs through April 13 at the troupe’s stage at 503 S. Front Street...

Interview: THE WORRIES OF WESLEY at Riffe Center Photo Interview: THE WORRIES OF WESLEY at Riffe Center
by Paul Batterson - January 04, 2024

Helping children to understand their feelings is important so they know they’re not alone and that there are coping skills they can use Christy Farnbauch,...

Review: HIP HOP NUTCRACKER 'Blows' Audience Away at Palace Theatre Photo Review: HIP HOP NUTCRACKER 'Blows' Audience Away at Palace Theatre
by Paul Batterson - December 10, 2023

Choreographer/director Jennifer Weber has created an incredible hybrid of Tchaikovsky’s traditional NUTCRACKER score with several modern day nuances....

Review: KINKY BOOTS at Garden Theatre Photo Review: KINKY BOOTS at Garden Theatre
by Paul Batterson - November 27, 2023

KINKY BOOTS is one of those devious productions where the audience gets emotionally involved with the characters and takes in more of a message than they were originally expecting....

Review: SECOND CITY'S COMEDIAN RHAPSODY at Davidson Theatre Photo Review: SECOND CITY'S COMEDIAN RHAPSODY at Davidson Theatre
by Paul Batterson - November 20, 2023

Perhaps it is reassuring Second City, the training ground for many of America’s greatest comedic talent, is still thriving...

Review: HENRY WINKLER at Mershon Auditorium Photo Review: HENRY WINKLER at Mershon Auditorium
by Paul Batterson - November 10, 2023

After decades of reinventing himself, Winkler is finally getting comfortable with who he is....

Review: GOOD GRIEF: A BEST FRIEND PLAY at Riffe Center Photo Review: GOOD GRIEF: A BEST FRIEND PLAY at Riffe Center
by Paul Batterson - November 06, 2023

GOOD GRIEF is a wild surfboard ride of emotions, from the giddiness of being on the crest of love to the undertow of the wave-crushing despair of loss....

Review: MRS. DOUBTFIRE at Ohio Theatre Photo Review: MRS. DOUBTFIRE at Ohio Theatre
by Paul Batterson - November 01, 2023

MRS. DOUBTFIRE is based on the 1993 movie that starred the late Robin Williams, Sally Fields, and Pierce Bronsonm but adds layers to smaller characters as well as 22 Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick-penned songs, and a host of dance numbers....

Review: WHICH WAY TO THE STAGE? at The Garden Theatre Photo Review: WHICH WAY TO THE STAGE? at The Garden Theatre
by Paul Batterson - October 29, 2023

Nogueira’s attention to detail, Edward Carignan’s tight direction, and Ellowitz and Heleringer’s well-manicured mannerisms give WHICH WAY TO THE STAGE an enjoyable suspension of belief....

Review: RINGO STARR AND HIS ALL-STARR BAND at Mershon Auditorium Photo Review: RINGO STARR AND HIS ALL-STARR BAND at Mershon Auditorium
by Paul Batterson - October 11, 2023

What did our critic think of RINGO STARR AND HIS ALL-STARR BAND at Mershon Auditorium?...

Review: MOBY DICK'S GONE MISSING at Abbey Theatre Of Dublin Photo Review: MOBY DICK'S GONE MISSING at Abbey Theatre Of Dublin
by Paul Batterson - October 09, 2023

What did our critic think of REVIEW: MOBY DICK'S GONE MISSING at Abbey Theatre Of Dublin?...

BWW Review: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Rises at the Ohio Theatre for 50th Anniversary Tou Photo BWW Review: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Rises at the Ohio Theatre for 50th Anniversary Tour
by Christina Mancuso - October 04, 2023

The iconic JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR rises triumphantly at the Ohio Theatre as part of its reimagined 50th Anniversary tour.  Returning to its rock-album roots with a focus more on rock music than story, the concert spectacle moves at a swift 90 minute pace with no intermission, proving that Jesus’ roc...

Review: BOBBY WEIR AND WOLFPACK at Mershon Auditorium Photo Review: BOBBY WEIR AND WOLFPACK at Mershon Auditorium
by Paul Batterson - September 27, 2023

Bobby Weir and the Wolfpack proved that the spirit of the Grateful Dead is not just slightly alive, but being reinvented...

Review: PETER GABRIEL I/O TOUR at Nationwide Area Photo Review: PETER GABRIEL I/O TOUR at Nationwide Area
by Paul Batterson - September 26, 2023

Despite being 73, Gabriel keeps himself young and his concerts relevant by finding the right group of musicians, both old and new, to complement his style, adding artistic flair to make the product visually appealing, and slicing away for the realms of predictability....

Interview: JESUS CHRIST, SUPERSTAR at Ohio Theater Photo Interview: JESUS CHRIST, SUPERSTAR at Ohio Theater
by Paul Batterson - September 25, 2023

What did our critic think of JESUS CHRIST, SUPERSTAR at Ohio Theater? Alex Stone has not lived in a world without JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. As a result, Stone feels a little bit humbled to be part of the show’s 50th anniversary national tour that rolls into town Oct. 3-8 at the Ohio Theater (39 E. Sta...



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Our Town in Columbus Our Town
Abbey Theater of Dublin (3/14 - 3/24)
The Spongebob Musical in Columbus The Spongebob Musical
Millersport Community Theatre (4/5 - 4/7)
A New Day, A New Year in Columbus A New Day, A New Year
Ohio Dominican University's Matesich Theatre (5/3 - 5/5)
The Lion King in Columbus The Lion King
Ohio Theatre (6/12 - 7/7)
Van Gogh's in the Attic in Columbus Van Gogh's in the Attic
Abbey Theater of Dublin (4/4 - 4/14)
Clue in Columbus Clue
Ohio Theatre (4/9 - 4/14)
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical in Columbus Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Ohio Theatre (5/7 - 5/12)
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