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Guide to Theater Shows This Month & Beyond in Columbus & Central Ohio

City Guide, Culture & Arts, Event, Theater, Things to Do

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Written by Step Out Columbus
Published on March 31, 2026
Photo courtesy of CAPA – Columbus Association for the Performing Arts

The local theater scene in Central Ohio is one of kind and well worthy of several “bravos” and “bravas.” Watch as the curtains are drawn open and the spotlight hits the stage!

Join us in wishing the performers a fantastic and full season, won’t you?

Break a leg, Columbus!

Here’s a guide to upcoming theater shows in Columbus and Central OH this month and beyond:

Are we missing your event? Add it to our listings!

Theater in Columbus and Central OH This Month & Beyond

Theater

The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio Performs Primary Trust

Thu, Apr 23 +more dates • 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Admission starts at: $68.55

Riffe Center • 77 South High Street Columbus, 43215

Other

Founding CATCO Artistic Director Geoffrey Nelson Returns to The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio in Pulitzer Prize–Winning Play Primary Trust New York ...

Theater

Let’s Go to the Movies

Thu, Apr 23 +more dates • 7:30 pm

Lincoln Theatre • 769 East Long Street Columbus, 43203

Other

Grab your popcorn and get ready for a star-studded night out! Let’s Go to the Movies, a Vaud-Villities original spring variety show, takes the stage ...

Theater

Primary Trust

Thu, Apr 23 +more dates • 7:30 pm

Riffe Center • 77 South High Street Columbus, 43215

Other

By Eboni Booth Kenneth is a man with a routine. He spends his days working at the local bookstore and his evenings sipping two-for-one Mai Tais ...

Theater

Leather and Lace: A Music Tribute to the Women of Rock

Thu, Apr 23 +more dates • 7:30 pm

Shadowbox Live • 503 South Front Street Columbus, 43215

Other

Celebrate the trailblazers and powerhouses who shattered ceilings and rewrote the rules of rock and roll. Leather and Lace shines a musical spotlight on ...

Theater

Guys & Dolls

Fri, Apr 24 +more dates • 7:00 pm

Southern Theater • 21 East Main Street Columbus, 43215

Other

Step into the neon glow of New York City, where a high-stakes bet sets off a whirlwind of romance, risk, and redemption—where sinners and saints collide, ...

Theater

Romeo & Juliet

Fri, Apr 24 - Sat, May 2 • Times Vary

McCoy Center for the Arts • 100 East Dublin Granville Road New Albany, 43054

Other

Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet tells the timeless story of two young lovers whose romance ignites amid a bitter feud, forcing them to navigate loyalty, ...

Theater

Guys and Dolls

Fri, Apr 24 - Sun, Apr 26 • Times Vary

Southern Theater • 21 East Main Street Columbus, 43215

Other

Roll the dice on an exhilarating, neon-soaked night in NYC with Columbus Children’s Theatre. Step into the vibrant glow of New York City where saints ...

Live Music

Great Artist Gala – Renée Fleming

Fri, Apr 24 • 7:30 pm

McCoy Center for the Arts • 100 East Dublin Granville Road New Albany, 43054

Other

Superstar vocalist Renée Fleming transforms the McCoy stage into a breathtaking soundscape in “Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene,” inspired by her ...

Theater

Maladies by Chris Sherman

Fri, Apr 24 - Sat, Apr 25 • 8:00 pm

Madlab • 227 North 3rd Street Columbus, 43215

Other

Jo Pisano is a lonely, panicky, neurotic, agoraphobe with a keen distrust of people. When disheveled widower Mel moves in next door looking for a friend, ...

Theater

Dirty Talk: A Sexy Sketch Comedy and Music Experience

Sat, Apr 25 • 7:30 pm

Shadowbox Live • 503 South Front Street Columbus, 43215

Other

Dive into a playful playground of desire, humor, and cheeky confessions! Dirty Talk serves up a saucy mix of steamy sketches and seductive songs that celebrate ...

Live Music

La Traviata

Sat, Apr 25 - Sun, Apr 26 • Times Vary

Ohio Theatre • 39 East State Street Columbus, 43215

Other

In a co-production with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, CAPA and Opera Columbus. Composed by Giuseppe Verdi and inspired by Alexandre Dumas Fils’s ...

Theater

La traviata

Sat, Apr 25 - Sun, Apr 26 • Times Vary

Ohio Theatre • 39 East State Street Columbus, 43215

Other

In a co-production with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, CAPA and Opera Columbus. Composed by Giuseppe Verdi and inspired by Alexandre Dumas Fils’s ...

Theater

Grease

Thu, Apr 30 - Sun, May 3 • Times Vary

Admission starts at: $15

Westerville South High Theatre Troupe 513 • 303 South Otterbein Westerville, ohio 43081

Other

Come watch the Pink Ladies, Burger Palace Boys, and the students of Rydell navigate high school in this celebrated theater classic! ...

Theater

Dirty Laundry

Thu, Apr 30 +more dates • 8:00 pm

Riffe Center • 77 South High Street Columbus, 43215

Other

Following the unexpected loss of her mother and simultaneous discovery of her father’s infidelity, an adult daughter juggles grief and anger. Her dad ...

Theater

Dog Sees God

Fri, May 1 +more dates • 7:00 pm

Admission starts at: $26.50

Madlab • 227 North 3rd Street Columbus, 43215

Other

Childhood is over and CB is questioning everything he knew. His dog died from rabies; his best friend is too burnt out to provide any coherent speculation; ...

Live Music

The Loren Lounge

Fri, May 1 - Sun, May 3 • Times Vary

Southern Theater • 21 East Main Street Columbus, 43215

Other

Paul Loren is a man of many vocal stylings: from Sinatra to McCartney to his own original sound, his spring finale performance with the CJO is not to be ...

Live Music

Orff: Triumph of Aphrodite

Fri, May 1 - Sat, May 2 • 7:30 pm

Ohio Theatre • 39 East State Street Columbus, 43215

Other

Rossen Milanov, conductor Aubry Ballarò, soprano Nicholas Nestorak, tenor Hugh Russell, baritone Columbus Symphony Chorus Stephen Caracciolo, chorus ...

Theater

Leather and Lace: A Music Tribute to the Women of Rock

Fri, May 1 +more dates • 7:30 pm

Shadowbox Live • 503 South Front Street Columbus, 43215

Other

Celebrate the trailblazers and powerhouses who shattered ceilings and rewrote the rules of rock and roll. Leather and Lace shines a musical spotlight on ...

Live Music

The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight

Fri, May 1 • 8:00 pm

Palace Theatre • 34 West Broad Street Columbus, 43215

Other

The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight is a band of classical musicians from the United Kingdom who transform rock and metal songs into dark symphonies. The ...

Things to Do

Schooled on Poetry

Sat, May 2 • 7:00 pm

Lincoln Theatre • 769 East Long Street Columbus, 43203

Other

Free tickets are available for students and educators.  Students use code STUCOMP and educators use code EDCOMP for up to two free tickets per person. If ...

Theater

Dirty Talk: A Sexy Sketch Comedy and Music Experience

Sat, May 2 +more dates • 7:30 pm

Shadowbox Live • 503 South Front Street Columbus, 43215

Other

Dive into a playful playground of desire, humor, and cheeky confessions! Dirty Talk serves up a saucy mix of steamy sketches and seductive songs that celebrate ...

Theater

Katsura Sunshine’s Rakugo World Tour

Tue, May 5 • 7:00 pm

Admission starts at: $36.50

Madlab • 227 North 3rd Street Columbus, 43215

Other

A show of hilarity and culture in equal doses! Katsura Sunshine completed his grueling traditional apprenticeship in Rakugo comic storytelling under ...

Theater

Menopause The Musical 2: Cruising Through ‘The Change’®

Fri, May 8 +more dates • 7:00 pm

Lincoln Theatre • 769 East Long Street Columbus, 43203

Other

All aboard, sisters! The hysterical sequel to the smash-hit Menopause The Musical® is finally here! Five years after their chance encounter in a department ...

Theater

ABC Players Presents The SpongeBob Musical

Fri, May 8 - Sun, May 10 • Times Vary

Admission starts at: $8.50

Stuart’s Opera House • 52 Public Square Nelsonville, 45764

Other

Lobby doors open 1 hour before performance. Theatre doors open approximately 30 minutes before performance. Patrons needing ADA seating can call the ...

Theater

Senior Dress Rehearsal: La Bohème

Wed, May 13 • 11:00 am

Riffe Center • 77 South High Street Columbus, 43215

Other

Seniors ages 55+ can purchase discounted tickets to special senior dress rehearsal performances. Doomed love makes for glorious dance in Remi Wörtmeyer’s ...

Nightlife Events

2026 CAPA Marquee Awards

Wed, May 13 • 7:30 pm

Ohio Theatre • 39 East State Street Columbus, 43215

Other

Modeled after the Tony Awards, the 2026 CAPA Marquee Awards presented by American Electric Power Foundation gives you the chance to support central Ohio’s ...

Theater

La Bohème

Wed, May 13 +more dates • 7:30 pm

Riffe Center • 77 South High Street Columbus, 43215

Other

Doomed love makes for glorious dance in Remi Wörtmeyer’s reimagining of La Bohème – his first full-length creation as BalletMet Artistic Director. ...

Theater

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Thu, May 14 +more dates • 7:00 pm

Short North Stage • 1187 North High Street Columbus, 43201

Other

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”: Where Words are Weapons and Kids are Quirky! Welcome to the cutthroat world of competitive spelling, ...

Live Music

NAKED CLASSICS: Appalachian Spring

Fri, May 15 • 7:30 pm

Southern Theater • 21 East Main Street Columbus, 43215

Other

Join ProMusica as we explore Copland’s iconic Appalachian Spring and uncover the heart of this American classic. With host Paul Rissmann, discover ...

Theater

Hadestown

Fri, May 15 +more dates • 7:30 pm

Ohio Theatre • 39 East State Street Columbus, 43215

Other

COME SEE HOW THE WORLD COULD BE. Welcome to HADESTOWN, where a song can change your fate. Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical ...

Live Music

Copland & Shostakovich

Sat, May 16 - Sun, May 17 • 7:00 pm

Southern Theater • 21 East Main Street Columbus, 43215

Other

ProMusica’s Creative Partner, violinist Vadim Gluzman, Music Director David Danzmayr, and the orchestra reunite onstage to present Shostakovich’s powerful ...

Live Music

Fleetwood Gold – AMPLIFIED!

Fri, May 22 • 7:30 pm

Lincoln Theatre • 769 East Long Street Columbus, 43203

Other

America’s Fleetwood Mac Experience: AMPLIFIED! Fleetwood Gold joins forces with the Worthington Chamber Orchestra, led by Antoine T. Clark, to bring ...

Did we miss one? Did one of these events get cancelled? Send us a note!

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