My first time at the Lincoln theater. It's a bigger place inside than what you see from the outside. I'm deaf so I had front row seat. I saw Samantha Bee. Apparently she was famous at one time. I never knew her. But her one woman show was not something I would see again. The people and the theater were beautiful but the performance was less than ideal. But I would certainly recommend coming to this theater for other shows read more

See all

I attended a beautiful play. I enjoyed the historic architectural. Just the history of the building alone drew me to the place. read more

Lincoln Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

A small, intimate theater (like everyone keeps saying!). It's pretty impossible to get lost in here; you walk in, and you're met with the small lobby and bar top. There are bathrooms here as well. You go a few more steps, and you're going in the doors to the theater itself. The theater has a standard, elevated design with flip-down chairs at each level. It isn't too steep, and I never got vertigo walking down the stairs. I did not come here in a wheelchair, but if memory is serving me correctly, it's a flat surface from wide, front doors all the way to the top of the theater. Despite the age, there's a nice elevator here, too, and I'd assume that's where the handicap-accessible seating is as a wall on the first-floor of theater would prevent viewing the show without going down a stair. Decently-large bathrooms on the first floor (I think between 8-10 stalls). I'm unsure if they had some on the second. Bathrooms had a bit of an "older home" smell to them, but it wasn't horrendous. (I will note there are two doors, back-to-back, to get into the bathroom which may be difficult with a wheelchair) Theater chairs were relatively comfortable. I really didn't have any issue; I'm not sure if they've replaced them since some of the reviews said they were airplane-size. (Absolutely not. They had tons of space to wiggle around in and my knees did not come anywhere near touching the chair in front of me). Parking is a little bit of a pain. There are two parking lots (free) right next to it, but if you're here for a show (because, uh, that's generally the point), you can expect quite a few cars to be queuing for those spots. Nearby roads also offer free parking, and I managed to find a parking spot a couple blocks away, but I would caution that this area isn't super well-lit at night, so I would have preferred to have someone walk with me to my car. For being a historic building, they've definitely put some money and love into it, and it was a really pleasant experience here. read more

Beautiful space and a great place for jazz. I love the Thursday series. Check it out for yourself.

Overall the theater was nice, I enjoyed the historical atmosphere and how you felt like you were transformed back to an time. The ushers were nice and I'm very proud that this theater is apart of our city's history. read more

Lincoln Theatre - Play of the night.. - Performing Arts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Nothing like live plays. It's small so you really feel a part of the performance. Seats are roomy and comfortable. read more

Lincoln Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This life theater venue produces exceptional productions with strong casts, directors, musical folk. Plus, the house staff of volunteers are wonderfully accommodating. read more

There is a lot to love about this place beginning with its history rooted in the African-American community and its tradition of showcasing quality & alternative artistic performances. If you haven't seen a show here, you should. The place really is beautiful and you can appreciate it having been rennovated. The setting is intimate so every seat is a good seat. But, honestly, the actually seats need replacing. They are not comfortable to sit on, and you probably have about just as much leg room as you would on an airplane. Some pluses include good sound quality, alcohol sales, free parking, near downtown location and easy access to I-71. read more

Lincoln Theatre - Waiting for the show to start - Performing Arts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Visited this theatre for the first time last Friday. Parking was easy and free in the lot across the street. There was a CPD officer on special duty to help with parking, questions, and street crossing. The volunteer staff was very friendly and welcoming. The refreshment area had several wine and beer options, as well as snacks. The theatre itself is beautiful and the seats seemed a little more roomy than similar theatres. Looking forward to returning in the future. Great venue! read more

Wonderful to support the revival of the historic Lincoln Theatre. We attended a meet & greet with jazz vocalists on tour & it was a rare & wonderful opportunity to hear them as they shared their stories. While I am not much of a jazz connoisseur, which does limit the likeliness of many returns, I do appreciate their gift & talent. The building itself is intimate which lends itself nicely to this genre of artistry. It is lovely on the inside. read more

Lincoln Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

This theatre has possibly the most important music history of any venue in Columbus. I'm aghast that it has yet to be reviewed. Originally opened in 1928 as the Ogden Theatre, the Lincoln was created specifically to serve the African-American community in Columbus. It boosts at having hosted the first ever performance of the one and only Sammy Davis Jr., who made an impromptu stage performance at the age of 3. Other legends, such as Count Basie and Cab Calloway, played the theatre in its heyday. The neighborhood fell on hard times during the '70s and the Lincoln sat abandoned for 40 years, nearly facing demolition repeatedly before being added to the National Registry of Historic Landmarks. It's recently undergone an amazing renovation costing 13.5 million dollars, a renovation that I watched from my bike as I rode to and from work and school while living in the King-Lincoln District in 2008. The theatre has been restored to it's old beauty and is a sight to behold. It currently houses over ten local arts organizations, including Columbus Children's Theatre, The Jazz Arts Group and the OSU Dept. of Theatre. I can only hope that its success measures up to expectations. It's an incredible facility and a cornerstone in the revitalization efforts of the KLD. read more

Hard to believe there aren't more reviews. The previous writer wrote of the rich history of the Lincoln. With the recent renovation, I'm hoping for a great future. It would be great to see the neighborhood grow around this Columbus gem. The renovation is fantastic, you won't be disappointed. The visuals and sound are a 10. We saw Anna Devere Smith tonite, our first visit to the Lincoln. It was a Wexner Center event. We were greeted by a very friendly staff. The entrance lobby was really a good size and they served beer, wine and coffee. We parked across the street for free and traffic was managed by CPD. The show was top notch and ADSmith is an amazing talent, you'll remember her from West Wing and Nurse Jackie. Get to this show if you can. It was all great. Who knew this existed on Long Street. Support the Lincoln, they make Columbus a better place. read more

A great theater rich in history and character! I recommend you buy a ticket here asap! read more

Lincoln Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

My wife and I came here for a High Kings concert and were very impressed. It's an intimate theatre that's lovely on the inside. We sat on the ground floor right about where the front row of the balcony would be right above us, and we were all the way off to one side. Yet, we had a great view and the acoustics (though I may not be the best judge of this) were great as well. The ushers were friendly and helpful as were the other service staff. read more

You can't beat the free entertainment on the fourth floor during the Jazz Arts Group Fourth Floor Live series. Listen to guest performers in a intimate setting on the fourth floor studio read more

See all

We was here for a Lion King play by capa. The play was cool, they have a great way of add the kids in the audience to the show. The theatre has plenty of space, free parking lot across the street from the theatre. The staff is nice and very hands on. read more

I've seen so may shows here - it's my favorite venue in Columbus because of its intimate size and acoustics.

This weekend was my first time visiting Lincoln Theatre and overall I thought it was a great venue. Bf and I decided to cab it there, but I wish we had just driven. There's a very convenient parking lot right next to the theatre and there isn't much else around so walking somewhere after the show didn't happen. The theatre itself is very nice with a great marquee-style sign out front. Inside is very nicely decorated and has some great things and some 'meh' things. Pros: - Every seat has a fantastic amount of leg room - It isn't huge, it isn't tiny - a great size so every seat is a good view - Bathrooms were clean and they have a nice in/out system going on so you don't have to squeeze past a line of people on your way out. - Ushers/Ticket takers were exceptionally friendly - Very cool and different decor inside the theatre, kind of Egyptian-like Cons: - Weird part of town, not much else around for entertainment - Horrible bar/concession set-up (granted, there's not much room but the lobby was a mess with people in line) - Slow bartenders, though I do appreciate their effort I'd really love to see more businesses pop up around that area in hopes that it could become another weekend night destination. Overall, I enjoyed visiting and would definitely see more performances here. read more

I had my first opportunity to visit the Lincoln Theatre was yesterday for a performance by SNAP! Performance Productions, which included my sister-in-law. The performance was amazing, but I have to say, the renovated historic theater also impressed me. First opened in 1928, the theater quickly became a hub for the national jazz scene, and was a centerpiece in the culture and history of Columbus' African-American community. Saved from demolition in the 1990s, it's now one of the focal points of Mayor Coleman's plans to revitalize the King-Lincoln district. The theater's web site shows photos of the original Egyptian Revival decor, and it's clear that pains were taken to preserve and restore that design during the renovation. The theater looks very much today as it does in those photos. Huge columns inspired by the temple at Karnak flank the stage. Warm wood chairs and decorative details lend a cozy elegance to the atmosphere. Not having much experience in the theater biz, I'm not sure how the backstage area I got to see (courtesy of sis-in-law) stacks up to other theaters, but it appeared to also be recently renovated and well-kept. Access to the theater is simple and convenient. It's just off Broad at I-71, and there is ample parking across the street and at an adjacent church lot. The Lincoln Theatre is a beautifully restored gem in the King-Lincoln district, as well as a connection to Columbus history. I look forward to seeing more productions there in the future. read more

The theatre is beautiful inside, but the facility needs updated. There is no atm or business around so come prepared with cash. There is also no WiFi, which makes accessing online tickets difficult. read more

The Lincoln Theater, home to SNAP! Performance Productions' (snapcolumbus.org) annual show, will always hold a special place in my heart. As a singer, I cannot imagine a better space to perform. I mean, Hello - Etta James has performed on that stage! The recent renovations are just fabulous. It really feels like a first-class venue, but still retains the intimacy of some of the city's smaller theaters. It seats just under 600, making it one of the top 5 largest venues in Central Ohio. With ample spacing between seats and a well-appointed balcony, there truly is not a bad seat in the house. And yes, there is a full bar in the lobby. :) Only drawbacks I can think of: 1) Neighborhood/location leaves a bit to be desired. Not exactly the safest of areas and access to 71 is temporarily limited due to construction. 2) Lack of parking. This place needs a large, dedicated lot! read more

I've been to the Lincoln theatre a number of times for different events (mostly of the cycling variety) but I've never once been inside. I'm super glad to have finally been able to see it and I'm glad it was for a Yelp event so I had time to check it out and enjoy it. The space is beautiful. I loved the gentle curves of the lobby and how open they made such a relatively small space feel. The exposed bricks and high ceilings gave it that slightly urban loft feel I really love. The actual theatre is smallish, but in a good way. You can see the stage well from any seat in the house. The painting was obviously very meticulously done and I definitely appreciate that. read more

The boy and I saw the Civil Wars here earlier this week, and it was a great venue. There was plenty of parking in the church lot off of Garfield. The ushers were polite and very helpful in pointing everyone to their seats. We had seats in the Loge, which is upstairs in the balcony, and the view was great -- but I can't imagine any of the seats here having a bad view. Even the performers commented on the cozyness of the venue, comparing it to a "great big living room -- although I don't have these great paintings in my living room." My only complaint is that the audio during intermission was a little too loud -- the number of speakers are almost overkill for the small size of the building. Also, note that the railings on the balcony are historic, not modern, and therefore are much shorter than code regulations. So just be careful not to lean over, and you'll be just fine! read more

Awesome venue for a function. Small but large in accommodation. Easy parking and beautiful in side. Very glad we were able to visit.

I had the good fortune of catching 2 events in the same week at the LT. Since I got a little lost in the building, I got to see an insider's perspective of the place, and boy did I like it. First, I ended up at a Cbusr + Snap! Mashup and since I arrived a little late, I missed the partial performance, and just hung out in the lobby. Like everyone has stated, the staff members are very warm and welcoming. The second occasion I was at the LT was the next evening I went to the full performance and was so impressed with the intimate seating. Every seat in the house is a good seat. Also, the ceiling is beautiful! A great venue to catch a show at next time you have a chance! read more

Beautiful renovation, small venue, and good acoustics. We saw the Lone Bellow and it was a fantastic show. I would enjoy seeing another band here. read more