This is such a beautiful theater. I just came here for a comedy show and it's so nice! The seating is really great, it seems like there really aren't any bad seats there. We sat in the middle on the lower balcony and we could see the show great. The bathrooms were clean and close and the ushers were helpful. I would love to come back for another show here read more

Southern Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I've seen a few shows here - great smaller theater to see a show! Historic and beautiful appointed. Great sound and sight lines. Easy in and out. Concession stand/bar with decent basic drinks and candy. read more

I've visited Southern Theatre a couple times in the last two years. It's a pretty theatre with 2 balcony levels. The view is pretty good from every spot in the house and the acoustics are also pretty good from every spot. Both events I attended recently were primarily acoustic music and the sound was good, not excellent, but good. Ushers there are always helpful and ticket prices tend to be pretty reasonable for shows. By the way it looks and feels inside I would call it the baby sister of the Ohio Theatre, though I'm not sure if they are affiliated in any way. They tend to host acts that are well-known in specific crowds but not necessarily in pop culture as much. It's definitely a good theatre to keep an eye on as far as what they have coming up on the schedule. read more

Southern Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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It is a very nice little theater in Columbus no elevators though so if you're elderly, I recommend sitting on the ground floor

If you are into orchestra/symphony music this is a wonderful place for you to go. It's an old theatre with a beautiful display. Everyone was very nice, super easy to find our seat. You did have to park across the street, 10$ parking fee. The show was nice but we did leave at intermission, unfortunately this kinda of music is not my thing but it was a nice experience. read more

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Being Broadway subscribers we got invited to hear the upcoming 2018-2019 shows playing in Columbus. It's going to be a great season with 6 amazing productions. Among a few are: Hello Dolly, Rent, Hamilton and Aladdin! We renewed our seats for the upcoming season last night and bought season tickets for our daughter and son in law. They are thrilled to go as well. After the lovely presentation a wonderful assortment of pastries and fresh fruit was served! read more

Southern Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I saw Hank and John Green at the Southern Theatre right as the coronavirus stuff was ramping up. It was my first time in this venue--what a beautiful theater! The room is high (three tiers) but narrow and shallow so it feels intimate. Great acoustics and easy to see the stage. There are men's and women's bathrooms on the second floor from where you enter. Merch was right on the first floor. I saw people with drinks but not sure where the bar is. We parked in the underground garage a few blocks away, the same place we've parked for other shows at the Ohio Theater, and it was easy to find a space and not too bad a walk. read more

I've been to three theaters in columbus now (Ohio, Palace, and Southern) and this is by far my favorite. The seating is comfortable and not cramped -- its also leveled appropriately so you can see over the people in front of you. Its an intimate theatre, which makes the performances all the more amazing. All the staff/ volunteers are always so friendly and helpful. Lastly the bathrooms are clean!! Lots of lots near by and restaurants to grab a bite or drink before or after the show. Definitely a great spot to catch a performance or show at in Columbus! read more

This theater is beautiful inside. It's historic. The acoustics are superb. Comfortable but very close seating. However our seats in the balcony section were excellent. The architecture/murals are interesting to look at. Staff is very courteous. Bathrooms are not maintained after the show starts so that's always disappointing. My advise is to not park in the garage but find parking either in the adjacent lot or the lot a block away. I hope this is helpful for your next event. read more

Southern Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

dont go there for shows where there is only talking. acoustics are terrible and upper balcony has no leg room. i guess people were just shorter back in the early 1900's. read more

Small theatre with a lot of classic charm. I've sat everywhere here, from the balcony to the front row and it's easy to hear and see wherever you sit. The concerts are awesome and full of quality performers. As a performer and an audience member, I take note of the temperature every time I go to a theatre or venue, and I thought it was nice but a little on the warm side. In the winter, you'll be able to take your jacket off once you're inside :) read more

Southern Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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The Pete Davidson concert was last night. The seats were so tight that my knees were up against the the seat in front of me. I'm of smaller height and average weight. Pete called the venue creepy. I wanted a couple of hours of laughter and bought a couple of hours of discomfort. read more

I almost forgot how much I enjoy this tiny, historical gem of a theater. I've seen a few shows over the years here, but my recent experience with Opera Columbus for 'The Flood', was painless, and there wasn't a bad seat in the house. I can't say that for the Ohio theater a few blocks over. The decor here has always been charming. Not as mind-melting as the Ohio theater, which is gilded and glammed to death, but it's still a beautiful theater. It feels a bit more intimate and immersive. The volunteers and ushers on site were quick and efficient to get folks seated quickly. Parking is ample, as you have the Commons parking garage across the street. If you're looking for a place to catch a bite, or drink before the show you have the Westin next door, the Columbus Commons, or even a block or two east is a hub for foodies. Beautiful, enjoyable and easy to get to. read more

Great show we saw Bony James he is a great performer. The seats were great , it had been some time since we've been to the Southern Theatre. I would definitely return for another show. Comfortable seats and nice ushers to seat you if needed . read more

Spectacular place to check out. I love catching shows here or having a date night and coming here. It can be romantic read more

Southern Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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This is a beautiful theatre - my favorite within Columbus. The architecture and acoustics are both excellent. CAPA brings good performances here and there's diversity in musical styles. One exceptional aspect of the Southern Theatre is the steep second balcony which sets you high above the stage, though quite close still. It's a lovely place to enjoy an evening. read more

My first event at Southern Theater was to see a sold out talk with Rick Steves! This theater is smaller than Ohio Theatre, but a cozy smallness, nonetheless. The theater seats here follows a "steeper" floor plan, which makes for a more pronounced "stadium seating". The ceiling of this theater is beautiful, as it's the oldest standing theater in the city. It's hard to describe the intricacies fully, just trust me and go see it yourself. A beautiful place to dress up and see a theatre or musical performance! Oh, and all of the guest services people I interacted with were very pleasant and knowledgeable about this historic landmark. read more

By far my favorite theatre in Columbus. The building is simply stunning and I love being able to see the history in the architecture of a theatre built before modern lighting. It's just big enough that there isn't a bad seat in the house and the acoustics are gorgeous. read more

Southern Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

We attended the Columbus Jazz Orchestra legend of rhythm and blues. The show was excellent but the seats in the theater are very uncomfortable if you are tall. The seats are too close together, we had to move to other seats because my hubby could not move his legs in the seats we were in. read more

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I have tickets to an event in June and I have been trying to call to reach someone at the theater about the event.... is it still going to go on, are there restrictions, is there a different time, do I get a refund on the tickets purchased... IDK and it sad I can't get a hold of a person at this venue. read more

What a columbus gem. I am starstruck with the grandeur of this little theatre and honored to have seen the talented Pro Musica chamber orchestra play one Sunday night. The seats in the upper balcony are tight space; however, they are affordable ($17-$30/ticket) and still boast a great view. Despite where I sat, I easily discerned precisely what sound resonated from which instrument. Stunning acoustics. The historical nature lends something to admire as well. The opulence and attention to detail, down to the gold carvings on the seat arm mesmerizes young and old concert goers alike. I am so proud of my city that such a fine, well kept theatre stands erect and proud, and has for decades. I get emotional about if! Pictures just don't do the theatre justice. As a FYI, $5 parking across the street in the old city center parking garage. Perfect, even in the cold miserable months. read more

I saw the Columbus Symphony perform Appalachian Spring here on 5/15/15. The theater is very pretty. My seat was in the second balcony, which as others have noted, is very steep and the seats are close together and small. If you are not a small person or you have any problem with stairs, I would suggest the main floor. The staff were friendly, and the sound was good. I wouldn't say it was perfect, because the microphone on the harpist was louder than the others, giving it an uneven sound when all played together. Other than that it was fine. I would go back again, especially because my ticket was only 17 dollars. read more

This is one of those old buildings that you sit in and just enjoy looking around. It very nearly got torn down some years ago. I'm so glad it was reclaimed. There are lots of details to take in, and there are tours of the theater available. I saw Opera Columbus' performance of The Pirates of Penzance here. I'm not normally an opera goer, but this is one I'd wanted to see for a long time. Sound carries well in the theater, voice and music. It's a small intimate theater, there's really not a bad seat in the house. Seats were fairly comfortable, but the rows are kind of shallow, not a lot of leg room. We didn't leave the auditorium during intermission, so I'm not sure what the concession selection was like. We parked in the old City Center garage (the above ground one) and exited on the Main Street side to get to the theater. I highly recommend attending a show here! read more

My favorite theater venue in all of Columbus. Beautiful, historic surroundings yet intimate. It's both cozy and grand at the same time. The audience space is tall, but shallow. There's not a bad seat in the house, really. There are three tiers of seating-- all are on inclines but the top is pretty steep. Ladies, leave your stillettos at home if you're sitting in the nosebleeds. Acoustics are great for live theater and symphonic performances alike. Other great features: plentiful parking across the street at the garage, and excellent dining/drinking options nearby for before or after the show. Try DeNovo, Sidebar 122. Even Lindey's and G. Michaels are only a 3-minute drive away. read more

This BEAUTIFUL theater is in outstanding condition inside and out. The theater staff is friendly and helpful. Parking is readily available for a few bucks in a deck across the street. I went to see a bluegrass show with both amplified and acoustic sets. I was seated in the second balcony, and I can honestly say I had a great view of the band, and the sound and acoustics were consistently wonderful. It was great to see a gem like this theater filled for a show. Few restored theaters have impressed me as much as the Southern. read more

I LOVE the charm of an old theatre and the Sputhern Theatre does not disappoint! I don't feel there is a bad seat in the house and the renovated decor is gorgeous. The acoustics pull you in to whatever show you're there to see. If you're tall just mind your step through a few entryways (I didn't have much problem). Great gem in Columbus! read more

What a gorgeous venue. I can easily say I had one of the most enjoyable nights I've ever had while attending an Andrew Bird concert here. Not only was the show amazing, but I cannot imagine a better atmosphere for this particular event - it feels a bit like you're stepping back in time. Bf and I had seats in the center of last row in the balcony - literally the LAST row - and honestly the view was still great. Not a bad seat in this place. Most importantly, the sound and acoustics were superb. The staff was friendly, the concession line went quickly and the drinks were strong. Parking is easy, there is a garage and affordable lots around the 4th street area. Little Palace, Dirty Franks and El Camino are just around the corner for some pre- or post-show refreshments (all open til 2 am I believe). If you get the opportunity to visit this Columbus gem, GO! read more

This really is a wonderful theatre - it's not overly large and overwhelming, and the acoustics are great. I went and saw the HMS Pinafore here a few years ago and have seen some other things since then - I'd come back here more often if I could get the hubby interested. :-) Parking is relatively easy, too! read more

Been here a few times to see different shows and have always enjoyed this venue. Not really a bad seat in the house as it is a very "intimate" setting. Clean facility from top to bottom and well kept for its age. Parking can be a bit tricky in Downtown Columbus , but we always park "remotely" and use Uber to get dropped off and picked up at the front door ! read more

What a cute little venue! Came here for the first time this weekend to see Straight Outta Oz. It was so good, and we had great seats. Everyone was very welcoming and accommodating. I'd come back for another show for sure. read more

I'm ashamed of myself for not knowing the Southern Theatre even existed before I saw violin virtuoso Andrew Bird play a show here a couple years ago. Everything about this venue- the lighting, the seating arrangement, and especially the acoustics- is both rustic and breath-taking at the same time. It's hard to imagine what the inside looks like when you approach the building from the street, which makes the layout and grand scale of the balcony seating that much more dramatic when you get to experience it firsthand. Although I felt like I was on the verge of getting vertigo at first, I later began to appreciate the grade at which the balcony seats slope downward. Having purchased my ticket for the show much later than I should have, my friend and I ended up either two or three rows from the absolute back of the theater. In a place like Mershon (the theater attached to the Wexner Center), this would have been tragic. Not the case here. All throughout the show I had a view that seemed as if I was almost directly on top of the performance the whole time. Andrew Bird's music is based off a variety of looped violin parts, and I had the privilege to directly see (and hear) every last thing that he was doing with his feet while he performed for the sold out audience. The song he played for his encore, "Weather Systems", is a quieter number that is little else than his voice and his violin, and I couldn't have imagined a more perfect setting to experience such a dramatic and talented musician perform at. Rock shows here are incredibly rare, but any chance to attend is certainly the chance of a lifetime. read more

Southern Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

We saw ProMusica with Leslie Odom Jr. here, and sat in the second balcony. (Great organization and a great show, but I'll keep my comments to the venue itself.) It's a cool little old theatre, with the emphasis on "little"--kind of an interesting setup, because the stage is skinny but deep. This means that in terms of visibility, there really isn't a bad seat in the house, which is really nice. The balcony seats weren't as crammed as I was fearing, particularly because each row has a little wall in front of it, so your knees aren't right up against someone else's shoulders. I thought the seating was pretty comfortable. One problem we had was with the acoustics, particularly when the whole orchestra and band were playing--the space just isn't meant for that many instruments, at least up in the balcony. The vocals sometimes got drowned out, and in general there were issues with distinguishing instruments. On quieter songs where the orchestra wasn't playing, sound was much better. So, something to think about if you're seeing live music with a lot of voices--things might sound better down on the floor though. Overall, nice intimate theatre, and we had a great time! read more

If you have any appreciation of experiencing music where it is truly meant to be appreciated, you will go here on a night the columbus jazz orchestra is playing. You will find your seat, and will ignore the steepness of the seats and the difficulty of getting in to the balcony. You will sit down, and you will breath in the smell of an old loved building. And you will watch something beautiful created. Be sure to stay after the jazz orchestra plays to hear the youth jazz orchestra. They're really impressive, and a lot of fun to listen to. read more

The Southern Theatre is one of the most beautiful theaters I have ever been to. It gives you the ideal opportunity to appreciate history and amazing architecture at the same time while taking in one of Columbus' finest shows! read more

I saw Leo Kottke perform here a few years ago and enjoyed the show and the venue immensely. The acoustics of the room are conducive to listening pleasure. The Southern Theatre is a space that uplifts your mind just by virtue of sitting there in the steep-grade seating and taking in the ornate ceiling and the great sound. It's salubrious for the human somehow to step out of the flat and mundane places we spend our time and get some culture in a more vertical environment that seems to gesture toward the skies. I very much want to see more shows at the Southern Theatre while i am in Columbus. read more

The Great Southern Theatre is a beautiful venue and not a bad seat in the house. My family and I enjoyed the symphony, Schubert's Unfinished #8 by the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra. The conductor is a charming fellow and the musicians are highly skilled and together they made it look so easy and sound so great. It has excellent acoustics, warm wooden armrests, and ample parking. It's not a huge room, but that coziness made the night even more enjoyable. I love the place! read more

I'm 6'2" and the terrible waynescoting retaining walls in the balcony block the entire front 1/4 the of the stage from view. If Ronald Regan were here, I think he has a speech prepared for this. read more

I've been here twice this year: once for the Magic Flute and another for Madame Butterfly. I enjoyed both time and hope to go to more Operas here as well as Musicals. I love how it's beautifully restored and close knit. Even if you're in the very top row of the balcony you can see perfectly without binoculars. I'll be coming back! read more

I recently had the pleasure of attending a Steve Earle concert at the intimate Southern Theatre and was absolutely blown away. Not just by an excellent performance from Steve Earle & Company, but the tremendous seating and grand acoustic sound that radiates the building. A true landmark in downtown Columbus without a bad seat in the house. My experience has made me want to attend more shows at this venue in the future. Without a doubt I will be looking for new reasons to get out and go to this immaculate place sadly over-looked until now. Built in 1896 as THE attraction for downtown Columbus it definitely lives up to its potential. Specifically designed to bring you closer to the artists and the sound to get that true sense of actually being there. Something I will never forget, as has happened with so many other venues in the past. A real hidden treasure tucked away in the confines of Central Ohio. As one of the oldest theatre's in Ohio, there is plenty of up close parking and the real kicker, they serve a variety of alcoholic beverages. I would not hesitate to bring friends and family here for a tremendously impressive memorable experience to get the full compliments of a night out in Columbus... read more

Very beautiful theater with excellent acoustics. We just saw the Columbus Jazz Orchestra last night with Curtis Stigers performing Home for the Holidays. It was an amazing show!! We were in the right Loge section (in the balcony) and had a fantastic view. Parking right across Main St is available for $5 at the old City Center garage. read more