10 fun things to do this weekend in Columbus (March 15-17)
Belinda M. PaschalHappy mid-March! It's hard to believe the month is halfway gone, but what's still here is a wealth of things to do in Columbus this weekend!
During a stop on his solo tour, country icon Travis Tritt will bring acoustic music to the Palace Theatre and the Columbus Metropolitan Library's main branch will hold its semi-annual Big Book Sale, three days' worth of great prices for great books, CDs, DVDs and other items.
Several local theater and dance stages are bustling with productions, from Short North Stage's "The Prom" to BalletMet's "Asian Voices."
There's plenty more events where those came from and you can read about them all below. To receive these ideas in your inbox each week, sign up for the Life in the 614 newsletter.
Short North Stage goes to 'The Prom'
In "The Prom," a group of Broadway actors find their lives changed when they travel to a conservative small town in Indiana to support an LGBTQ+ teen's fight to attend her prom with her girlfriend. Presented by Short North Stage, this uplifting musical will be previewed in a Pay What You Want performance at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Garden Theater MainStage, 1187 N. High St. An opening night reception will precede the 7 p.m. Friday show. Other showtimes are 2 p.m. Saturday; March 17, 23, 24, 30; April 6, 7; and 7 p.m. Saturday; March 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30; April 4, 5, 6. The April 7 show will include ASL interpretation and a post-performance talkback with the cast. Ticket prices range from $33 to $65 and student rush tickets cost $20. (cbusarts.com)
Travis Tritt to perform unplugged set
Award-winning country singer and Grand Ole Opry member Travis Tritt will make a stop during his 2024 Solo Acoustic Tour at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St. The native Georgian is known for his many hits, including five No. 1 singles: "Help Me Hold On," "Anymore," "Can I Trust You With My Heart," "Foolish Pride," and "Best of Intentions," as well as the classic kiss-off “Here’s A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)." Ticket prices start at $51, with a six-ticket limit per person/household. (cbusarts.com)
MadLab's 'Normies' to explore life in drag
Imagine a world where the predominant culture is everything drag: drag doctors, drag pilots, drag dog walkers — everyone’s happy and fabulous all the time! But some folks choose to live a separate, non-drag life: the "Normies" who make up the title of MadLab's latest production. See what happens when a Normie and a Drag commit the scandalous sin of falling in love. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, March 22-23 and March 29-30 at MadLab Theatre, 227 N. 3rd St. Tickets cost $20 for the general public, $17 for students and senior citizens and $15 for MadLab members. A limited number of Pay What You Want tickets are available by emailing boxoffice@madlab.net. (madlab.net)
BalletMet to make 'Asian Voices' heard
A spectacular group of artistic voices will take the stage at BalletMet's final triple bill of the 2023-24 season, "Asian Voices," opening this weekend at the Davidson Theatre, 77 S. High St. The production will include departing BalletMet Artistic Director Edwaard Liang's critically acclaimed "Seasons," the Columbus premiere of "Flight of Fancy" by Ma Cong and the world premiere of "Timeless Tide" by Yue Yin. After 11 seasons leading the ballet company, Liang will leave the position at the end of this season to become artistic director at the Washington Ballet in Washington, D.C. "Asian Voices" will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and March 22-23; 2 p.m. Sunday; and 7:30 p.m. March 21. Ticket prices range from $36.50 to $99.50. (balletmet.org)
Abbey Theatre of Dublin, Stage Right Theatrics team up for 'Our Town'
A stage classic, Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" examines the circle of life and its fleeting nature through the lives of George and Emily, whose childhood friendship blooms into romance. Set in the fictional town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, the Pulitzer-winning three-act play will be presented for two weekends by Abbey Theatre of Dublin in collaboration with Stage Right Theatrics. Performances will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and March 21-23 and at 2 p.m. Sunday and March 24 in the Abbey Theater, 5600 Post Road, Dublin. Tickets cost $20. (dublinohiousa.gov/abbey-theater)
Main library to host Big Book Sale
If you're searching for something new to read, watch or listen to, the Friends of the Columbus Metropolitan Library is holding its semi-annual Big Book Sale, offering books and other materials no longer suitable for the library's collection. General sales will take place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and a bag sale from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Larry D. Black Auditorium and meeting room 1A at the main library, 96 S. Grant Ave. Children’s books start at $1 and adult fiction/nonfiction books, CDs, DVDs and audiobooks start at $2. Proceeds support the library’s programs and services. (columbuslibrary.org/friends)
Hixon Dance to examine war, other themes
Hixon Dance's new production, "Black Angels," will feature live music by Columbus Symphony Orchestra musicians Alicia Hui, Gyusun Han, Spencer Ingersoll and Mary Davis. Shows will take place at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Columbus Dance Theatre, 592 E. Main St. The opening piece, "The Nameless," examines the emotional toll of war on victims both on and off the battlefield, while "Within the Interstice" is a lighthearted dance exploring post-war existentialist ideas set to "Moonlight Sonata” on what sounds like a toy piano. The evening will end with "Black Angels," influenced by cultural aesthetics from baroque court spectacles to traditional Asian theater. General admission tickets cost $20, or $15 for senior citizen and $12 for students online and at the door (hixondance.com)
Renowned trumpeter to join symphony
Internationally known trumpeter Pacho Flores, who captivated the audience in a past performance with the Central Ohio Symphony will return to headline the symphony's concert at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Gray Chapel auditorium, 61 S. Sandusky St., on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus in Delaware. Flores will perform two commissioned works and an encore of "Diamond Hands" by Italian composer Ricardo Molla. The orchestra will play Cincinnati composer Susanna Hancock’s "Beghilolia" and Dvorak's "Symphony No. 7." Delaware artist David Groff created a painting that will be for sale at the concert, with proceeds going to support the symphony. A free shuttle will take attendees from the parking lots on South Henry Street at Selby Stadium to Gray Chapel. Tickets cost $30, or $25 for senior citizens and $6 for students of all ages, available online or at the symphony office in Delaware’s historic sheriff’s residence, 20 W. Central Ave. (centralohiosymphony.org)
Organist to lead Stations of the Cross
Anyone who has attended a Sunday Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral, 212 E. Broad St., has heard the magnificent sound of the church's pipe organ built and installed in 2006. On Sunday at 3 p.m., Christians of all denominations are invited to hear Richard Fitzgerald, director of music for the Columbus diocese, playing the organ during his third annual Improvised Meditations on the Stations of the Cross. Fitzgerald, who has directed the cathedral choir for nearly 10 years, will respond to each Station with a musical reflection. An award-winning master of improvisation, Fitzgerald was the only American invited to the 53rd Haarlem International Organ Improvisation Competition in the Netherlands in 2021. Email for more information. (cathedral@sjchcc.org)
Free concert to showcase violin soloist
Bach and Beethoven, along with Jean Sibelius, are on the program for the Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra's winter concert, which will take place at 7 p.m. Sunday at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1479 Morse Road. In addition to Bach's "Little" Fugue in G minor and Beethoven's Symphony No. 8, the orchestra will present the Sibelius Violin Concerto featuring soloist Ariane Sletner, who has performed throughout the U.S., Central America, South America and Europe. She is married to cellist Luis Biava, conductor of Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra and New Albany Symphony Orchestra, and she serves as concert master for the latter. The concert is free; donations are appreciated. (metropolitanchamberorchestra.com)