Shadowbox Live
Shadowbox Live presents Broken Whispers
Aug. 18-Nov. 10
Shadowbox Live
Broken Whispers is Shadowbox Live’s version of The Great Gatsby: dance theater with a line-up of contemporary songs performed by Shadowbox’s house band, narrated by both novel narrator Nick Carraway and more in-the-know Jordan Baker to help the audience keep up. It also makes the character of Jay Gatsby female, while keeping all other elements the same, necessitating the integration of a different iconic character into the traditional setting. “It’s not just the haves and the have-nots, it’s not just the American dream, it’s also bringing some women’s issues into focus. … It was very intriguing to us to take the (character) skill set, put it into a different gender and see what that would do for us,” says Katy Psenicka, Shadowbox director of operations and choreographer of the show.
Funny Bone presents Nemr Abou Nassar
Sept. 15
Columbus Funny Bone
Though he’s still building his reputation in the U.S. market, Lebanon-born Nemr Abou Nassar is one of the biggest comedic names in the Middle East. He holds records for crowds in multiple Middle East countries and was on the cover of Rolling Stone in 2014. In his first-ever world tour, his aim is to make as much of an impact on other countries – including the U.S. – as he has made in the part of the world where he was born, and the Columbus Funny Bone is a big stop on the list.
Gavin DeGraw
PromoWest Productions presents Gavin DeGraw and Andy Grammer
Oct. 5
Express Live!
A couple of major pop stars hit one of Columbus’ premier music venues this October. Gavin DeGraw has been known to audiences since his breakout 2004 hit “I Don’t Want to Be,” while Andy Grammer hit the big time more recently with 2014 smash “Honey, I’m Good.” Also on the agenda for Express Live! this fall, on Oct. 25, is renowned indie pop duo Tegan and Sara, whose singles over the years have included “Walking with a Ghost,” “Closer” and the theme from 2014’s The Lego Movie, “Everything Is Awesome.”
Columbus Jazz Orchestra presents New Orleans on Parade!
Oct. 20-23
Southern Theatre
Given the roots jazz has in New Orleans – the Sidney Bechets, the Jelly Roll Mortons, the Louis Armstrongs – it’s only appropriate that the Jazz Arts Group would kick off its 2016-17 Swingin’ with the CJO series with a tribute to the Big Easy. Guest clarinetist Evan Christopher and drummer/vocalist Jamison Ross join the Columbus Jazz Orchestra for a show celebrating the diverse musical styles that were blended together to form the genre we know as jazz today. “The foundation of jazz comes from New Orleans. Certainly, the blues from the Delta was before that, but things really started to come together in New Orleans,” says orchestra Artistic Director Byron Stripling.
CAPA presents Loreena McKennitt
Loreena McKennitt. Photo courtesy of Ann Cutting
Nov. 2
Palace Theatre
Canadian Celtic musician Loreena McKennitt – who plays the piano, harp and accordion, among other instruments – is probably best known for her 1997 hit “The Mummers’ Dance,” but she has a dedicated fan base, and even its members will find her Columbus stop unique. “The unique piece about this performance is she’s doing a trio performance, where normally she has a full band with her. It’s just going to be her, her guitarist and her cellist,” says CAPA Director of Programming Rich Corsi. Also in November, CAPA will bring to the Lincoln Theatre actor, musician and comedian Henry Rollins on another of his hugely popular spoken word tours.
McConnell Center presents Dave Powers Trio
Nov. 6
McConnell Arts Center
The McConnell Arts Center started its Jazz @ the Mac series last year on the suggestion of local jazz drummer Aaron Scott, and it continues this year with a tribute to acclaimed jazz pianist Bob Allen, also a Columbus native and Scott’s father. Pianist Dave Powers and his ensemble anchor the show, along with Scott, in a performance that emphasizes the McConnell’s focus on locally grown music. “We’re really interested in supporting those artists that are living and breathing and working in our community,” says Jon Cook, executive director of the McConnell.
Broadway Across America's Cinderella
Broadway Across America presents Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Nov. 22-27
Ohio Theatre
Though the story is certainly recognizable to all audiences, the version of Cinderella kicking off the 2016-17 Broadway in Columbus season is decidedly not the Disney version, being more based on some of the older live-action TV versions. And while cut or altered content always finds its way into references and asides, there are some surprises and some different approaches to characters’ attitudes. “Cinderella is a little more empowered in this. … It’s not just her finding that perfect prince to become a princess. It’s actually her decision,” says Lisa Minken, marketing manager for CAPA, which oversees Broadway in Columbus.
Wexner Center presents Dane Terry
Dec. 9-10
Wexner Center for the Arts
Piano virtuoso Dane Terry, a central Ohio native, returns to his hometown to present Bird in the House, a show he performed at the Under the Radar Festival in New York’s Public Theater. Wexner Center Director of Performing Arts Charles Helm saw Terry present the one-man show in New York and worked to convince Terry to perform the show locally, giving his local fans a look at Terry’s new musical direction. “In essence, it’s a solo musical theater show,” Helm says.
ProMusica presents Christmas Oratorio
Dec. 10-11
Worthington United Methodist Church, Southern Theatre
The Saint-Saëns piece that serves as the centerpiece of this season’s ProMusica holiday performance is a traditional Christmas piece, but it’s rarely performed in full, which is why the chamber orchestra thought it perfect. The ensemble is working with the Lancaster Chorale and five soloists – including Opera Columbus Artistic Director Peggy Kriha Dye and Kathrin Danzmayr, wife of ProMusica Music Director David Danzmayr – to perform “Christmas Oratorio,” as well as Vaughn Williams’ “Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus” and selections from Handel’s “Messiah.” “It’s always good when ProMusica can promote works for our chamber size that have not been done,” says Janet Chen, executive director of ProMusica.
CATCO presents Baskerville
Jan. 25-Feb. 12
Studio One, Riffe Center
Mystery meets comedy in this Sherlock Holmes send-up in the vein of CATCO’s 2012 production of The 39 Steps, full of pantomime, sleight of hand and other farcical movement. CATCO picked the play in part because of the popularity of Holmes – witness the two Robert Downey Jr. movies and TV shows based on the character – and fits an impressive number of roles into a five-actor play. “I needed a good mystery-comedy that would be a real crowd-pleaser. … As in the case of The 39 Steps, it takes nothing and makes it into something big,” says CATCO Producing Director Steven Anderson.
Opera Columbus presents Mission: Seraglio
Jan. 25-29
Southern Theatre
Mozart. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The legendary composer’s The Abduction from the Seraglio is shaken, not stirred, in this James Bond-themed update that adds comedy and spy-genre elements to a show that is usually more pirate-heavy. Presenting an uncommon variation on a known quantity is nothing new for Opera Columbus, but one of the main goals here, says Artistic Director Peggy Kriha Dye, is to capture the attention of non-operagoers to show them how entertaining the genre – and Opera Columbus in general – can be. “To even hear an updated version, but to do one that features James Bond? I just love it,” Dye says.
Peter Pan
BalletMet presents Peter Pan
Feb. 10-12
Ohio Theatre
BalletMet Artistic Director Edwaard Liang has long been a fan of the Peter Pan story, and he says Michael Pink’s ballet version of it – which BalletMet has never performed before – has the perfect blend of great costumes, great sets and fun dancing. Audience participation factors in, and the pacing and choreography make the production very different from other ballet interpretations of the classic J.M. Barrie tale – not to mention the fast-paced action. “There’s plenty for the dancers to be able to challenge themselves. There’s a lot of flying; it’s not just Peter Pan,” Liang says.
Kodo
McCoy Center presents Kodo
Feb. 22
Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts
A desire to present high-end, marquee performers outside of the usual country, blues and rock musicians for the McCoy Center led Corsi of CAPA, which oversees operations for the McCoy Center, to connect with Japanese taiko group Kodo. The ensemble, which has toured on five continents and alternates between touring and training every other year, usually plays at larger venues, so the 800-seat McCoy will offer a completely different type of show for those who’ve seen Kodo before. “It’s going to be like (having) Kodo in your living room,” Corsi says.
Photo courtesy of the New Albany Symphony Orchestra
New Albany Symphony Orchestra presents Casey at the Bat
March 11-12
Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts
Ernest Thayer’s famous poem about the mighty – and mightily overconfident – baseball star Casey seemed the perfect fit for the New Albany Symphony Orchestra’s spring show. The show features music from Strauss’ “Voices of Spring” to “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” and the sensory- and kid-friendly March 11 show will offer popcorn and Cracker Jacks in the lobby as well as narration by Jym Ganahl. “We wanted to do Casey at the Bat, and landed at a good time for combining the themes of spring and spring training,” says orchestra Executive Director Heather Garner.
Columbus Symphony Orchestra presents Pixar in Concert
March 18
Ohio Theatre
Following up on its successful Disney tribute show this past spring, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra will put together a similar Pixar tribute, featuring music – and HD videos and multimedia – from 12-14 beloved animated flicks. “It’s stuff everybody knows – it’s WALL-E, Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc.,” says Corsi of CAPA, which also oversees operations for the symphony. Earlier on the symphony’s pops schedule, on Jan. 21, is Brahms V. Radiohead, which matches up Brahms’ First Symphony with Radiohead’s 1997 album OK Computer to create new twists on both.
Garth Bishop is managing editor. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
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