The Southern Rises Again

115-year-old theater is a major part of 2011-12 performing arts season

By Jessica Salerno

Just as it did when it was first built in 1896, the Southern Theatre is turning heads.

For years, the venue has been known for hosting smaller-scale musical performances, like those put on by the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Music Columbus. Other Downtown theaters are much quicker to spring to arts patrons’ minds –the Ohio Theatre, the Palace Theatre, the Capitol Theatre at the Riffe Center.

But as we continue into the 2011-12 performance season, bigger productions are starting to pop up on the Southern’s schedule.

The Southern is owned and operated by CAPA, which rents out the facility to individual promoters and local arts organizations. Among the most notable additions to this year’s schedule are Opera Columbus and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Both are administratively overseen by CAPA, but moving big chunks of their schedules to the venue is still a big plus for the Southern.

The symphony will present four of its 12 Masterworks programs at the Southern, and the opera’s entire 2011-12 season will be presented there.

“The Southern Theatre was originally built to be an opera house,” says Rolanda Copley, publicist for CAPA. “So for Opera Columbus to move its 2011-12 season to the Southern and see it house live opera again will be quite a treat.”

The symphony kicked off its Southern Theatre presence with Masterworks 1 –String Summit in October, and will return with Masterworks 3 –

Dialogues, focusing on interactions between symphony soloists, Nov. 18-20.

First in Opera Columbus’ lineup is a production of Don Giovanni by Torontobased Opera Atelier. “It’s wonderful to be in such a beautiful venue with so much history,” says Bronwen Bradley, manager of communications and education for Opera Atelier. “You really feel as though you are stepping back in time when you enter the theater, which is the perfect setting for the period work that we do.”

The Southern’s 2011-12 season also will feature the Harlem Gospel Choir on Jan. 26 and Simply Sinatra with Steve Lippia on May 13.

The 933-seat Southern is popular among productions that don’t need a huge space, but may need a little more room than is offered by smaller venues. Among those singing the theater’s praises in this regard is Albert Bergeret, artistic director for the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players. The troupe most recently visited Columbus for a production of The Pirates of Penzance in June.

“We love the staff and love the place, and are delighted with the theater,” Bergeret says.

The design also allows the Southern perfect acoustics, a benefit cherished by performers and audience members alike.

“You can literally hear a pin drop on stage from the last row in the second balcony,” says Copley.

The theater, which is the oldest in central Ohio, turned 115 on Sept. 21, though you might not know it from its sophisticated look and renovated exterior – the results of a major overhaul in the late 1990s.

Its star-studded 2011-12 season is icing on the (birthday) cake. cs