INSIGHT
A Stage is Born Amphitheater solidifies cultural arts district in New Albany By Brandon Klein
TAKING CENTER STAGE in the central Ohio
arts scene is the new Charleen and Charles Hinson Amphitheater in New Albany. Joining its sister venue, the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, the 800-seat venue opens another avenue for performances by organizations such as New Albany Symphony Orchestra, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and CATCO. The Hinson is adjacent to the McCoy Center with entrances mirroring each other, enabling the cultural arts district the opportunity to host larger festivals, events and performances, too. “New Albany has done a tremendous job of this creation of an arts district,” says Chad Whittington, president and CEO of CAPA, which manages the McCoy Center’s programming and will partner with the city of New Albany to run the new amphitheater. “You’ve got the McCoy
Center, which is a great, world-class venue that’s already taken advantage of by the community and national artists and speakers that come in. And now, you’re going to have an amphitheater as a summer and outdoor venue right beside it.” Artful Impact The amphitheater is expected to draw people from beyond central Ohio, reaching residents of areas such as Granville and
Amphitheater Amphitheater Celebrations Celebrations
Newark, just as the McCoy Center has done since it was built in 2008. “We know we were drawing from a broader area and, when you do that, it helps the entire arts scene in central Ohio,” says Craig Mohre, president of New Albany Community Foundation, which led the fundraising campaign to build the $7 million amphitheater. With New Albany growing, Whittington says its residents’ need and desire for CAPTION
Sept. Sept. 2 10 Ohio State Buckeyes football game A Night at the New Albany Symphony Orchestra’s Gates open at 6 p.m. Kickoff at 7 p.m. Free to the public. Movies concert
Gates open at 6:30 p.m. with performance starting at 7:30 Sept. 10 p.m. information available at A Night at the Movies concert. New Ticket Albany Symphony Orchestra’s www.newalbanysymphony.com. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. with performance starting at 7:30 p.m. Ticket information available Sept. 23 at www.newalbanysymphony.com.
An Evening with Leslie Odom Jr: A Benefit for the Sept. 23 Advocates for the Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater An Evening with Leslie Odom Jr: A Benefit for the Charleen & Charles gathered at the venue earlier this summer. Left to right: Martyn Venue at 6:30 p.m. and performance is at Hinsonopens Amphitheater. and Lynne Redgrave, Heather Garner, Victor Paini, New Albany City 7:45 Ticket and p.m. sponsor available at p.m. Ticket Venuep.m. opens at 6:30 andinformation performance is at 7:45 and sponsor Council Member Matt Shull, Janelle Coleman, Marty and Lisa Savko Sr., Marty Savko Jr and Plain Township Trustee Dave Ferguson. www.newalbanyfoundation.org. information available at www.newalbanyfoundation.org. 36
cityscenecolumbus.com | September/October 2021
