Weathervane Playhouse

I've been coming to this theatre for about 17 years or so. Weathervane boasts that they are Ohio's longest-running professional summer stock theatre and it truly does have an interesting past; I suggest reading the history on their website. One of the main reasons that I love this theatre so much is that they are constantly making improvements to enhance the theatre experience for their patrons. The formerly open-air theatre is now climate controlled and enclosed, the lighting and sound systems have been updated, and this year they upgraded the hard plastic seating to plush velvet theatre seats! Their website is easy to navigate and it makes purchasing tickets a breeze. The stage set-up ensures that there is truly not a bad seat in the house. Last, but certainly not least, the talent is phenomenal year after year. Musicals of note that I have seen there over the years are Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Misérables, The Sound of Music, and Phantom. The shows and voices were incredible every time. Plays and comedies are put on there as well and well worth the price of admission. Speaking of which, ticket prices are surprisingly affordable, and if you are a savvy ticket buyer, you can usually find a thrifty Thursday or a "two for Tuesday" performance for a reduced rate. I especially appreciate this because even though I am on a tight budget, I make it a point to take my 12 year old to as many shows as possible because he loves them as much as I do!

A good place to see great shows and see old friends. The productions a far above what one would expect. So professional. Meeting the cast afterwards is a chance to get up close and feel like one of "the family". A season pass is the way to go. That way you are certain not to miss anything or be disappointed because of sell out. Wonderful way to get out and do something different.

I will admit Newark is a bit of a schlep, taking upwards of 45 minutes from the east side of Columbus to arrive at this theater disguised as a barn. There is good theater going on within city limits all summer- some of it in the great outdoors where you can soak up summer breezes. Why would you venture behind 270? As it turns out, there is good reason to do so and your drive will be worthwhile!I must reveal that my assessment of the current run of The Sound of Music is biased. My little cousin is playing one of the Von Trapp children. Not only am I happy for her to have this opportunity, but also happy for me to have come across a reason to make the trek to Weathervane, so that I now see why this theater sells out its shows. It is easy to locate, much cleaner than an actual barn ;) , concessions are tasty (including Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams), staff is friendly, and their website makes ticketing a breeze. It's actually worth the extra $2 charge they tack on because the website is user-friendly, you can see what seats are available and select where you would like to sit, and highly preferable to Ticketmaster. But if you're shelling out $26 to see a show, you'd probably like to hear about the production itself...This being the first musical I have seen, I will an only extrapolate that they are all at the impressive level of The Sound of Music, which I saw opening night. The acting and singing ranged from an "A" to a "B+" with some performers demonstrating Broadway-caliber skills. There is also a youth theater program at the Weathervane, which I have not seen, but I imagine they must be training them right considering the strength of the performance the 7 youngsters gave. Choreography and costuming went beyond what is expected in regional theater. Sets and lighting were simple, but creative and proficient in helping tell the story and take the audience into pre-WWII Austria. The accompaniment was live, which is appreciated, and featured mostly keyboard and a small orchestra. Proper amplification, mixing, and acoustics made it easy to understand lyrics, both spoken and sung. This may have been my first trip to the Weathervane, but it won't be my last. With or without a cute little cousin up on stage.

My boyfriend brought me here as a surprise for our date night. We saw Les Miserables. It was excellent! The set was great, the actors were just wonderful and the evening was one for the memory books! By intermission we were already looking forward to coming back for another show. They have stadium seating and capacity is roughly 300. They had a concession booth with very frozen yogurt that was good. Restrooms are located in the other building that is adjoined by a covered walkway.

We saw Deathtrap and it was marvelous! We can't wait to go again and see something else! I greatly recommend, the venue is very nice and the people are also.

Really enjoy the theater experience at Weathervane. Been coming for a couple of years and never disappointed with the performances!! Keep up the great work!!

This place is a local favorite and a favorite of mine as well. Very professional, and a lot of talent and effort goes into each production. Just saw "Dial M For Murder" and it was phenomenal! I'm hoping they do similar shows to this one next season, we really enjoyed it. I hope people continue to support this theater so we can all enjoy productions for many years to come!