Here are 10 cool things to do in Columbus this weekend
The weekend ahead will offer a few unusual entertainment offerings: A gargantuan puppet stopping in Columbus as she makes her away across the country, area real estage agents and other businesspeople stepping up to the mic for a night of comedy, and a former "Real Housewife" presenting her newest cabaret.
Speaking of "Cabaret" — the musical, that is — Otterbein University will launch its production of the much-lauded stage show at the same time as The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio's "POTUS," an uproarious satire of shenanigans in the White House.
In addition, Noah Cyrus will prove she's more than Miley's baby sister at her Newport Music Hall show and the New Americans Book Fair will highlight the works of more than 30 authors, many of whose roots lie in far-flung corners of the world.
These are just a few of the happenings in Columbus over the next few days; read more details about them and other events below. To receive these ideas in your inbox each week, sign up for the Life in the 614 newsletter.
Otterbein to stage Tony-winning 'Cabaret'
The Otterbein University Departments of Theatre & Dance and Music will say "wilkommen" to the Kit Kat Club in their production of "Cabaret," which opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St., Westerville. Set in 1929-30 Berlin as the Nazis are ascending to power, the musical centers around American writer Clifford Bradshaw's and English cabaret performer Sally Bowles, with the club depicted as a bacchanal of debauchery inhabited by people who are oblivious to the national tragedy awaiting. In addition to Thursday's show, performances will be at 8 p.m. Friday-Sunday, and Sept. 28-30. Tickets are $30. (otterbein.edu/cabaret)
The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio to present comical 'POTUS'
Buckle up for a fast-paced, hilarious ride through the corridors of the White House, where a group of women find themselves in a PR nightmare-turned-chaotic fiasco while doing damage control to keep the goofball commander-in-chief out of trouble. The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio (formerly CATCO) will stage "POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumba** Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive" for two weekends at Studio One of the Riffe Center Theatre Complex, 77 S. High St. Chock-full of laugh-out-loud one liners, the comedy will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, with additional performances at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 and Oct. 5; 8 p.m. Sept. 29-30 and Oct. 6-7; 2 p.m. Oct. 1 and Oct. 8. Tickets are $47.51. (thecontemporaryohio.org)
Business leaders to try hands at stand-up comedy
Five local non-comedians will take the mic at Weathervane Playhouse, 100 Price Road, Newark, to offer their best rib-tickling routines at Licking County’s Homegrown Comedy Show, which starts at 7 p.m. Thursday. Seating begins at 6:30 p.m. The contenders: real estate agents Amber Harvel, Red 1 Realty; Mike Kennedy (also an auctioneer) and Scott Van Horn, Howard Hanna Real Estate; Pella Windows sales rep Dan Street; and John Compton, senior vice president, First Federal Savings and Loan. Kristi Woolard of Red 1 Realty and Karen Needham of Chicago Title will host, and local comics Hannah Romes, Mary Miller and Leslie Battle also will perform. Enjoy food from Poppy’s Roadside Diner and beverages from the Weathervane bar beginning at 5:30 pm. Choose from VIP tickets that include premium seating at $50 each or regular admission tickets at $25 each. (weathervaneplayhouse.org)
'Countess Luann' to glam it up at the Southern
Get ready for glamour, glitz and gossip galore when "The Real Housewives of New York City" original cast member "Countess Luann" de Lesseps comes to the Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St., for an evening of cabaret. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, "Countess Cabaret" will feature de Lesseps' original songs, as well as a personally curated list of pop songs and showtunes. De Lesseps teamed up with Broadway director Richard Jay-Alexander and musical director Brian Nash for this show as well as her 2017 debut. Tickets start at $39. (cbusarts.com)
'Birds Inspire' event to land at CCAD
Bird lovers of all feathers — from kids, comic artists, and illustrators to photographers, conservationists, and naturalists — will flock together Thursday through Saturday at "Birds Inspire," a conference exploring the ways birds inspire all kinds of creativity. To be held at various locations on the campus of Columbus College of Art & Design, 390 E. Broad St., the event will offer live bird sketching, comics workshops, a gallery exhibition, and creative talks, plus several big names in the birding world including Bird Watcher's Digest editor Julie Zickefoose and New York Times best-selling graphic novel artist Maris Wicks. Get free tickets and schedule of events online. (bit.ly/3sU53sW)
Little Amal to loom large in Columbus visit
Little Amal, the internationally known 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl, will arrive in Columbus on Friday as part of her two-month, 6,000-mile trek across the United States. Activities like making welcome signs will begin at 5 p.m. in Genoa Park, 303 W. Broad St. Amal will begin her journey at 6 p.m. near the Moyer Judicial Center (Ohio Supreme Court building), 65 S. Front St., continuing across the Broad Street bridge and into Genoa Park, where food trucks will be onsite. Artists and performers from the city will join Amal's trip including poet Sara Abou Rashed and dancers from Momentum, Thiossane West African Dance Institute, and Warithat Arabic Dance Troupe. Since mid-2021, the puppet-girl has logged 6,000-plus miles to 97 towns and cities in 15 countries. Free parking will be available in the lots at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, 300 W. Broad St. (capa.com)
'New Americans' to present works at book fair
The works of authors, poets, artists, agents, writers, film producers, printers and publishers primarily from the new American, immigrant, and refugee communities, will be showcased at the New Americans Book Fair from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Columbus Metro Library, Dublin Branch, 2700 E. Dublin Granville Road. Among the more than 30 authors who'll read and sign their books will be Columbus resident Roman Gonska, a Venezuelan-American preteen whose adventure series follows his travels to countries like Australia, Spain, and Israel. The Obayuwana sisters - Zalika, 14, Zakiya, 12, and Zahara, 10 - also of Columbus, will be back with their "Zakira Presents" cultural lessons and interactive book series. The event is free. (newamericansbookfair.com)
Newport Music Hall to welcome Noah Cyrus
Though many know her as Miley's little sister, Noah Cyrus has been an artist in her own right since the 2016 release of her single, "Make Me (Cry)," which went platinum. The 23-year-old actor-singer, whose singles also include the triple-platinum "July" and gold "Lonely," will perform at Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St., on Saturday. Doors open at 7 p.m. Touring in support of her 2022 debut album, "The Hardest Part," Cyrus was nominated for a Grammy in the Best New Artist category in 2020, and Billboard named her among its “21 Under 21” for three straight years. Tickets are $27.50 to $65. VIP packages include a private, three-song performance by Cyrus, among other perks. (promowestlive.com)
Dayton-based band to play classic jazz
Dave Greer's Classic Jazz Stompers will have the Clintonville Woman’s Club, 3951 N. High St., swinging and swaying from 2-5 p.m. Sunday. Kicking off the Central Ohio Hot Jazz Society's (COHJS) fall season, the Dayton band will play tunes from the 1920s and 1930s. In conjunction with the show, Swing Columbus will offer at dance workshop from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost of the workshop is $30, which includes show admission. General admission to the show is $20; $15 for COHJS and Swing Columbus members; $10 for students. Music students and instructors are admitted for free. The event is BYOB but food and non-alcoholic beverages will be sold. (cohjs.org)
Flautango to perform at church celebration
The 175th anniversary of the founding of First English Lutheran Church, 1015 E Main St., will be highlighted by tangos and other Latin music performed by Flautango, at 2 p.m. Sunday. The Columbus duo features flutist Rodolfo Vazquez and guitarist Sean Ferguson. A celebration service will take place at 5 p.m. in the church sanctuary. Admission is free; donations will be accepted. (mexicanflutist@hotmail.com, 614-352-3560)
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 10 things to do in Columbus this weekend
