Opened in 1989, the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts houses the Speaker Jo Ann Davidson Theatre, three studio-style theatres, and a scenery and costume shop. Since 1994, these spaces have been managed by CAPA.
This state-of-the-art, 903-seat facility hosts many CAPA presentations of comedy, music, dance, theatre, family entertainment, and cultural programming each year. In addition, BalletMet, The Columbus Gay Men's Chorus, the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra, and The Ohio State University Department of Dance all perform regularly at the Davidson Theatre.
Formerly known as the Capitol Theatre, the venue was renamed in 2016 in honor of Speaker Jo Ann Davidson, the first female speaker of Ohio’s House of Representatives.
The studio-style theatres offer an intimate performance space for its resident arts groups, including CATCO, CATCO is Kids, and Available Light Theatre.
Studio One
Studio One is a 227-seat flexible space that can accommodate an arena, cabaret, and proscenium seating.
Studio Two
Studio Two is an arena-style black box theatre accommodating up to 187 seats.
Studio Three
Studio Three can be utilized as a dance space or meeting room and seats up to 60 people.
