Top Performing arts theaters in Columbia, United States

This was my first musical other than high school productions. It was a surprise gift for my wife to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. We attended Beauty and the Beast. It was an awesome show, and I got us almost front row seats. I would highly recommend a visit if you are going to be in town. Tickets are affordable, and the show we watched was truly an awesome production.

Saw Beauty and the Beast there and was blown away with the quality of singing, acting, costumes....really everything about it! It is a small venue and they don't have enough space in the common areas, but the quality of the production more than made up for that. Oh, and the pricing is really reasonable! Highly recommend!

A beautiful theatre, cannot wait to go to another show. Recently saw Beauty and the Beast production! It was wonderfully done

A great night watching "Beauty and the Beast." Wonderful show!

Great community theatre. We get season passes. They do a wonderful job and there is not a bad seat in the house.

Just love this community theatre! Professional yet cozy! And always a grand selection of performances to see! Highly recommend!

Wonderful place, very comfortable seating, acoustics great. Love the free popcorn. We saw POTUS and it was great.

Really lovely small theater - fantastic production and actors, and free popcorn! Definitely a fun time and worth checking out. The entrance feels like you're going in the back door, don't worry.

Lovely little atmosphere. Parking can be a bit tough and you may have a bit of a walk across the parking lot. The stage? The sound? The performing space itself is very nice, I watch the Columbis Orchestra there and would recommend it.

Such a great COMMUNITY theater. I LOVE IT

This theater is ok for the most part. There Main stage shows are very good but I have many complaints with there Youth Theater Program. Personally I would not sign your child up for the youth program. They may put on good shows but the casting, the directors, the strict rules are not ok. If your child is an experienced actor then definitely don't go here because they tend to pick favorites, they don't pick who deserves it. Youth Theater is supposed to be a place where kids find who they are on stage but here, it doesn't matter to them, as long as there favorites are front and center. My daughter was always put as Ensemble and was told that they need good dancers and while that might be true, you can't put them ensemble everytime. Give them a chance to shine. Let them act, they came to do theater not dance the entire time. Disappointed.

As a current Young Colombian myself I can say with absolute certainty I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Practice is such a welcoming place to any everyone at any age. Mrs. Brynn and Mr.Gerald not only challenge us at practice with difficult choreography and music but also support us in everything we do. I’m currently going through the college audition process and I don’t think I could be as ready as I am without them. 10/10 would recommend any program CCTA offers; trust it will change your life for the better.

I attended a friend's son winter music concert. It was very enjoyable. The theater was very nice! 👌🏽

Great experience for the Christmas Story. We had front row center seats my teenage son and I. We hardly get to spend time together and I thought that this show would be a good way to start off the Christmas season for us. And it was. A superb production. Thanks to all who were involved for the 3:00 show on 12/16/23.

Always great to see friends and family here.

We went to see Trailer Park Christmas and it was hilarious. The seating was comfortable And the play was incredibly done. I would definitely go back to see another show there.

What a great time we had last night at the Trustus play The Prom!! I love the atmosphere at Trustus, as well as the welcoming vibes! The play was so well done, the actors were incredible, and the rather controversial story was told with compassion and sensitivity. Trustus plays are my favorite nights out in Columbia!

Hayden music at its best by an Australian chamber music orchestra.

STELLAR performance of “Sister Act” - and the lead actress, Ashley Johnson-Moore who was BRILLIANT in every way, was our server! The theater-in-the round experience made the entire performance an emotional immersion. I laughed, I cried, I cheered, and I applauded until my hands were sore! LOVED every minute. ❤️❤️❤️

Small intimate theater so close to the stage that you almost feel inside the performance. Lots of leg room, cup holders at every seat, and a shelf to set down your free popcorn.

This theatre has many aspects that I found unique and interesting. It’s very quaint, but also charming with its stage, seating and other architectural decor. The specific musical we saw this past Saturday night was Sweeney Todd, and the acting and overall production was outstanding! I saw the film for the first time this year, and was anticipating seeing this musical in a local setting. All of the cast have excellent voices with dynamic ranges, including the acting performances were captivating and professional. I would highly recommend anyone to buy tickets to one of their upcoming shows and give the experience a try!

It was my 1st visit and I had a wonderful time! The emails I rec'd preparing me for my visit (parking, bag restrictions, etc) was very helpful and made the trip/event a delightful experience!

We went to Slayton House to watch my nephews play Lion King Jr for the Theater Camp. The play was amazing, and the staff was very helpful!

I have been going to slayton house it's 1976 slayton house is a wonderful place for the arts and 4 theater

Great performance and really good show. Reminded me of how much I enjoy live musical theatre.

It is not suited well for a handicapped person who is only using a walker. The seats are too low, even for a mon handicapped senior. Hard to get out of them. The rise on the first level is very low in that if someone taller than 5' 2", you can't see without moving your body back and forth.

I had a fabulous time. I go every year. And Secret Society never fails. They give a great show.

Excellent presentation by South Korean poet who told her story before reading from her new novel and c also from one body her bookstore poetry. Well attended by students, faculty and community folks like me.

David Hugo Barrett
A Newark Childhood: A Memoir

This is a great location and only about a mile from the Columbia Mall, but I wish they had better directions/signage to guide you inside. I almost walked into a pool building (???) until I saw the Silhouette Stages feather flags a few feet to my left. Parking was a bit crowded as we arrived shortly before the show started, but it seems like there's ample parking between their private lot, some street parking, and the parking lot for the surrounding shops. I wouldn't have minded if we'd gotten there sooner, so I'm not complaining about that (my own fault for being tardy).

The theater itself is super cute. One of the ticket-takers jokingly told us there wasn't a bad seat in the house, and she was right! We sat in the second row and the view was great. Maybe next time we'll be able to sit in the raised stands at the back to look down on the stage instead of up at it.

The Wedding Singer was awesome. I knew the musical and loved it, so I was SUPER EXCITED to be able to bring two of my best friends to see it. The cast didn't disappoint, it was beautifully done. There were a few moments with mic issues, but they weren't really noticeable, especially if you weren't familiar with the show itself.

They had a merch table set up in the lobby if you wanted to buy tote bags or shirts (I think) to support the theater. I'm not sure if there were refreshments or anything during intermission, and I didn't use the bathroom so I can't comment on that. We left pretty quickly after the show finished, so I can't say if there's an opportunity to chat with and congratulate the cast, but it's a small enough theater that it might be possible?

I'll be back for sure -- already making guesses on what Season 19's shows will be and looking forward to them!

Tara and Jas are cool.....Mr Prashant...eh

Great place I believe it is a performance ctr of some kind. I was actually at Papa John's where I work. Slayton house is across the courtyard next to the police station

This venue is beautiful for big events and the auditorium can hold up to 450 people with handicapped seatings. Its equipment is up to speed. The lobby area is big enough to have service lines, check-in tables, and sit-down tables for participants. Its low stage style offers an interactive environment that connects audiences and performers.
The location is in the central Columbia and in the heart of the Howard Community College campus. Its garage parking is free and is conveniently located in the back of the building.

Saw my first Trustus show a few weeks ago. Rocky Horror. As a fan of the shadow shows and a theatre kid, I was so impressed by the costumes, choreography and the environment in general.
The ushers are very welcoming and helpful to guide guests to seats. The seats are the most comfortable theater seats I've ever sat in. I loved my whole experience. I adored Rocky so much I saw it twice. The standing tickets weren't standing. Everywhere in that theatre you can see the stage and feel a part of the production. Small theatre feel with Broadway mentality is what it felt like to me. Can't wait to see what shows are next!

Rocky Horror was AMAZING!!! 10/21/22
Wonderful atmosphere. The staff were exceptional. Th cast were FANTASTIC!!!
What an amazing time! Love the comfortable seating and the live band!
HIGHLY recommend going!

Great place for kids to learn how to express themselves in a caring and fun environment. Diverse selection of shows, programs all year long, and after school and "schools out" programs.

A little hard to find at first but the show was great and staff was incredibly friendly. A few sound issues during the show but other than that it was a wonderful night out.

Wonderful experience!

Great Atmosphere. Clean and modern. Very unique experience for your eyes and ears. Not a bad view anywhere and bathrooms/concessions are easily accessible. Will definitely go back! 🌲🤩🌲

Great spot for a more intimate show! The tree cover is lovely for a late summer show. They don't allow any backpacks into the venue so be sure to check out they're rules so you don't have to trek back to your car to leave your bag there. I'd give it 5 stars if they're "No list" wasn't so strict on bags. Plus once I got in I saw a bunch of ppl who did get through with backpacks... that's just annoying

Absolutely love this venue. I had only just learned it existed this year and I'm shocked that I.M.P. isn't using it more. Seems to be a waste to let such an amazing venue sit vacant so often.

Amazing outdoor concert venue connected to Merriweather Post Pavillion. Great small lawn only seating venue with a gorgeous view of the park. Easy parking, easy stay, and easy going. Staff is awesome. Family friendly.

A wonderful organization bringing theatre access to all in the community! Continuously produce high quality experiences and connections for students.

Love the acting experience that they provide for a variety of ages!

I had tickets reserved to attend but did not know you needed to be vaccinated and bring vaccination card to validate it!!!!! Funny I helped make a lot of the garments worn in the show, the fabric was in my house and touched by me but I was not allowed to enter the theater because I'm not vaccinated! SMH

Well, it's a theatre that get things done. Not particularly spacious, so getting out after a performance can be tedious, but you might find a good show on.

Beautiful dancing including Russian folk from La Etoille dance studio

We attended one of its program for young kids. Overall, this was the worst experience we had. It was WASTE of time and money. It was boring in all dimensions. I felt like they do not appropriate programs for little kids, and they did not bother to design one. But in sake of money, they still opened such programs.

Here was our experience.

First of all, the main complaints went to the center not the teacher. the center did not have a rigorous plan for programs of young kids. A lot of free dance without proper engagement made classes so boring. The content was not enough to engage little ones. I did doubt the competence of the teacher, but again the main blame went to the class design by the center.

Among the total 6 classes, the first one is just for introduction and free dance (little interaction between kids and teachers, just music and let the kids do what they want. why not I played music at home by myself then?). One of my little one complained he was so boring for the first class.

The second class was the worst! The leading teacher had an injury and she sat on a chair through almost the entire session. I do have sympathy on her injury and this was unfortunate event for her. But I was angry about the center for several reasons. First of all, DLC, as an organizer, should have someone else to step up and cover the class. Clearly, the assistant teacher does not have enough experience or qualification to step up properly. Second, even if the teacher taught class, she should be able to planned her class better. She had the children do coloring for 30 minutes!!! A lot kids (not only mine) just sat for the most of the class. This was just a wasted class, one out of six.

For the rest of classes, I observed they usually did 10 min-15min free dance, 10min circle time with a game. What I observed is the teacher was talking to one or two kids. The rest of them were just sat there doing nothing. There were only 30min meaningful activities for kids!

We were there for our Granddaughter's dance recital. I attended the original Wilde Lake High school 1976-1977, this was my first time returning to the school since then. I remember the original auditorium very well because we were treated to movies of our time regularly back then as a school. The new Jim Rouse Theater is very nice but it is much smaller than the auditorium of my day.
The recital was superb! My Granddaughter's performance was wonderful!!

Beautiful theater. The plays are amazing 🎭 👏 🙀 😯 .

Great place for excellent local theater

As far as auditoriums go, it was nice. Would be nicer if it was remodeled with stacked seating, but so would everything else!!! Great acoustics, friendly students to greet you. Overall a wonderful experience!

Over the past few years, my family has absolutely enjoyed all the different entertainment options the Chrysalis Stage at Merriweather has to offer for children and families. Recently, we went to see the concert In Treble with Ms Rowe with the DC Strings Workshop and it was so much fun! The added Imagination Playground that they put out for children each time absolutely delights my son. We are looking forward to more adventures at the Chrysalis in the coming months.

This place is so NICE. I love the design. They hold all kinds of events there from concerts to ballet to yoga. It's a bit of a work from the parking lot to get there but it's well worth it.

As of early May 2021, they are still remolding the area so no restrooms are open at the moment but there are port-o-potties and lots of sanitizer. The remolding is expected to be finished in time for Summer concerts.

Refuses to refund for no camp this summer. Do not register for Fall because if there is a Covid shutdown, the owner will not return your funds.

DLC is a great place for children of all ages to learn, develop, and have fun! I love that they get to learn from smart, caring staff with a wide variety of professional experience. Highly recommended!

We gave DLC another chance with Matilda this time but they keep disappointing us. (1) No opportunity to rotate lead roles, the same kids get the lead role on all productions. Also, same age group but one get better role than the other. This is inequality (2) I may be over react, but it seems like Asian kids get a fewer lines and "white" kids get a lot more this is consider race discrimination. (3) No learning or development, if the child always be an ensemble over and over again, how do they develop? The kids are there to learn, develop, be confidence, and enjoy, not to be disappointed and discourage. They spent hours and hours at the center and at the end, they only get to say 1 or 2 lines in the entire show, that's very discouraging. (4) We raised our concern to the director and he didn't even bother to response. This is rude and unprofessional in my opinion.

Such a great company, always puts on great shows from well known one like legally blonde to smaller shows like Big fish that will absolutely blow you away. I live supporting community theaters and its hard not to when this is the company closest to my house.

Great small theater. Saw Columbia Jazz Band. Excellent concert

Great theater. Comfortable and affordable. Most seasons feature a variety of high quality, thought provoking shows. Parking can be a bit far; using the garage and entering through the back entrance reduces the step count and walking distance from parking to the theater. Handicap parking is available in the rear of the theater.

We took my son here to see Pam the Kindersinger. He absolutely loved the music and interactive performance. The space is quite large and they were very open to allowing the young kids to run around freely. I also appreciated that tickets for this performance were only $5 each. We had a wonderful time and are looking forward to the Rainbow Theater kids shows starting back up again in the fall.

This is a nice size theatre. Very good for a stage show, multiple themes play, musical instruments performance etc.Very good view from even up corner seats. Good lighting and audio system. Been working with director and technicians there. All of them are very friendly and helpful.

So my friend and I actually went to the wrong place at first and accidentally got in line at a high school performance because they were right across the street from one another. But the performances at Silhouette Stages was amazing. So much great talent.! Great time and fun experience .

DLC is a wonderful place for my child to experience theater, gain confidence, and shine.

A wonderful compact space. My organization holds the an Annual Music Competition here the weekend of Thanksgiving every year and we have been using it for the last 5 years and pretty much take the whole building. It's spacious and recently has upgrades their sound system with an excellent new digital system. The place hosts a lot of community events and is well known in the Columbia area and the staff is always helpful and nice.

The massive 424 seater Smith Theatre is iconic mainly for hosting many important events. The place is truly big but isn’t that interesting. The awesome views of the stages from the balconies is simply awesome

Great venue and great productions! Friendly volunteers and makes for a great evening of theatre! Reasonable ticket prices, as well!

Always entertaining and professional at very, very reasonable ticket prices. The talent is local and compares favorably with Broadway Never disappoints.

I have been at Drama Learning Center for almost 10 years now. I love it there so much. They have something for everyone. From their Broadway Babies class all the way to TYA Teen Professionals, Drama Learning Center teaches all of their students different theatre skills, while making sure they are have fun as well. Their general classes on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights are basically like a "recreational" class. Just like in soccer you have rec, rev plus, travel, etc., these general classes will teach you the basic theatre skills. The next class up isn't exactly a class. It is a company. It is called TYA Teen Proffesionals. TYA is for the older, more advanced students.(grades 8-12). TYA so has a Junior Company, and for short, JCo.(grades 6-12)If you're child is interested in theatre, this will be the place for them! If you are a child and you are reading this, and you are interested in theatre, tell your parents about Drama Learning Center!!!

DLC has been "home" to my daughter for the last 7 years. The training that she has received has been stellar and has given her the confidence AND competence to pursue her passion - musical theater. We've tried other programs in the DC metro area, and DLC is by far the best. Children begin by becoming a cast member in DLC's many popular shows, and then can proceed if there is interest, in DLC's Teaching Young Actors' Junior (JCo) and Senior companies (TYA) where they hone important auditioning skills, experience the importance of ensemble work, and achieve success outside of one's comfort zone. Also offered are voice lessons, which our daughter and I totally embraced. So if your child is interested in musical theater, DLC is the GO-TO Location:)!