The Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) is non-profit arts and theater management organization based in Columbus, Ohio.
History CAPA was formed in 1969 by Robert Karlsberger, Lawrence L. Fisher, Jean Whallon, and Scott Whitlock to raise money to save the Ohio Theatre, a 1928 movie palace, from demolition and revive it for use as a performing arts center.
CAPA's initial success in restoring and operating the Ohio has led over the years to a great expansion of its activities. It took over ownership and operations of the Palace Theatre in the early 1990s. In 1998 it purchased and completely rebuilt and restored the historic 1890s Southern Theatre. Later CAPA took over management of Columbus's Capitol Theater complex for the State of Ohio.
Outside of Columbus, CAPA managed the historic Chicago Theatre from 1998 to 2003, and took over operations of the Shubert Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut in 2001.
CAPA was responsible for overseeing the 2009 $13.5 million renovation of the Lincoln Theatre in Columbus's historic King-Lincoln neighborhood. CAPA will also operate that theater, combining with ten local arts organizations to provide a varied slate of events for the new community arts center.
The most recent addition to the list of theaters operated by CAPA is the Valentine Theatre in Toledo, Ohio. On June 22, 2009 the Toledo Cultural Arts Center announced that they had initiated a five-year agreement with CAPA to oversee operations of the 114-year-old landmark theater. Recently the recipient of a multimillion-dollar renovation, the theater is home to forty of Toledo's performing arts groups, including the Toledo Symphony Orchestra.
In addition to operating theaters, CAPA oversees administrative operations for the Columbus non-profit cultural groups Franklin Park Conservatory, Opera Columbus, The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio.
CAPA is a non-profit organization overseen by an independent board of directors. Its main offices are located in the Ohio Theatre building at 55 E. State St and the president & CEO was William B. "Bill" Conner, Jr. prior to his death of cancer in October 2016.
Chad Whittington has been the president & CEO of CAPA since 2017.
Managed properties
Current +VenueLocationTypeSeatsOpenedAcquiredOhio TheatreDowntown, Columbus, OhioMovie palace2,79119281969Southern TheatreSouth High Commercial Historic District,Columbus, OhioMovie palace93318941986Palace TheatreDowntown, Columbus, OhioMovie palace2,69519261989Riffe Center Theatre ComplexCapitol Square, Columbus, OhioAuditorium, Dance studio85419891994Shubert TheatreNew Haven, ConnecticutTheater1,60019142001Lincoln TheatreKing-Lincoln Bronzeville, Columbus, OhioMovie palace58219282007Drexel TheaterBexley, OhioMovie theater73019372011The Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the ArtsNew Albany, OhioArts centre78620082013Charleen & Charles Hinson AmphitheaterNew Albany, OhioAmphitheatre80020212021Garden TheaterThe Short North, Columbus, OhioAuditorium30019202023Idea FoundryFranklinton, Columbus, OhioMakerspace–20142026
Former +VenueLocationTypeSeatsOpenedAcquiredEndedChicago TheatreChicagoTheater3,600192119982003Valentine TheatreToledo, OhioTheater901189520092014
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