This post is written by Sandi Combs, Marketing Coordinator for Experience Columbus. You can follow Sandi on Twitter @Sandi_ExpCols .

“HOUSE/DIVIDED ,” the compelling new theater production that explores the human experience within our country’s mortgage crisis, shows this weekend at Thurber Theatre for its world premiere.

A collection of scenes woven together with digital media and live acting, the show parallels the struggle of the Joad family from John Steinbeck’s, “The Grapes of Wrath,” with true stories and reenactments of today’s foreclosure disaster. Using multiple perspectives and a foreboding score, it artfully documents the emotional and psychological story of all those connected to the current plight. The production provides an insightful and necessary examination of how these events have affected and changed our society.

I appreciated the show for a number of reasons. First, the use of video and sound in combination with live acting was well done. As opposed to just being a cool way to tell a story, the multimedia served to augment the sensory aspects of the message so that the audience could understand the nuances of the situation presented on an entirely different level. I also really liked that the topic is timely and accessible, and that it takes a step back from the plain facts of the situation to dig deeper into how the mortgage crisis has changed society.

Finally, I liked the incorporation of local voices, specifically a local resident who is an average person just like you or me. Her story about going through the foreclosure process, and subsequently grappling with her self-identity, was powerful.

“HOUSE/DIVIDED” shows tonight and tomorrow (Oct. 7-8, 2011) at 8 p.m., and then is scheduled to tour around the country. Each is followed by a Q&A with the Builders. Tickets start at $10 and are available at wexarts.org or at 614-292-3535.

“HOUSE/DIVIDED” was created and is performed by the New York theater company The Builders Association. It was co-produced by the Wexner Center for the Arts in association with the Department of Theatre at The Ohio State University, with support provided from the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Creative Campus Innovations Grant Program.

Have you seen the show? Which aspects did you like best?

Read more:

“Hard times inspired an update of an American classic”

“Steinbeck’s text and recent stories from a central Columbus neighborhood link present and past.”

“Wex collaboration, HOUSE/DIVIDED, brings home the housing crisis”

Photo: bixentro on Flickr

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and there are plenty of things to do in Columbus to celebrate - whether you spend it with a special someone, your dearest friends or with your family.  I started to research for my own plans, and thought I’d share a few of the things that sounded unique and fun.

Unique Dining

Valentine’s Day at White Castle
Feb. 14 from 5-8 p.m.
This is an annual tradition for many couples across America and I must say, it’s on my bucket list! Bring your valentine to White Castle to enjoy a juicy slider or two. Call 614-294-3753 ext. 24 for reservations.

Valentines by Candlelight
Feb. 11-12 from 6:30-9:30 p.m.
For a more elegant feel, take your date to the Ohio Historical Center. After a romantic dinner, you will be treated to Ohio Village Singers singing beautiful ballads and reciting romantic poetry. Cost is $60 per person or $50 for an Ohio Historical Society member. Call 800-686-6124 by Feb. 7 to make reservations.

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Sean Christopher Lewis in Just Kids
Photo: Available Light Theatre

Tomorrow night, Available Light Theatre opens its next production, Just Kids . It’s the newest creation from touring playwright/performer Sean Christopher Lewis and Available Light Theatre artistic director Matt Slaybaugh.

Their last collaboration, the award-winning play Killadelphia , has toured two-dozen U.S. cities and been heralded as a triumph everywhere it’s landed (including here in Columbus, where it knocked my socks off ). If you saw that show, you might be thinking that Just Kids is not to be missed.

You’d be right about that.

The play weaves the stories of several damaged teens in Kansas, where Sean was teaching at a school for troubled youths, with Sean’s discoveries about his own unsettling past and difficult realizations about his long-estranged biological father. (more…)

Yesterday was the opening of Susurrus at the Franklin Park Conservatory, so my coworker Kelly and I went to check it out. Written and directed by Glasgow playwright David Leddy, Susurrus is a unique audio play presented in botanical gardens. This collaboration between the Wexner Center for the Arts and Franklin Park Conservatory runs through Oct. 24 Update! The show’s been extended and will run through Oct. 31.

Patrons are scheduled to begin their journey every 15 minutes to allow for a personal, uninterrupted experience. After receiving an iPod, headphones and a map from the visitor desk, we were on our way, walking through Franklin Park Conservatory as well as the grounds of Franklin Park itself, stopping at eight distinct spots during the play. (more…)

Merrily We Roll Along certainly has a happy ending…but, the ending is actually the beginning.

Available Light Theatre has brought us a fabulous production of this musical, which features a story by George Furth and original music by Stephen Sondheim.

Merrily We Roll Along follows the career of Franklin Shepard backwards, from his time as a Hollywood movie producer to his more humble beginnings as young, idealistic songwriter. Frank and his friends Charley and Mary go on a journey through the past to find out just what made them the people they are in the present.

I attended the show last week and have to say that it was an amazing experience. I was enthralled by the excellent music and I enjoyed the lyrics, all sung beautifully by the Available Light cast. My girlfriend, who has far more experience in the musical theater than I do, remarked, "It’s hard to do Sondheim, let alone do Sondheim well." Available Light makes this musical great.

Need more convincing? Check out this review from The Columbus Dispatch ("frankly, it’s a hit"), or this one from Metromix Columbus ("a stellar Columbus premiere").

There are only seven showtimes left, and seats are filling fast. The cost is as reasonable as it gets - you pay what you want . Get the details and reserve seats here .

Playwright Chiquita Mullins Lee and Actor Alan Bomar Jones
Photo: CATCO

Pierce to the Soul premiered on April 7 in Columbus. While I have yet to see the performance in its entirety, I did attend a workshop for the play last month, presented by the Contemporary American Theatre Company (CATCO) and the Columbus Historical Society . Based on just that, I can’t wait to see the show.

During the performance part of the workshop I was able to experience what the one-man play is going to be like. Actor Alan Bomar Jones transforms himself into folk artist Elijah Pierce, a woodcarver and preacher who moved to Columbus in 1923. As I listened to stories from Elijah’s youth, along with anecdotes, life lessons and sermons, I felt as though I was sitting in the Columbus of Elijah’s time.

Next came the question and answer with all involved in the performance – Alan Bomar Jones, William Childs (dramaturge) and Chiquita Mullins Lee (playwright). Here, I was able to get a glimpse of the whole process that was involved in creating this piece. Chiquita spoke about how creating the play involved a decade-long process – compiling facts and stories from first-hand references to make the play as accurate as possible. She also invited the audience to share any stories they may have about Mr. Pierce, that they might add into the show. One gentleman recounted how both his father and Elijah were both preachers and barbers, and how he remembered Elijah coming into his father’s barbershop on a regular basis.

The show runs selected dates through April 25. For schedule and ticket info, click here or visit the Web site .

Ah yes, Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and you have to find something to do with that special someone. I thought I’d share my plan and expand on one of the Valentine’s Day ideas Scott shared earlier , because Opera Columbus has covered me for part of the weekend. I’ll be attending the opening performance of Romeo & Juliet at the Ohio Theatre with my girlfriend. Performances take place Friday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available here .

Tip: I was able to get my tickets on the cheap. As Opera Columbus shared on their Facebook page , if you use code FANS when buying your tickets, you’ll get a 20% discount.

And I’ll leave you with a fun fact -  the leads, Jonathan Boyd and Malinda Haslett, are a real life married couple. Brian Banion (Friar Lawrence) and Elise DesChamps (Stephano) are also a married couple. Love will certainly be in the air on stage.

Today’s post is written by Kristin Marks, a.k.a. cBus Mom . She writes a blog by the same name , which she created to offer suggestions and reviews of kid-friendly activities in Central Ohio. She also writes for Ohio Moms Blog and is a monthly contributor to Columbus Underground .

Here, she shares her experience at the Columbus Children’s Theatre , the award winning professional theater that has been entertaining families for over 40 years.

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Columbus Children’s Theatre: Engaging, fun and affordable
By Kristin Marks, cBus Mom

I recently went with a friend and three little girls to see Rapunzel at Columbus Children’s Theatre . We got the girls gussied up in their finest princess frocks and spent the afternoon enjoying the theater.

I have to admit, I was a bit nervous because the girls were not quite 4 years old (theater gives that as a suggested viewing age) and I worried that their attention spans would get lost in the middle, but that was not the case. Aside from a short game of musical laps, the girls did great at their first theatrical performance.

I think the elements the actors used to command audience participation helped keep the attention of little ones. The play was engaging and fun for the children because not only were the characters entertaining, but the children got to participate.

At the start of the show the audience was prompted to make certain noises or hand gestures when the witch came on stage. Each time the witch came out we all said in a scary voice "ooooohhh," and immediately there was giggling from kids - they loved being part of the production. Also, many times throughout the play there were chase scenes where an actor would run into the audience and sit in an empty seat. (more…)

Broadway Across America-Columbus brings another highly anticipated show to Columbus this week with The 39 Steps .

Adapted from the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name, this play has already proven itself a hit with people of all ages. It just finished a two-year run on Broadway, and the original production is in its third year in London. Critics have taken notice as well, awarding the play two Tony Awards and the Olivier Award for best new comedy in 2007.

Credentials aside, this is a show unlike anything I had seen before. Four actors play over 150 characters, and in the process create a frenzied pace that never slows down. The play transports you to a world of make believe—one in which four chairs can be believed to be a car, men can pass for women and a windy day can be conveyed with the mere shaking of the actors own clothes.

The best part? You, the audience, are in on the joke. The actors do not pretend to be fooling anyone. Instead, they embrace the minimal props and get creative with what they’ve got. They even go as far as to purposely slip up on occasion—forgetting to switch into a new character or leaving a prop behind a little too long—just to remind you they know you’re there.

Based on the reaction of the opening night crowd—people were laughing, a lot—I would say this show is a winner. But don’t take my word for it, catch one of the seven remaining performances at the Palace Theatre and judge for yourself. Tickets range from $20-$55 and can be purchased here .

Tip from the CAPA Facebook page : If you act fast, you have the opportunity to purchase two tickets for only $39 to the Wednesday or Thursday show. To redeem this offer, call the CAPA ticket office at 614-469-0939 and use the password “TRAINS”

Photo: Available Light Theatre

To add to the previous posts about holiday experiences , I’ve got another I’d like to share:

Available Light Theatre’s
Consolidated Amalgamated’s Annual Xmas Spectacular

Here’s the show’s story, from their Web site :

For 30 years, Winford Doke, CPA, has been the venerated host of ConAm’s Annual Xmas Spectacular, featuring Winford’ glorious rendition of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol .

However, this year Winford Doke has left his assistant, Artie Isaac, to take over the holiday duties.

Taking the stage with no time to prepare and only Doke’s stubborn stage hand, Jo Anne, to help him through it, Artie faces down the ultimate December Dilemma.

The twist? Artie, the reluctant assistant suddenly appointed the task of spreading Christmas cheer, is Jewish.

This adaptation of Dickens’ A Chrismas Carol is brought to us by artistic director Matt Slaybaugh , playwright Sean Christopher Lewis (whose talent became immediately apparent to me when I saw Killadelphia ) and the show’s star, Artie Isaac.

Knowing what I know about Available Light Theatre and the three gentlemen I named above, here’s what I expect:

• It will make me think. I’ll consider something I hadn’t before…or, I’ll be reminded of something I should be considering again (you know, those important things that somehow become a bit forgotten during the course of daily, hectic life)
• It will make me laugh. These guys can be funny.
• I’ll be inspired by the smarts and creativity brought to life on stage (and okay…I’ll envy it, too).
• During at least one point of the show, I’ll wish it to last longer than it will.
• I will very likely love it. I’m getting used to that by now.

My husband and I have attended several Available Light productions. We discuss them often, because that’s what Available Light does - it sticks with you, and it prompts good conversation. This small-but-mighty group of talent wows us every time. Husband said this: "It’s unlike any other things I’ve seen. It enlightens you while you’re being entertained."

Yep.

The show starts tomorrow and runs through December 13 . Click here for more info, videos, a podcast and links. Click here to get your tickets.