10 best things to do this weekend in Columbus, Ohio

Looking for somewhere to go this weekend without spending too much time on the road? Well, you can take a trip to Liverpool, England, without even leaving Columbus when The Best of Abbey Road Live! — a Beatles tribute by RAIN — comes to the Palace Theatre on Saturday.

Die-hard Deadhead? You can hear some of the Grateful Dead’s classics as well as solo work by Bobby Weir when he plays the Palace on March 21. Or maybe you’re more the Skid Row type, in which case Short North Stage’s staging of  “Little Shop of Horrors” is right up your alley. 

Perhaps you’re a fan of “the knifeshoe ballet,” also known as hockey. You won’t want to miss the Columbus Blue Jackets home games Thursday and Sunday.

These are just a few of the weekend events in a broad spectrum of entertainment options: theater, sports, comedy, movies and the gamut of musical genres. Pick one and enjoy!

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Beatles-mania with RAIN

RAIN, a national-touring Beatles tribute band and production, will present The Best of Abbey Road Live! at 7:30.p.m. Saturday at the Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St. The theatrical performance will bring the greatest hits in addition to all the early favorites. Tickets start at $34 and can be bought at www.cbusarts.com. Masks and proof of vaccination are required. (www.capa.com)

Blue Jackets home stand

As their season winds down, the Columbus Blue Jackets will host two home games at Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., over the next three days, first on Thursday at 7 p.m. against the Washington Capitals and then, at 5 p.m. Sunday against the St. Louis Blues. Tickets start at $36. (www.nhl.com/bluejackets, 614-246-2000)

PBJ & Jazz season ending 

In its final performance of the 2021-2022 season, the PBJ & Jazz program will present its Big Band Blowout at 10 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Lincoln Theatre Ballroom, 769 E. Long St. Designed specifically for the littlest of jazz lovers and fun for the whole family, these special performances allow all audience members to enjoy top-quality jazz music while children learn and play. Admission is $5 (with a $20 maximum per family). Proof of vaccination is still required for those 16 and older and masks for those older than 5. (614-294-5200, www.jazzartsgroup.org)

‘Little Shop of Horrors’ takes root

Short North Stage will present “Little Shop of Horrors,” the sci-fi musical comedy favorite that satirically pays tribute to 1950s sci-fi-horror B-movies with a Faustian tale about a timid Skid Row flower-shop employee who makes a devil’s bargain with a foul-mouthed, carnivorous alien plant. Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays and select Saturdays from March 17 through April 16 at the Garden Theater, 1187 N. High St. Masks and proof of vaccination or negative COVID test required through April 3. Tickets cost $40 to $55, or $20 for students. (614-725-4042, www.cbusarts.com, www.shortnorthstage.org) 

‘Catspaw’ murder mystery on tap

When a wealthy and controlling woman goes missing, her two adult children visit her home to find out what happened in “Catspaw,” a new two-act murder mystery by Columbus playwright Cory Skurdal, whose plays have been performed at CATCO, MadLab and Evolution Theatre Company. Original Productions Theatre will launch its 2022 season with the regional premiere at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and March 24-26 and 2 p.m. Sunday and March 27 at the Abbey Theater of Dublin, 5600 Post Road, Dublin. Masks are optional. Tickets cost $20 to $25. (614-943-1776, www.optheater.com) 

 
Celebrating Stephen Sondheim 

Gallery Players will celebrate the life of the late, great Stephen Sondheim with the first Greater Columbus production of “Sondheim on Sondheim,” the Broadway conceptual musical revue highlighting songs from his musicals (including “Assassins,” “Bounce,” “Gypsy,”  “Sweeney Todd” and “West Side Story”), interwoven with interviews offering an intimate view of the composer-lyricist’s life and artistic process. Performances are 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, 8 p.m. March 26 and 2 p.m. March 27 at the Jewish Community Center’s Roth/Resler Theatre, 1125 College Ave. Masks and proof of vaccination required, with limited seating and safety protocols followed. Tickets cost $25. (614-231-2731, columbusjcc.org) 

Del McCoury Band to visit Woodlands

Didn’t catch the Duck Creek Music Festival in the Hocking Hills last fall? You’ll get a chance on Friday and Saturday, when the Del McCoury Band, led by the bluegrass legend, headlines Duck Creek in the City, two days of bluegrass and roots music on three stages at Woodlands Tavern, 1200 W. 3rd Ave. McCoury will perform on both evenings, joined by 10 other bands, including Wu Grass, the Ragbirds, the Spikedrivers and the Relentless Mules. The music runs from 5 p.m. to midnight on both nights. Tickets: $40 for a single night or $70 for both. (614-299-4987, woodlandstavern.com) 

Andrew Finn Magill to play four-nighter at Natalie’s

Violinist/fiddler Andrew Finn Magill will be taking up residency at Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza, 5601 N. High St., Worthington, for four nights. At 8 p.m. March 23, he will highlight the Irish fiddle side of his talent, with music from his 2016 album “Roots,” accompanied by Irish bouzouki player Mick Broderick. At 8 p.m. March 24, and at 9 p.m. March 25 and 26, he will switch continents, and, along with his jazz quartet, play original music and jazz standards inspired by Brazil. Tickets: $10 to $15. (614-436-2625, nataliescoalfiredpizza.com) 

Bobby Weir and Wolf Bros coming to the Palace

Rhythm guitarist Bobby Weir, a founding member of the Grateful Dead, will join forces with the Wolf Bros at 7:30 p.m. March 21 at the Palace Theatre for a concert likely to slide from Grateful Dead numbers to Weir originals and others. Wolf Bros includes bass player and longtime rock producer Don Was, drummer Jay Lane from Weir’s former band RatDog and keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, who has a long association with various incarnations of the Dead. They will be joined by string and brass quintet Wolfpack. Masks and proof of vaccination required (negative COVID test not accepted). Tickets start at $45. (614-469-0939, www.capa.com) 

Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus to sing show tunes

The Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus will turn to the music of Broadway with “Bless Our Show Tunes.” The concert —  which will feature selections from iconic shows such as “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Les Miserables” (as well as a show of more debatable artistic status, the musical version of “Carrie”) — will be performed at 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sundayin the Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St. Illuminati, the chorus’ sacred ensemble, will also be featured. Masks and proof of vaccination are required. Tickets start at $25. (www.columbusgaymenschorus.com)

Still want more ideas? Fear not. Here we highlight movies, music, theater and comedy shows! 

MOVIES 

Opening March 18 in theaters throughout Greater Columbus: “Jujutsu Kaisen 0”; “X,” starring Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega and Martin Henderson 

Drexel Theatre, 2254 E. Main St.; tickets: $8; 614-231-9512, www.drexel.net:

• “Bloodsport,” 7 p.m. March 17 

Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High St.; tickets: $5 to $12, or as noted; 614-259-7182, www.gatewayfilmcenter.org: 

• “Jujutsu Kaisen 0,” various showtimes starting March 17 

• “X,” various showtimes starting March 17 

• “Alice,” 7:40 p.m. March 17 

• “Exhibition on Screen: Frida Kahlo,” 2 p.m. March 19 

POP MUSIC 
 

• Andrea Van Kampen, 7 p.m. March 17, Rumba Cafe, 2507 Summit St., $15; 614-268-1841, columbusrumbacafe.com 

• REZZ, 6:30 P.M. March 19, Kemba Live, 405 Neil Ave., $45; 614-461-5483, promowestlive.com 

• Gregory Alan Isakov, 7 p.m. March 22, Newport Music Hall, 1720 N. High St., $33.50; 614-461-5483, promowestlive.com 

• Steel Wheels, 8 p.m. March 23, Natalie’s Grandview, 945 King Ave., $20-$25; 614-436-2625, nataliesgrandview.com 

THEATER 

• Ohio Wesleyan University, “The Dumb Waiter,” 8 p.m. March 18-19, Chappelear Drama Center, 45 Rowland Ave., Delaware, free, but reservations required. (740-368-3855, www.owu.edu/PerformingArts) 

• Wild Women Writing, “Emerging: Poems, Playlets, Ramblings and Music,” 2 p.m. March 20, Columbus Museum of Art, Ready Room, 400 E. Broad St., free (614-457-6580, [email protected], https://bit.ly/3pYULTX) 

COMEDY 

• Funny Bone Comedy Club, Sam Morril, 7:45 and 10:15 p.m. March 18, 7 and 9:45 p.m. March 19, $26; B. Scott Benefit Comedy Jam, 7:30 p.m. March 23, $25; Easton Town Center (614-471-5653, www.columbus.funnybone.com) 

• The Nest Theatre, Player’s Nightmare, 8 p.m. March 18, $15 to $16; Dual Duel Semi-Finals, 9:30 p.m. March 18, $12 to $13; ComedySportz, 7:30 p.m. March 19, $12 to $16; 2643 N. High St., 614-929-5545, www.nesttheatre.com 

CLASSICAL MUSIC 

• Columbus Symphony,…