10 things to do this weekend in Columbus, and more

What’s that smell? It’s must be the aroma of satirical comedy emanating from “Something Rotten!” at Otterbein University. If you want to start your weekend a little early, the Tony Award-nominated musical opens Thursday in Cowan Hall’s Fritsche Theatre.

If you’re looking for musical magic, check out the Palace Theatre Friday and Saturday, when the baton meets the wand as the Columbus Symphony performs the score from “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” while the film plays Friday and Saturday at the Palace Theatre. 

For some first-time fun, visit the inaugural Columbus Cherry Blossom Festival in Franklin Park, where various activities will take place in connection with the festival starting Saturday.

These events are just the tip of the entertainment iceberg. From monster truck action to a display of Ukrainian pysanky eggs, there’s more to do and see around the Greater Columbus area. Read on below to plan your outings.

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Monster Jam: Trucks, tires, treads

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Monster Jam will stop at Value City Arena, West Lane Avenue and Olentangy River Road, for three shows this weekend. Guests will be able to see heated rivalries, high-flying stunts and fierce head-to-head battles during shows at 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $30. Fans can pay extra for a Pit Party before the show to see the massive vehicles up close. (www.schottensteincenter.com)

Crew to play on Saturday

The Columbus Crew will be taking on Nashville FC at 6 p.m. Saturday at Lower.com Field, 96 Crew Way. During the match, the team will be honoring longtime Crew player Federico Higuain and his retirement from professional soccer. Tickets start at $27; parking starts at $10. (www.columbuscrew.com)

Jesse Cook to stop in Columbus

Familiar to audiences thanks to a series of popular albums, his tours throughout the world and five specials airing on public television, guitarist and composer Jesse Cook will make a stop in Greater Columbus at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St. On the “Tempest II” tour, the musician, who boasts a range of influences that include classic, jazz and world music, will celebrate the anniversary of the release of his debut album, “Tempest,” which came out more than a quarter-century ago. Tickets cost $27 to $52. (www.capa.com)

See (and hear) ‘Harry Potter’ 

So you saw “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” when it was released in movie theaters in 2007. Maybe you’ve since revisited it on home video or TV. But you probably haven’t seen it in the Palace Theatre with the musicians of the Columbus Symphony in attendance. During three performances this weekend at the Palace, 34 W. Broad St. — at 8 p.m. Friday and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday— the symphony will perform the score by Nicholas Hooper while the film plays. Tickets cost $60.50 to $125.50. (www.columbussymphony.com)

 
‘Something Rotten!’ to open at Otterbein

Two Renaissance-era brothers, overshadowed by their contemporary, Shakespeare, set out to write the world’s first musical in 1595 London in “Something Rotten!,” a satirical Broadway musical comedy that incorporates references to “Les Miserables,” “A Chorus Line” and other modern musicals. Otterbein University’s theater and dance department will present the musical, nominated in 2015 for 10 Tony awards including best musical, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and April 7-9, and 2 p.m. Sunday (in Cowan Hall’s Fritsche Theatre, 30 S. Grove St., Westerville. Masks optional. Tickets cost $30. (614-823-1109, www.otterbein.edu/drama) 

‘Violet’ a story of inner beauty

“Violet” focuses on a small-town North Carolina girl, whose face was disfigured in an accident, taking a bus across the country seeking a miracle from a Tulsa televangelist but learning that beauty lies within as she encounters soldiers, a singer, a hooker and others on her journey. Ohio State University Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts will present the Broadway musical, based on Doris Bett’s short story “The Ugliest Pilgrim” by composer Jeanine Tesori and author-lyricist Brian Crawley, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and April 5-8 at Drake Center’s Thurber Theatre, 1849 Cannon Drive) Masks optional. Admission is free but reservations are required. (614-292-2205, theaterandfilm.osu.edu)

Bright Eyes to rock indie-style

Bright Eyes returned to recording in 2020, after a nine-year silence, and now the three-person indie group, created and headed by Conor Oberst, is back on the road. They will be promoting that 2020 album, “Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was,” at Kemba Live at 6 p.m. April 3. Oberst, then 15, created the group in 1993 along with Mike Mogis, and they’ve since been joined by Nathaniel Walcott. Expect to hear some early work, as well: the group is in the process of re-recording and reissuing its entire catalog. Opening will be indie folk musician Christian Lee Hutson. Proof of COVID vaccination required. Tickets: $39.50 (614-461-5483, promowestlive.com) 

Cherry Blossom Festival blooms

Here’s another reason to hope for seasonal weather this weekend: The inaugural edition of the Columbus Cherry Blossom Festival will take place starting Saturday at Franklin Park, 1755 E. Broad St. The park is home to dozens of cherry trees, including 20 trees planted in 2012 thanks to a gift from the nation of Japan via the East Asian Studies Center at Ohio State University. Multiple events will take place in connection with the festival through April 10. (www.ivocolumbus.com)

Art exhibit salutes veterans

See the faces of those who served in the War on Terror in “The Twenty-Year War,” an exhibition of color and black-and-white photographs of military veterans on view at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, 300 W. Broad St. The exhibition, which opened earlier this month and continues through October, also includes an introductory video. The museum operates from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Admission costs $10 to $17, or free for veterans, active-duty military members and Gold Star families as well as those younger than 5. (www.nationalvmm.org)

Ukrainian pysanky eggs on view

Check out the Ukrainian pysanky eggs on display at the Ohio Statehouse Rotunda, 1 Capitol Square, and the Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery, 77 S. High St., until May 6. These eggs, inspired by a Ukrainian Lenten tradition, were decorated by Troy artist Christina Pereyma and members of her family. The Rotunda is open every day except during state holidays. The Riffe Gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Both exhibits are free and open to the public. (www.oac.ohio.gov)

Want more ideas? From movies to music and more, we have a bunch for you! Keep reading! 

MOVIES 

Opening Thursday in theaters throughout Greater Columbus: “Morbius,” starring Jared Leto, Michael Keaton and Adria Arjona 

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

• “Enter the Dragon,” 7 p.m. Thursday 

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

• “Morbius,” various showtimes starting Thursday

• “You Won’t Be Alone,” various showtimes starting Thursday

Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St.; tickets: $5 to $9; 614-292-3535, www.wexarts.org: 

• “A Powerful Thang,” 7 p.m. Saturday

POP MUSIC 
 

• Watchouse, 8 p.m. Friday 1, Columbus Athenaeum, 32 N. 4th St., $30; columbusathenaeum.com 

• Lawrence, 7 p.m. Friday, The Bluestone, 583 E. Broad St., $19.50; liveatthebluestone.com 

• ekoostik hookah, 9 p.m. Friday, Skully’s Music-Diner, 1151 N. High St., $15; 614-291-8856, www.facebook.com/skullysmusicdiner 

• PUP, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St., $25; 614-461-5483, promowestlive.com