Playhouse Square Center050

Playhouse Square Center, the nation's second largest performing arts center, is comprised of eight theaters: the Allen, State, Palace, Ohio, Hanna, 14th Street, Kennedy's Cabaret, and the Westfield Insurance Studio Theatre at Idea Center. All are magnificently restored, and free guided tours of the entire complex are offered the first Saturday and Sunday of the month (call ahead to reserve your spot).

In addition to live performances for all ages - Elmo, Dan Zanes and Dora the Explorer have made appearances in the past year - Playhouse Square offers a variety of workshops and classes for children and families.

We recommend trying the hour-long Project Discovery Family Workshops, held after each show on the Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital Discovery Theater Series for Families schedule. The shows and workshops are geared toward children ages three to eight and their families, and are often based on popular children's books. Ask for details when you order your tickets.

Savvy theater goers can snag $10 and $20 seats to many performances, with some restrictions, using the Smart Seats program. Membership is not required.

Summer Camp offerings vary from year to year, but generally include Teen Boot Camps, Theatre Explorers Boot Camp for tweens, and the occasional Adult Boot Camp. Each boot camp is an intensive weekend program focused on a particular theme, from Hip Hop to Meisner Intensive Acting theory. Visit the website for current offerings.