The Southern Theatre originally opened in 1896 with a seating capacity of 1,700. It included a full stagehouse and orchestra pit to support a broad range of elaborate productions which included such talents as Ethel and Lionel Barrymore, John Philip Sousa, Sarah Bernhardt, Lillian Russell, Al Jolson, Anna Pavlova, W.C. Fields and George M. Cohan. After its first closing, it reopened in 1931 as a movie theatre. To accommodate the projectors, the second balcony was closed, and a large projection room was carved out. In 1979, the theatre closed for a second time.

The Columbus Association for The Performing Arts (CAPA) hired AD to participate in the renovation and restoration of the theatre, which reopened in 1988. Much of the unique architecture and decoration has been restored, with modifications to the second balcony and main floor seating.

Because a majority of the programming for the renovated theatre is music, we focused our efforts on developing adjustable elements to accommodate music, without precluding continued use of the theatre for dramatic productions. We adapted the stagehouse volume as a partially coupled reverberation chamber to enhance the music acoustics.

In order to best accommodate the musicians, we extended the performance platform onto the forestage. After a thorough sightline study, we recommended that the stage level be raised, and the main floor re-raked. The reduction in the room volume has been more than compensated by the introduction of the reverberation chamber. In addition to improving sightlines, raising the stage level improved access to the stage from the higher street level just outside.

"During a two-hour concert with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra in its new home in the Southern Theatre last night, vibraphonist Terry Gibbs and clarinetist Buddy DeFranco played joy-filled jazz like musicians half their age. The 102-year-old theater scored as well, by providing the orchestra with the most flattering acoustics of its two decade-plus existence....Delivered acoustically -- except for DeFranco’s Clarinet and Hank Marr’s piano during the second half -- the big band sounded marvelous. It was crisp, full bodied and full of definition." By Curtis Schieber for The Columbus Dispatch October 30, 1998

"If they still give people keys to the city, one should be handed right now to Lincoln Center's lead alto saxman, Wes "Warm Daddy" Anderson, in town for the opening of the redone Southern Theatre. Billed as a jam session, the 5 p.m. show was really a trio gig with Anderson and Pharez Whitted sitting in. Whatever you call the lineup, the packed house gave it an instant standing O....But part of the credit goes to the house itself. Forget how gorgeous it is. Acoustically, I've never heard anything in Columbus like the Southern. The sound has the warmth of unplugged music." By Lee Brown, The Other Paper,October 7, 1998

"The ProMusica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus christened its new home, the Southern Theatre, with a concert last night that should win the ensemble new fans. Of course, it couldn't have accommodated more fans because the performance was sold out...For most of its 20 seasons, ProMusica has performed at Ohio State University's Weigel Hall auditorium. I hope all concerned will take this in the spirit it is offered, but ProMusica has never sounded as beautiful as it did last night.

It seemed as if the Southern's wooden stage acted as a sounding box for the music, imbuing each section with presence and richness. And yet the sound also was clean, clear and precise at all volumes. One wished, in fact, that ProMusica had dropped all the way down to a true pianissimo - just to hear how the hall performed....But in its first true test as a venue for chamber groups, the Southern seemed to be what we all hoped it would be: a wonderful theater in which to hear live classical music." By Barbara Zuck Dispatch Senior Critic The Columbus Dispatch October 5, 1998