Stage and Screen - The LocaL

A Liberal Amount of Creative Freedom

Posted on September 10, 2026September 10, 2026 by Editor - the Local

By Andy Carpenter It was refreshing to be reminded that the word “liberal” has a meaning beyond its modern political associations – its root word, liber, means freedom. Over time, to be liberal has also come to mean being generous, open, receptive to new ideas, and free from narrow constraints. Local creative and filmmaker Terrance Smith reminded me of this when I sat down to interview him at Fountain City Coffee. Framed through his perspective,…

Still Riding Together

Posted on September 2, 2026September 2, 2026 by Editor - the Local

Bikes Off Broadway brings 25 years of fellowship, remembrance and one hell of a good time to Woodruff Park By Monica Jones It began on Broadway in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, when members of Columbus’ motorcycle community came together to honor those who had fallen and create a new space rooted in fellowship, remembrance and service. Twenty-five years later, the name has changed and the gathering has moved a few blocks toward the…

CineForge Co-op:

Posted on July 23, 2026July 23, 2026 by Editor - the Local

2026 Columbus Filmmakers Grant Winners By Paul Rowe Every industry analyst will tell you that 2026 is the rise (or the return, for you history buffs) of the independent film – of investing in new, creative voices. Five Columbus creators, all 2026 Local Filmmaker Grant Program winners, have entered the chat. The genres they work in span horror, comedy-thriller, drama, and crime. Ask any of them why they put themselves through the arduous journey of…

More Than a Choir

Posted on July 9, 2026July 9, 2026 by Editor - the Local

On July 17, a room full of people will gather at The Pearl in downtown Columbus to sing. By Monica Jones Some will be experienced musicians. Some will be former choir kids. Some will know exactly what they’re doing. Others may be stepping into a choir for the first time. There will be food, drinks, laughter, a little friendly competition, and a room full of people making a case for their favorite song in this…

Springer Gets on the Good Foot for Juneteenth

Posted on June 17, 2026June 17, 2026 by Editor - the Local

I Feel Good: An Homage to James Brown brings soul, swagger, and Southern music history to the Springer stage By Monica Jones The Springer Opera House is bringing the funk to Juneteenth. This year, the theater’s annual Juneteenth celebration turns its spotlight toward one of the most electrifying performers American music has ever produced with I Feel Good: An Homage to James Brown, a high-energy tribute to the Godfather of Soul. For audiences who moved…

Bailing Out

Posted on June 11, 2026June 11, 2026 by Editor - the Local

By Andy Carpenter Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in an eddy just upstream from a waterfall, where you ain’t got any business testing the water? That is how marketing a movie feels to me; flailing around, trying to keep my feet downstream, doing my best not to panic or go under, all the while thinking to myself, “bail out, bail out!” They say an honorable captain goes down with the ship, but when…

Staying True to the Voice

Posted on June 2, 2026June 2, 2026 by Editor - the Local

Decades after “Watching Airplanes,” Gary Allan continues to connect with audiences by remaining unmistakably himself. By Monica Jones You know that feeling when a song finds you? The kind that settles into your life and stays there. Years later, you may not remember exactly when you first heard it, but you remember the feeling it left behind. For me, it’s “Watching Airplanes.” Like many of Gary Allan’s songs, it lingered. It became attached to memories,…

A Conversation with Jeff Foxworthy

Posted on April 28, 2026April 29, 2026 by Editor - the Local

At Home, On Stage, Still Loving It By Monica Jones In a recent phone call, Foxworthy talked about the work, the writing, and where it all began. After more than four decades on the road, Jeff Foxworthy is headed to Columbus. Best known for his stand-up and the kind of observational humor that made him a household name, Foxworthy has built a career around material drawn from everyday life, the kind audiences recognize immediately. On…

CineForge Co-op: A (bit of) Hollywood Comes Home

Posted on April 6, 2026April 6, 2026 by Editor - the Local

By Andy Carpenter In 2022, just as I was beginning to take screenwriting seriously, I saw my first locally shot feature film: The Greatest Inheritance. I was invited to the premiere by a friend, and at the time, I knew nothing about the film or its cast. After the screening, a heartfelt story of a family learning to accept one another, forgive, love, and embrace their differences following their mother’s death, several actors and the…

‘Chicken & Biscuits’ Serves Up Big Laughs at the Springer Opera House

Posted on April 6, 2026April 6, 2026 by Editor - the Local

A Funeral, A Family, and No Filter By Jhai JamesContributor It can be argued that Southern culture is the cornerstone of civilization, and families are the backbone of its society. Southerners have perfected the art of emotional warfare. (“Bless your heart,” anyone?) Food equals love and fellowship. And church is more than an expression of faith. Combine those traditions with a family that puts the fun in dysfunction, and you’ve got the premise for the…

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