Columbus Backstage: Melodies & Moments Film at the Lincoln

The Lincoln Theatre Association hosts a free screening of the new documentary Columbus Backstage: Melodies & Moments at the Lincoln Theatre on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Tickets cost nothing but must be reserved through CAPA.

The film traces the Lincoln's life as a cultural anchor on East Long Street. The theatre opened in 1928 and became the center of Black entertainment in Columbus, hosting jazz greats in its ballroom and on its stage, before closing and sitting dark for years. A full restoration brought it back in 2009, and it now presents touring artists while serving as an incubator for local talent. The documentary leans on memorable backstage performances across generations, and the poster art puts Ohio jazz singer Nancy Wilson on the marquee.

Watching a film about the Lincoln inside the Lincoln is the point. The screening also kicks off a busy stretch there, with the North Star Concert the next night.