Township Auditorium

Township Auditorium has anchored downtown Columbia since its curtain first rose on December 1, 1930. Designed by South Carolina architects Lafaye & Lafaye and built as the first multi-purpose showplace in the Carolinas, the 3,072-seat hall on Taylor Street was praised from the start for its architecture, acoustics and sightlines, and it still seats audiences across an orchestra level and three balconies under a 50-foot proscenium. Columbia sat midway on the New York-to-Miami rail line, so the Township hosted the era's touring greats: John Philip Sousa's orchestra on opening day, then Duke Ellington, the Dorsey brothers, Leonard Bernstein and Elvis Presley. The modern calendar keeps that range, mixing country, R&B and rock bills with the biggest names in standup - Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle and Steve Martin have all played the room, and upcoming nights include John Mulaney, Steve Martin & Martin Short, Jeff Dunham, Matt Mathews and Mojo Brookzz. The city-owned venue is operated by the Columbia Township Auditorium Foundation; Ticketmaster is its only authorized ticketing agent, and a clear-bag policy is in effect for every event.