Opened in 1929 as a Loew's vaudeville and movie house, the Civic is one of John Eberson's atmospheric theatres — a Moorish-Mediterranean fantasy of arches, columns, statuary, and a "starry sky" ceiling with drifting cloud projections. After decades of decline and a near-demolition in the 1960s, it was saved by a public restoration drive and now serves as Akron's main downtown live venue: touring Broadway shows, classic film series, comedians, the Akron Symphony, and an annual programme of holiday concerts.
The theatre runs free or low-cost public tours roughly monthly when the schedule allows — check the box office for dates. Otherwise the easiest way in is simply to buy a ticket to whatever is playing; even a forgettable show is improved by the room you watch it in.
The Civic sits on South Main Street directly across from Lock 3 and Akron Art Museum, which makes it convenient to combine all three on a downtown afternoon.