'Wheel of Fortune Live!' is coming to Columbus, and the co-hosts have ties to the city

If you’ve ever watched “Wheel of Fortune” at home and thought you could spin or solve the puzzle better than the contestants, now is the time to step up.

On Sept. 30, “Wheel of Fortune Live!” comes to the Palace Theatre. The live version of the show, co-hosted by Mark L. Walberg and Kalpana Pot, is identical to the television version in every way — except that Greater Columbus ticket-buyers have a shot at getting called onto the stage and winning prizes.

“For ‘Wheel’ watchers who watch every night, it’s very much what you would expect,” said Walberg, also the host of “Antiques Roadshow” on PBS and “Temptation Island” on USA Network.

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“The difference is that it’s a live show — it’s not for TV — so there’s a little bit more of a party vibe, a little bit of an edge because we’re not sure what’s going to happen,” he said.

Despite the air of unpredictability, most in attendance are likely to be familiar with the rules and basic setup of the show, which, in the on-air version co-hosted by Pat Sajak and Vanna White, is something of a staple in many homes.

“Because of it being on every day for so long, it’s comfort food,” Walberg said. “We go to work, we have stress, we finally get home, . . . and you sit down and that’s something you can count on.”

Here’s a rundown of what to expect if you want to watch — and, maybe, become a part of — “Wheel of Fortune Live!”

When and where does 'Wheel of Fortune Live!' take place?

The show will take place at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St.

What do tickets cost?

Single tickets range from $29 through $84. There are also VIP and group packages available. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door.

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Where do I buy tickets?

To purchase tickets, visit my.cbusarts.com.

How can I get on stage?

According to the “Wheel of Fortune Live!” website, ticketbuyers 18 and older can register at the theater beginning 3 hours before the show kicks off. A government ID is necessary to register. Out of the pool of registrants, contestants will be chosen randomly.

How long is the show?

Live shows have been running about two hours, Pot said.

Does the live version look like the TV version?

The live show is pretty much a carbon copy of the TV show. In fact, the experience of attending the live show is a bit like going to a taping of the TV show, Walberg said.

“I think it’s really fun for people to see it on stage rather than what the director . . . shows you, cut to cut,” he said. “You can see the monitor that the contestants look at to see what letters have been called. . . . (and) see the set move when we bring in the bonus-round wheel.”

Pot said that the audience will also get to see the co-hosts make the occasional flub.

“It humanizes the show,” she said. “(In) the TV version, you edit so many of the mistakes out.”

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There’s an art to the letters

Like Vanna White on the TV version, Pot is responsible for walking to the correctly guessed letters on the puzzle board.

“I think I have the most physically demanding job,” Pot said. “I was choreographed through it. I have to start from the right and work my way down, but for the final round, I work from left to right. You can never really turn your back to the audience, so if you’re turning around, you have to turn a certain way. But then it just becomes second nature.”

The co-hosts both have Columbus connections

Pot, a native of Botswana, moved to Dublin when she was about 9. She attended Scioto High School and graduated from Ohio State University, where she majored in business before deciding to pursue an acting career. “It’s the city, I will say, I’m most excited to come to, because it is (my) hometown,” she said of visiting Columbus on the “Wheel of Fortune Live!” tour.

Meanwhile, Walberg is the father of dancer Goldie Walberg, who was a member of BalletMet 2 in 2014-15. “She loved her time in Columbus,” Mark L. Walberg said. “She was in the second company at BalletMet, working with Edwaard Liang, who’s an icon in the ballet world.” Since leaving the company, Goldie performed with Kansas City Ballet and is now based in Boston, where she teaches and manages her own brand, Lazy Ballerina Club.

Why 'Wheel of Fortune' is so enduring

It all comes down to the show being easy to follow, Walberg said.

“All great game shows are simple,” he said. “This is a simple game. We all can play it from our couch.”

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 'Wheel of Fortune Live!' coming to Columbus on Sept. 30