The Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center

Meet Our Team

Staff

xecutive Director - Christian Adair christian@historiclyric.com
Executive Director - Christian Adair christian@historiclyric.com
Marketing & Art Director - Charles Rice rice@historiclyric.com
Rental & Sales Director - Kendall Meiller kendall@historiclyric.com
Program Manager - Pierre PetiteFrere pierre@historiclyric.com

Board of Directors

Chair - Wallace Barber
Vice Chair - Lloyd Alverson
Treasure - Larry Johnson
Secretary - Suzanne Leibee

PAULA CAMPBELL-RUDD

PAT TATUM

PERCY THOMAS

TIFFANY DANIELS

SEON JACKSON

OBIE TAYLOR

 

BRYCE OQUAYE

CAROLYN DUNN

CARRINGTON WALKER

TYLER MORTON

GEORGE A. BROWN JR.

Our Story in Events

carnival
Flexible little african american girl ballerina. african girl ballet studio. Ballerina in dance class. Girl white tutu, leotard learning to dance. Child dancer exercising. Kids practice full split.
salute copy
1legacy brick
JUNETEETH FLYER 2
YRIC JUNE copy
nappy-Recovered
yoga
trip jwinter jazz fest copy 3
postyerdance classes at the lyric copy
unnamed (3)
winter jazz fest flyer JESSIE LESS copy
LINE DANCIN copy
Tony Wavy copy
empowerher ad
rouse winter jazz fest copy
BCIB BCBW 2025
winter jazz fest flyer JESSIE LESS
revised hwy31
unviel statue copy
expunge
Lyric Poster for Shorts January 28 copy
inside and out 2 flyer copy
storywinter jazz fest flyer copy
black history flyer 2025 copy
1000023208
Senior African American man in Santa hat looking inside shopper bag with magic light, enjoying his Christmas gift on orange studio background. Xmas shopping, buying New Year presents
Christmas Toy lyric copy
SCHOOL DAZE FLYER copy
IMG_5252
MeanderDecadeLyricPosterSocial
b5aa93951083d96d183567810b5f11ca-Fu9wvq.tmp_
benefit concert ad copy
new poets and painters ad copy
anniv flyer back
peters collins
processed-CE12A05F-0C58-4F86-85F9-0C66C8433674
back 2 school carnival
Juneteenth Flyer 2024 2
blueprint ad SM
save date
school daze
juneteeth
sigma-flyer (1)
Night-Of-poetry
DERBY-AT-LYRIC-AD (1)
SAFER-AD-copy
TEEDEE-AD
HONORING BLACK EXCELLENCE (8.5 x 11 in)
play (1)
https://forms.gle/uAifuXgpCoWB82WN6
mlk
winter-jazz-promo-flyer
unnamed (1)
IMG_5466(1)
IMG_5493(1)
Paint and Sip
angel-adall
377931702_795148415750155_4404921317829380673_n
The-Lyric-LD-Flyer
Heart-of-the-Turf-Museum

The Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center: A Living Legacy Reborn

In the heart of Lexington’s historic East End stands a place where voices once silenced found their song, where joy lit the stage in the face of injustice, and where community gathered, generation after generation, to say, “We matter.” Since its opening in 1948, The Lyric Theatre has never been just a building. It was a lifeline. Born in an era of segregation, The Lyric stood proudly at the corner of DeWeese St. and what locals called “Do As You Please Street”, a name that, in spirit, captured the soul of a community determined to live free and full. Inside its walls, laughter echoed, feet danced, and music soared.
That place is The Lyric.
That place is The Lyric.-1948
As part of the legendary Chitlin’ Circuit, The Lyric welcomed the giants of American music: James Brown, B.B. King, Ray Charles, Tina Turner, Etta James, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Wynonie Harris, and more. But the stage was not only for stars, it was for church choirs, school pageants, and young dreamers who believed in something greater. Every curtain rise was a declaration of brilliance, courage, and hope.
The American Culture
The American Culture -40's, 50's, 60's
Outside, DeWeese Street thrived. In reflection, it was our “Black Wall Street,” it buzzed with Black-owned barbershops, cafés, insurance offices, and clubs. It wasn’t just business; it was pride in motion. The Lyric was the beating heart of it all, a cultural engine that turned foot traffic into economic power and artistry into inspiration.
Black Wall Street
Black Wall Street-1950's
The answer came not in a single moment, but in a movement. By the 1990s, that collective ache became action. Elders, visionaries, artists, and advocates rallied to revive not just a building, but a legacy. In 2005, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government stepped forward with an enthusiastic community —not to impose a plan, but to listen. A community-led Lyric Task Force gathered stories, shaped dreams, and held a vision that would soon awaken something beautiful. From 2006 to 2010, hands and hearts came together. Through years of design, dialogue, and deep dedication, The Lyric was not only restored, it was reimagined.
“Why hasn’t The Lyric come back?”
“Why hasn’t The Lyric come back?”-1990's
The final film flickered across the screen, the doors locked, and for 48 long years, silence settled where song once lived. The once-vibrant marquee dimmed. The building aged. What had been a sanctuary became a scar, visible, aching, and unresolved. And yet, in living rooms, barbershops, and sanctuaries, the community kept asking:
But then, in 1963, the lights went out.
But then, in 1963, the lights went out.-1963
On October 28, 2010, after nearly five decades of silence, the lights of The Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center blazed bright once more. This wasn’t just a reopening, it was a homecoming. Shaped by the voices of the community and guided by the expertise of civic leaders, artists, educators, and business professionals, the rebirth of The Lyric was a powerful example of what’s possible when vision meets unity. Restored with care and reimagined with purpose, The Lyric reopened with a bold mission: The Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center uplifts and empowers the community through arts, education, and engaging programs, providing a vibrant space for creativity, connection, and well-being. The return of The Lyric wasn’t just the revival of a building—it was the restoration of a heartbeat, once again pulsing at the center of Lexington, Kentucky, and the Nation through its historical connection. And this time, it came back stronger, broader, and more determined to uplift all who walk through its doors.
The Return of the Lyric
The Return of the LyricOctober 28th, 2010
More than a theatre, The Lyric is now a thriving cultural campus designed to serve, inspire, and unite. It is: • A Historic Theatre & Concert Hall where performances ignite imagination • A Rotating Art Gallery showcasing visual voices • A Library & Cultural Center nurturing literacy and legacy • A Creative Studio for podcasting, photography, and media-making • A Community Room designed for dance, dialogue, and nonprofit access • A Gift Shop supporting free community programming • A Versatile Rental Venue for weddings, performances, and celebrations This is where young artists find their spark, where elders share wisdom. Where murals honor changemakers and where every corner carries the echo of what was, and what’s possible.
A Rebirth with Purpose
A Rebirth with Purpose-2011- Present
Because it is not just a theatre. It is memory and momentum. It is resilience and rebirth. It is a sacred place where joy was never denied, only delayed, and has now returned, brighter than ever. WE LOVE OUR LYRIC because it reminds us what community can build, protect, and restore when we believe in the power of our shared story. Come see why. Come feel why. Come be part of the legacy. The Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center: The Place to See & Be Seen, Since 1948
We Love Our Lyric
We Love Our Lyric-2025
At the center of it all stood The Lyric, glowing with marquee lights and filled with the sound of joy. It was where you went to feel seen, to be inspired, to dance in your seat. Movies, Vaudeville shows, gospel concerts, beauty pageants, and fashion shows filled its stage. From the everyday to the extraordinary, The Lyric was a sanctuary for storytelling and celebration. For the Black community in Lexington, The Lyric wasn’t just entertainment, it was empowerment. It was proof that even in the face of segregation, brilliance could not be dimmed.
The Crown Jewel of the East End
The Crown Jewel of the East End1948-20..
Just down the way sat the historic Kentucky Association Track, and the East End became a haven for the unsung heroes of horse racing, Black jockeys, grooms, and trainers whose skills and stories helped build Kentucky’s global reputation. They lived here, worked here, and shaped a legacy still felt today.
The Black Jockeys
The Black Jockeys-1930's
The Magic of Music 1954 and Beyond There was a time when the world tried to put boundaries on Black brilliance. But the Lyric Theatre, standing tall in Lexington’s East End, became one of the places where that brilliance burst through. As a proud stop on the legendary Chitlin’ Circuit, The Lyric wasn’t just a theatre, it was a musical sanctuary. During segregation, when Black performers were denied access to white-only stages, this sacred circuit emerged as a lifeline, a powerful network of venues where Black artistry could thrive. And thrive it did. Inside The Lyric, the air sizzled with sound. Jazz, Soul, and Rhythm & Blues filled the room, and Lexington swayed to the rhythms of legends. • Ray Charles played keys that stirred the soul. • Count Basie’s band swung with elegance and fire. • B.B. King bent strings that seemed to cry and heal all at once. • And Wynonie Harris shook the walls with Good Rockin’ Tonight, a song so influential, it became part of the roots of rock ‘n’ roll itself. They Came. They Played. They Changed the Game. The Lyric welcomed performers who were already stars—and some who were on their way to becoming icons: • Etta James • Cab Calloway • Lena Horne • Little Richard • Billy Eckstine • James Brown Each took the stage not just as entertainers, but as trailblazers in a time that needed courage, artistry, and soul.
Chitlin’ Circuit
Chitlin’ Circuit-1940 - Future
Plan your visit

Come for the stage.
Stay for the story.

Experience live performance, contemporary art, Black cultural heritage, and community life in the heart of Lexington’s historic East End.

Get DirectionsView Events
Find us300 East Third Street
Lexington, KY 40508
Contact(859) 280-2218info@HistoricLyricTheatre.com
Before you arriveProgram and event hours vary.
Check your event details before visiting.
A Lexington landmark

A landmark still in motion.

The Lyric is more than a venue. It is a gathering place shaped by generations of artists, neighbors, educators, and audiences. Every visit connects the building’s history with the creative life happening here now.

Come for a performance, explore the gallery and museum, experience Architects of America, or simply spend time in a place where Lexington’s Black stories remain visible and alive.

Make the Lyric yours

Three ways to experience the space.

01 · SEE

Take your seat.

Music, theatre, dance, film, and conversation bring the historic auditorium to life throughout the year.

02 · EXPLORE

Follow the stories.

Discover exhibitions, the museum collection, and the interactive Architects of America mural experience.

03 · GATHER

Bring people together.

Host celebrations, meetings, and community programs in spaces made for connection.

The story continues

History you can walk into.

Since reopening as the Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center, this landmark has welcomed new generations into a story that began decades ago. The building honors the people who sustained it while making room for new work, new voices, and new traditions.

See what’s on

Plan a visit to the Lyric.

Plan your route →