Mission and History
Mission
- To produce excellent professional musical theatre
- Promote collaboration among the arts
- Enrich the lives of Oklahomans
History
- Founded in 1963, Lyric Theatre is Oklahoma's only professional year-round musical theatre company. For 44 years, Lyric has produced classic and contemporary musicals featuring both nationally known Broadway stars and local favorites.
- Beginning in the summer of 2002, Lyric Theatre moved its summer season from the Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Auditorium to the Thelma Gaylord Performing Arts Theatre in the newly renovated Civic Center Music Hall in downtown Oklahoma City. Lyric productions include the best of classic, modern, artistic, and family theatre for an audience of over 50,000 people.
- Fall 2001 was the advent of Lyric's new winter series entitled Show Notes. These cabaret style concerts are centered around the works of a particular composer or a central theme and feature insider tidbits about how those works came to be.
- Winter 2004 marked the beginning of a brand new musical series. Lyric Theatre Second Stage featured mature, edgy shows perfect for the adventurous theatregoer.
- Fall 2005 began Lyric's Staged Reading Series. These readings allow writers and composers of new musicals to hear their words and music played out on stage for the first time. There are no sets; costumes, props and movement are minimal. These staged readings are followed by feedback sessions where the audience is invited to share their opinions about what they've seen, and what they may or may not have liked or understood.
- Lyric Theatre recently completed the renovation of the historic Plaza Theatre on NW 16th Street, bringing life back to this beloved neighborhood landmark. The renovated Plaza is now home to year-round productions of rarely-performed musicals, plays, and new works, all in an intimate 270-seat setting. The theatre stage now provides Lyric's Thelma Gaylord Academy students with the ultimate "classroom", giving them the perfect venue to showcase their talent. Lyric's Summer Season will remain at the Civic Center Music Hall.
- Lyric Theatre provides over 250 jobs annually, and employs nationally recognized directors, designers, actors, artists and artisans who join local professionals from across the state. Lyric Theatre operates under an URTA contract with the Actors' Equity Association, and employs members of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and Musicians Local 375-703, as well as I.A.T.S.E. Local 112.
