Cement Floor Poured at Lyric Theatre, Marking a Major Step in Renovation Project

The restoration of the historic Lyric Theatre in Brownwood is moving right along as the cement was poured for the downstairs seating area and lobby recently, marking a major step in the renovation project last week.  Waldrop Construction is the contractor working to bring the historic theater back to its original glory.

Approximately 70 cubic yards of concrete were brought last Tuesday morning to level out a portion of the flooring for a lobby area with restrooms and a small concessions area.   After 7 cement trucks and part of an 8th truck were emptied into the building, employees of Angerstein concrete worked to smooth the sloped seating area  and lobby of the first floor of the theater.

Board member Dale Wheelis explained that the renovations required removal of flooring that had been added to flatten the sloped flooring when the Lyric was in use as a retail business years ago, an upscale clothing store Pat’s and Gene’s .  He stated that the original floor had no lobby area and that the newly poured floor had a flattened area to create a space for restrooms and a small concessions area.

“It was a challenge to get all the utilities, especially the sewer line into the flooring,” said Wheelis.  He explained that due to the building’s design, the sewer line and water lines had to be established in the new cement floor before it was poured.

Interior renovation began in mid-October of last year.  With infrastructure improvements and the cement floor in place, the restoration is well underway.

Funding of the restoration work has been made possible by several major contributions, including a grant from the 3M Foundation and a series of gifts from local sources including the Woodruff Foundation that total more than $600,000. The 3M grant includes not only $25,000 in cash, but also up to $50,000 in 3M product.  Other contributions have been received from supporters in Abilene, including $100,000 from Tejon Energy, and $100,000 from the Dian Graves Owen Foundation.

Although significant donations have been made to enable the restoration project to begin, fundraising efforts are continuing as the project costs have nearly doubled since the original estimate from 10 years ago.  Current costs for the renovation are projected to be around $1.8 million, according to Wheelis.

The majority of the increase has come from the increase in professionally equipping the theater to the level board members and supporters anticipate.

“We’ve done things that we thought were necessary to have a first class theater,” said Wheelis.  “It’s going to be gorgeous.”

Lyric board members have set a goal for having the project complete, and the theater open to the public in time to celebrate the facility’s centennial in 2014.  Including the balcony, the restored Lyric Theatre will seat 364 people.

Throughout the past several years, as fundraising and renovations have been underway, the Lyric Performing Arts Company (LPAC) has continued to produce major musicals and dramas along with children’s theater camps in other venues, including Brownwood High School and at Howard Payne University. The past year’s major productions included “The Wizard of Oz” in July and the annual performance of the Christmas portion of Handel’s “Messiah” in December.

According to the LPAC board, the reopening of the Lyric this year will provide a “home” for LPAC productions, and will give the community a new location for a variety of other shows, productions and meetings not sponsored by the company. It is also expected to be a major draw for tourists to the downtown area, where they will also find shopping and dining opportunities.

The Lyric Theatre, located at 318 Center Avenue, in the heart of the downtown business district, originally opened its doors 1914.  For a city the size of Brownwood, it was a large facility and became popular with theatrical troupes and performers from all over the nation and the world. Its offerings included traveling stock companies, dramatizations of famous novels, hypnotists, ballroom dancing, novelty musical numbers, vaudeville comedy acts, dramas, performances by the Lyric Orchestra, and major motion pictures.

Early in the 20th century, the Lyric evolved into a movie house. The Lyric continued to serve the area as a movie theater until 1959, when it was closed.  From 1963 until 2003, the building was home to an upscale clothing shop.

Those wishing to contribute to the renovation on an individual level are invited to contact the Lyric board, no matter what size the donation, as every donation brings the project a little closer to the goal.  One popular way to donate is seating sponsorship, which can be made in a donor’s name, or in honor/memory of a loved one.  All gifts will be recognized in the lobby of the Lyric, in a book of supporters which will be on display at the theatre.

Additional information about the Lyric Theatre and the Lyric Performing Arts Company, including ways to donate to the restoration project, is available online at