Ribbon cut as new Lyric Theater opens doors
Lyric Theater Managing Director Jeremy Thomas cuts the ribbon at the downtown Wooster theater’s Feb. 7 grand opening.
On Friday, Feb. 7, a crowd of about 50 gathered outside the Lyric Theater in downtown Wooster to cheer as the ribbon was cut, officially reopening the new old theater to the community.
Cameron Maneese, vice president of the theater board, and her husband Christopher Buchanan, a board trustee, had the original idea for reopening the theater in 2018.
“My husband and I were walking by here over six years ago,” Maneese said. “It used to be a twin-screen cinema. I remember bringing my son years ago. It was empty, and we thought, ‘What if it could be a movie theater again?’ And 6 1/2 years later, it is and then some.
“It’s surreal. It’s such an amazing structure — a classic theater vibe in a modern context. It’s a hybrid of the technology that brings film to us now and the classic of having a live venue space that’s got great sound. It’s just amazing.”
“It’s pretty astonishing,” Buchanan said, “that this dream we had 6 1/2 years ago has actually turned into a reality.”
Before Managing Director Jeremy Thomas cut the ribbon, Maneese offered her thank-yous to the assembled group, which was made up of city officials and organizations, along with board members, supporters and community members.
Buchanan thanked the hard work of the board and the generosity of the community, and both he and his wife told the story of how the Lyric’s return to Wooster came about.
“The story now feels almost like a myth. We’ve told it so many times,” Buchanan said. “That was probably the most consequential walk we ever took.”
After the ribbon cutting, anyone interested was invited to take a quick self-guided tour, and the first movie was shown shortly after that. The theater complex will play host to a variety of movies of all genres and eras. There also will be live theater, music, speakers, community and private events.
“We’re super-excited to open the doors to the community and ready to give them a great experience,” Thomas said.
“We are all excited and thrilled,” Lyric Theater Board President Greg Shaya said. “It’s been a long journey. It’s been a lot of work. You see the payoff when people are excited to come in and see great movies and great live entertainment, get some popcorn, and explore this beautiful space.
“I hope it will be a destination for folks, something to do after dinner, a place to go on the weekends. Downtown is already a great destination. This is just going to expand the menu of what’s possible.”