After a challenging year, the Brownwood Lyric Theatre is inviting audiences in once again, and the Brownwood community could not be happier, as evidenced by sold-out shows!

Chances are at some point in your life you have played the game Clue, or at least heard of it. There is even a campy movie released in 1985 about the game that has an online following and has inspired numerous who-dun-its, including the recently popular movie “Knives Out.” Eric Evans, and his team of volunteers, have put together a hilarious take featuring an all-local cast that shines in this comedic gem loosely following the cult-classic game that matches up numerous suspects, possible weapons, and murderous locations but through the lens of a dinner party.

Historic venues like The Brownwood Lyric Theatre have been hit hard across the country as live performances have been few and far between due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Lyric Theatre operates solely on the generosity of its patrons and of course ticket sales. Over the past year, it has been nearly impossible to bring together more than a handful of shows for a live audience. That did not stop the Lyric team from planning for a bigger and brighter 2021. From starting a podcast called “Waxing Lyrically”, launching a virtual program for patron members, coordinating fundraisers, and of course selecting shows for 2021, things have been anything but boring around the Lyric Theatre but they have been missing their audiences without a doubt!.  “We are thrilled that we can begin to “open up” once again at the Lyric being purposeful in following protocols for safely gathering attendees and our stage actors,” said Eric Evans, Managing Director.

The Brownwood Lyric Theatre opened in December of 1914 as a vaudevillian theatre and transitioned to silent movies with organ music in the 1920s. The Lyric eventually became a full movie theatre owned by the Hoblitzell Family which was later purchased by the Interstate Movie Theater chain and ranks as one of the oldest theatres in West Texas. It was operated by Paramount Pictures in 1941, and was still open as a movie theatre in 1952, but was closed by 1955. Unlike many movie theatres from the 1920s and later, the Lyric was designed as a performance space, and already had a raked floor, a proscenium stage, and a complete fly loft. These elements made the building a perfect candidate for a new life as a multi-purpose performance theatre in the center of historic downtown Brownwood.

The Lyric Theatre has shown a great deal of creativity and diversity in their show selection over the years ranging from hilarious takes on Dolly Parton’s hit “9 to 5” and “Nunsense” to classic dramas such as “Steel Magnolias” and the “The Sound of Music” to holiday classics like “A Christmas Story” and “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the Lyric Theatre is always bringing something new and exciting to the audience. “Attending the theatre is a great way for the family to get out and enjoy entertainment in Historic Downtown Brownwood,” Eric Evans, Managing Director.

One of the best things about the Lyric Theatre is that it gives people an opportunity to explore acting and creates a community for people of all ages that love the theatre. Over the years, the Lyric has been great at developing camps for kids and giving them opportunities to learn acting skills in full-scale productions on a professional stage. It is an opportunity that does not exist in every community, and Brownwood is so proud to have such a fine performing arts staple in our community.

As the Lyric Theatre pushes forward in 2021, we can expect great things! Tickets are already available for Neil Simon’s “Rumors,“ the smash-hit musical “Mamma Mia!” as well as the Broadway play “You Can’t Take it With You,” and the holiday classic “Elf the Musical.” You can also support the Lyric Theatre by purchasing gift certificates or becoming a patron. This promises to be a great year at the Lyric Theatre, and we are hoping that everyone will rally around our historic gem and help ensure that the performing arts continue to thrive in Brownwood!