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The Lyric’s story

In the heart of St. Paul, Virginia, stands the historic Lyric Theater, a beloved cultural gem that has stood the test of time.

“A box with a marquee, and the marquee was fabulous.”

Kathy Stewart, Main Street Manager, St. Paul Tomorrow, at the ribbon cutting 4
The Lyric's marquee by day on Broad Street, reading May 10 7PM

Then: an old photo of the Lyric that the Lyric or St. Paul Tomorrow owns goes here.

The same corner of Broad Street

Now: the Lyric’s own photo, May 2024.

The ridges north and south of St. Paul, from USGS elevation data (3x height).

Timeline

1884

A town in a cove on the Clinch

St. Paul was laid out by 1884 in a small cove along the Clinch River. It grew as a rail junction and shopping town for the coal camps around it, and most of downtown was built in the 1920s and 1930s.7

About 1950

A movie house for 650

Built in the 1950’s, the theater became a central gathering place for the community, drawing crowds for movies, performances, and events.1

Sources disagree on the year. The Lyric’s About page says the 1950s; Virginia Business says about 19503; the Times News called it a 72-year-old movie house when the town bought it in 2013, which points to about 1941.4 Needs the Lyric’s confirmation.

650 small seat marks, 202 of them in red
The theater's original seating capacity of 650 was no longer feasible, so the new layout includes 202 seats.

Silence

The Lyric goes dark

However, after years of disuse, the Lyric fell silent for many years.1

2000

A long-time dream

The project had been a long-time dream of the community, dating back to the first strategic plan in 2000.1

2013

The town buys the Lyric

The Town of St. Paul bought the old movie house in 2013, helped by a Community Development Block Grant from Virginia’s Department of Housing and Community Development.45

2014

A decade of restoration

A passionate restoration effort began in 2014, marking the start of a new chapter for this iconic space.1 The goal was clear: to maintain the historical charm of the Lyric while making it accessible and functional for modern events.

$4.75 millionthe whole restoration4

$500,000from the Appalachian Regional Commission6

The restoration of the Lyric Theater was a decade-long effort, made possible by a combination of grants, fundraisers, local donors, and contributions from the town itself. Historic tax credits helped fund the renovation, ensuring that the Lyric would be preserved for generations to come.1

Virginia’s Industrial Revitalization Fund and a community campaign helped too.5

The sign

The marquee lights up again

The sign on Broad Street today is a replica, made by Kinsey Neon & Sign of Roanoke: the red LYRIC box sign, the bulb-lit marquee and the bands of arrows pointing to the doors.4

2022 or 2023

Opening night, again

The theater’s grand reopening was celebrated on January 4, and since then, it has continued to bring the community together with performances and events.1

Needs confirmation. The Lyric’s About page says January 4, 2022; the same site’s description says it opened in 20232, and the Times News ribbon-cutting story dates from early January 2023.4

The footprint of the building remains the same, but several important updates were made. Additional spaces were also added, providing room for business conferences, break-out sessions, and community meetings, making the Lyric a versatile venue for a wide range of events.1

2024

Power of Preservation

Virginia Main Street gave St. Paul Tomorrow its 2024 Power of Preservation Merit Award for the Lyric.5

2026

A new generation of seats

The Lyric’s Got Talent is a community talent showcase and fundraiser to help purchase a new generation of seating for our historic theater.8

Join us for an unforgettable evening of live music with Dre Hilton & The Soul Brothers Band as we unveil our brand-new theater seats.8 (Sunday, October 25, 2026)

Today, the Lyric Theater stands as a testament to the town’s commitment to preserving its history while embracing the future. The Lyric is managed by St. Paul Tomorrow and with a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, it continues to serve as a cultural and entertainment hub for St. Paul.1

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Events

Sources

  1. The Lyric Theater, “What Is The Lyric?” (lyricstpaul.com/about1).
  2. The Lyric Theater, description of lyricstpaul.com/about (“Opened in 2023”).
  3. Tim Thornton, Virginia Business, January 31, 2020.
  4. Times News (Kingsport), ribbon-cutting coverage, early January 2023 (read through a search summary; the page no longer loads).
  5. Virginia Main Street, virginiamainstreet.com, July 15, 2024.
  6. Cardinal News, September 30, 2021.
  7. Virginia Department of Historic Resources, St. Paul Historic District (294-0001).
  8. The Lyric Theater’s event calendar, 2026.