The Lyric Stage Company of Boston

The Lyric Stage Company of Boston is Boston's oldest professional theatre company.[1] Founded in 1974, the non-profit theatre is in the YWCA building at 140 Clarendon Street. It produces six plays and musicals each season and is known for its Stephen Sondheim musical productions.

The Lyric Stage Company of Boston
Address140 Clarendon Street
Boston, Massachusetts
United States
Capacity244
TypeNon-profit
Construction
Opened1974; 52 years ago (1974)
Website
www.lyricstage.com

History

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Location

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Ron Ritchell and Polly Hogan founded the Lyric Stage Company of Boston in 1974, with performances staged in the Community Church on Boylston Street. In 1976, the Lyric Stage moved to a theatre at 56 Charles Street. The stage was small, less than 300 square feet, and it sat 103. In 1991, the Lyric Stage moved to its current location in the YWCA Building at 140 Clarendon Street.[2] The theatre has a large stage, a band loft,[3] and seats 234.[4]

Notable Productions

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The Lyric Stage produced Antigone and The Second Man in its first season.

Its first production at 54 Charles Street was The Importance of Being Earnest.

The first production at 140 Clarendon was Red Hot & Cole.[2]

The Lyric Stage's production of Whoop-Dee-Doo! In the 1995–1996 season, earned its first Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Designer.

The theatre's first large-scale musical production was Sunday in the Park with George, which was staged during the 2001–2002 season.

The 2022 production of The Play That Goes Wrong is the highest grossing run in Lyric Stage history.[2]

Community involvement

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In fulfilling its mission to support the Boston theatre scene, the Lyric Stage casts and hires local playwrights, actors, directors, designers, and musicians. Since its founding, the Lyric Stage has employed over 800 actors and 160 designers.[2]

Lyric Stage presents live theatre that promotes inclusivity and connection in an effort to integrate live theater into the lives of all Greater Boston residents. Affordable options are available, making theatre truly for all.

Lyric Back Stage

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An education program that provides an introduction to the jobs and potential back stage career paths in the performing arts such as lighting, sound, props, and costuming.

Lyric First Page

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Lyric First Page was created in 2020 to provide playwriting opportunities and resources to Boston Public School students and interested students from the surrounding communities. The festival of readings features work that reflects students’ experiences, ranging from everyday activities to dreams and even outer space. Lyric First Page's mission is to provide an outlet for students and connect them with their own potential to be theater makers. A volunteer panel of theater professionals and teachers evaluate submissions on character, dialogue, plot, content, and impact. All playwrights receive feedback and may be included in a future reading series highlighting the talents of Boston-based students.

Past productions

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SeasonShow 1Show 2Show 3Show 4Show 5Show 6Show 7Show 8Show 9
1974–1975AntigoneThe Second Man
1975–1976Oedipus RexGhosts
1976–1977The Importance of Being EarnestThe Glass MenagerieA Child's Christmas in WalesThe Lady's Not for BurningThe HomecomingThe Master Builder
1977–1978Mrs. Warren's ProfessionA Child's Christmas in WalesHedda GablerThe Little FoxesAnother Part of the ForestThe Caretaker
1978–1979The Autumn GardenA Child's Christmas in WalesA Moon for the MisbegottenPlayboy of the Western WorldOld TimesThe PhilandererRelatively Speaking
1979–1980Much Ado about NothingThe Show-OffA Child's Christmas in WalesA Touch of PoetYou Never Can TellAntigoneGhosts
1980–1981Hedda GablerThe Glass MenagerieA Child's Christmas in WalesJuno and the PaycockArms and the ManThe PriceThe Norman ConquestsThe Importance of Being Earnest
1981–1982All My SonsThe Norman ConquestsA Child's Christmas in WalesThe Master BuilderThe Little FoxesMisallianceThe Plough and the Stars
1982–1983Twain's Folly[5]Private LivesA Child's Christmas in WalesThe Diary of Anne FrankA Moon for the MisbegottenStreamersMrs. Warren's ProfessionYou Can't Take It with YouThe True Irving Rifkin
1983–1984Goodly Creatures LootA Child's Christmas in WalesBlithe SpiritAwake and SingTaking StepsYou Never Can TellLoot
1984–1985Handy DandyAnother Part of the ForestA Child's Christmas in WalesA View from the BridgeFrench Without TearsPlayboy of the Western World
1985–1986Widowers’ HousesJuno and the PaycockA Child's Christmas in WalesPainting ChurchesHarveyAbsurd Person SingularCat on a Hot Tin Roof
1986–1987And a Nightingale SangThe Norman ConquestsA Child's Christmas in WalesThe Hasty HeartA Streetcar Named DesireCandidaQuartermaine's Terms
1987–1988The PriceHay FeverHow the Other Half LovesA Child's Christmas in WalesThe Bishop's BonfireWhat the Butler SawThe Common Pursuit
1988–1989What the Butler SawThe Big KnifeA Child's Christmas in WalesArms and the ManPresent LaughterThe CaretakerNot About Heroes
1989–1990Bedroom FarceThe Autumn GardenA Child's Christmas in WalesThe VortexOtherwise EngagedA Shayna Maidel
1990–1991MisallianceWoman in MindA Child's Christmas in WalesThe Diary of Anne FrankButleyDrinking in AmericaA Thurber ReunionFallen Angels
1991–1992Red Hot and ColeA Christmas CarolGhostsYou Never Can Tell"Master Harold"...and the BoysOur Country's GoodThe Man Who Came to Dinner
1992–1993The LiarWidowers’ HousesA Child's Christmas in WalesAmerican BuffaloThe Mystery of Irma VepRodgers & Hart: A CelebrationThe PriceTales of Sholem Aleichman
1993–1994From Boston to Portland: The Fred Allen StoryThe Night Larry Kramer Kissed MeA Child's Christmas in WalesThe Substance of FireA Woman of No ImportanceMy Astonishing SelfPump Boys and Dinettes
1994–1995The PhilandererGood EveningA Child's Christmas in WalesAn Ideal HusbandMrs. Warren's ProfessionTime of My LifePrivate Lives
1995–1996Whoop-Dee-Doo!Hay FeverLady Windermere's FanA Child's Christmas in WalesOedipus RexNot About Heroes
1996–1997Entertaining Mr. SloaneCandidaA Child's Christmas in WalesBlithe SpiritSpeed-the-PlowHow the Other Half LovesJuno and the Paycock
1997–1998AntigonePygmalionA Child's Christmas in WalesLaughter on the 23rd FloorPresent LaughterThe HeiressLost in Yonkers
1998–1999What the Butler SawAssassinsA Christmas Carol & The Night Before ChristmasThe MiserThe Baltimore WaltzNever the Sinner: The Leopold and Loeb StoryWhen Pigs Fly
1999–2000Morning's at SevenThe Old SettlerShe Loves MeThe Comedy of ErrorsCommunicating DoorsThe Judas KissThe World Goes ‘Round
2000–2001Side ManA…My Name Will Always Be AliceInspecting CarolThe Complete History of America (Abridged)No Way to Treat a LadyOver the River and Through the WoodsThe Curse of the Bambino
2001–2002Sunday in the Park with GeorgeLobby HeroNuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas MusicalThe Miracle WorkerThe Lisbon TraviataGlengarry Glen RossLend Me a Tenor
2002–2003Dirty BlondeThe GigEpic ProportionsBeyond BeliefIt's All True2 LivesSide Show
2003–2004When Pigs FlyBook of DaysMeshuggah-Nuns!Private LivesThe Spitfire GrillThe Mercy SeatNoises Off
2004–2005A Little Night MusicEars on a BeatleFully CommittedThe Glass MenagerieRed HerringLiving OutShakespeare in Hollywood
2005–2006Urinetown: The MusicalA NumberCrownsThe UnderpantsThe Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?Talley's FollyKong's Night Out
2006–20071776Nine Parts of DesireSee What I Wanna SeeSouvenirMiss WitherspoonArms and The Man
2007–2008Man of La ManchaDying CityThis Wonderful LifeAdrift in MacaoThe SceneThree Tall WomenThe Importance of Being Earnest
2008–2009FolliesNovemberThe Mystery of Irma VepThe Year of Magical ThinkingCat on a Hot Tin RoofSpeech and DebateGrey Gardens
2009–2010Kiss Me, KateDead Man's Cell PhoneShipwrecked! An EntertainmentGroundswellLegacy of LightLady Day at Emerson's Bar and GrillBlithe Spirit
2010–2011The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeThe Life and Adventures of Nicholas NicklebyThe UnderstudyMy Name Is Asher LevBroke-ologyAnimal Crackers
2011–2012Big RiverOr,Ain't Misbehavin’Superior DonutsTime Stands StillThe TemperamentalsAvenue Q
2012–2013The MikadoThe ChosenChinglish33 VariationsStones in His PocketsBy the Way, Meet Vera StarkOn the Town
2013–2014One Man, Two GuvnorsWater by the SpoonfulBecky's New CarWorkingDeath of a SalesmanRich GirlInto the Woods
2014–2015Sweeney ToddDear ElizabethThe Tale of the Allergist's WifeRed Hot PatriotIntimate ApparelCity of AngelsLight Up the Sky
2015–2016My Fair LadySaturday Night/Sunday MorningBuyer & CellarSondheim on SondheimFast CompanyMr. Burns, a post-electric playPeter and the Starcatcher
2016–2017CompanyWarrior ClassMurder for TwoWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?Stage KissBarbecueCamelot
2017–2018GypsySouvenirHold These TruthsRoad ShowVirginia Woolf's OrlandoAnna ChristieThe Wiz
2018–2019Kiss of the Spider WomanThe RoommateBreath & ImaginationThe WolvesThe Little FoxesTwelfth NightPacific Overtures
2019–2020Little Shop of HorrorsThe Thanksgiving PlayAgatha Christie's Murder on the Orient ExpressThe CakeThe TreasurerNo production due to the COVID-19 pandemicNo production due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020-2021 No production due to the COVID-19 pandemic No production due to the COVID-19 pandemic No production due to the COVID-19 pandemic No production due to the COVID-19 pandemic No production due to the COVID-19 pandemic No production due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021-2022 Be Here Now The Last 5 Years Mr. Parent The Book of Will A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder The Light
2022-2023 Fabulation or, The Re-Education of Undine The Play That Goes Wrong Preludes The Great Leap Sister Act Rooted
2023-2024 Assassins Ken Ludwig's The Game's Afoot: Holmes for the Holidays Trouble in Mind Thirst The Drowsy Chaperone Yellow Face
2024-2025 Urinetown Noises Off Crumbs From The Table of Joy ART The Great Reveal Hello Dolly!
2025-2026 Our Town A Sherlock Carol Penelope Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous Something Rotten!

Ref[6]

References

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  1. "Boston's Theater District".
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Lyric Stage History". Archived from the original on February 18, 2018.
  3. Friedman, Arthur (November 1, 1991). "The Lyric Stage Spreads its Wings". Boston Herald.
  4. "Lyric Stage Box Office".
  5. Edelstein, David (September 28, 1982). "Strangers on a Twain". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  6. "Lyric Stage Production Archive".
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