                                ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, February 7, 1997               TAG: 9702070035
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: |By TOM ANGLEBERGER STAFF WRITER

PUTTING THEATER BACK IN THE LYRIC

For the first time in decades, an audience is about to experience live theater in a unique environment - the Lyric Theatre.

It's not clear exactly when the Lyric stopped offering live theater, but those who have been inspired by the theater's history say this is a great time to start again.

At one time, it appeared that the Lyric might never be used again. After almost 60 years of movies, vaudeville and theater, it closed in the 1980s. But in February 1996, a group of local citizens was able to reopen the theater for movies every weekend.

This group, The Lyric Council, hoped to see the Lyric become a place for movies, live theater, concerts and other events. Now, a year after reopening as a movie house, the Lyric reopens as a venue for live theater with Sam Shepard's "Fool for Love."

As with the return of movies to the Lyric, the return of live theater is the result of the vision and hard work of a number of volunteers. The driving force behind this group has been Doug Chancey, a local actor who is both acting in and producing the play.

"I'd like something really, really exciting to happen to the Lyric," says Chancey, who adds that the Lyric has been a source of inspiration to him ever since he saw a movie there in the early 1980s.

Chancey says he would like to see the Lyric blossom into a dinner theater, with a resident troupe of actors. "My ultimate dream would be to do Shakespeare at the Lyric," he says.

But right now he is facing reality. The reality is that live theater may be back at the Lyric, but there is no guarantee that it is back to stay.

Chancey says that "Fool for Love" has to prove that live theater can be successful in order for future plays to be given a chance.

"It's kind of a test run for live theater," says Chancey. If this play works, he says, the Lyric may be the host for many more plays and for other types of live performance.

"We talked them into giving us one weekend to show what we can do," says stage manager Tyler Burton. Burton, too, is hoping that live theater can become a regular feature of the Lyric again.

"It's a unique place," he says. Although the Lyric stage is a little short on space, Burton says there is enough room for the set and a small backstage area.

Creating a play in a theater that is in use as a movie house does have some special circumstances, he says. The set was built with movable walls. It is moved out for rehearsals and practices, but must be collapsed every time a movie is shown so that the screen may be lowered into place.

These minor inconveniences are far outweighed by the theater's positive features, says actor Mike Newnam.

"This theater was made to be acted in," he says. "They don't build theaters like this anymore."

Among the best features for live performance, he says, are the great acoustics, which allow actors to be heard in the far reaches of the 500-seat theater.

He says he thinks he's been given a great opportunity as an actor by being in the play. However, he thinks the theater can benefit others, too. "Something like this can bring a lot of enthusiasm to downtown merchants [and] those that want to think of Blacksburg as a cultural community."

"I'd like to see it become much more a part of the community," says actress Nora Hanson. She says she has lived in Blacksburg for 18 years and has always loved the Lyric. When the Lyric Council brought the theater back to life, she says she let everyone know how interested she was in performing there.

She and Newnam say a 500-seat theater in the middle of town could be useful to many groups.

"We'd really like to encourage a variety of organizations," says Lyric Council member Steve Beatty, who is also producing the play.

As a member of the council, Beatty not only wants everyone to use and enjoy the Lyric, he is also hoping they'll help rebuild it.

He says the Lyric council has proved that the theater can be financially successful and now wants to work on restoring the interior of the building. A major fund-raising campaign will start soon to pay for this refurbishment.

If live theater turns out to be successful, part of the restoration will include rebuilding or creating facilities for performances, such as lights and dressing rooms.

The theater requires many other repairs and changes, as well. In addition to many minor repairs, the air-conditioning and electrical systems must be overhauled and additional fire prevention must be installed before the balcony can be reopened.

This work continues to go forward because so many people have contributed time, money and talent toward a dream of a restored theater which shows movies for children on weekends, is host to Christmas plays during the holidays and supports a wide variety of performing arts. Their goal is a theater that will be a focal point of culture and community pride.

The success of "Fool for Love" will play an important role in making that dream come true.

"Fool for Love," a drama for mature audiences, premieres at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Additional shows will be performed at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16 and Feb. 20-22. A number of area restaurants are offering discounted tickets to dinner customers each evening.

For more information call the Lyric Theatre at (540) 951-0604.

Information about the restoration, the Lyric Council and upcoming events is available at Lyric Theatre homepage at http://pixel.cs.vt.edu/lyric

Details about the history and architecture of the theater can be found at http://scholar2.lib.vt.edu/spec/specgen/lyr/lyrhp.htm Writer Joel Furr lends a mysterious and nostalgic air to the theater with his story "Ghosts of the Lyric," which can be found at http://www.danger.com/writing/ghosts.html

LENGTH: Long : 111 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff. 1. & 2. Michael Newnam is Eddie and Nora

Hansen plays May in "Fool For Love," the first live play to be

performed in the Lyric in decades. color. color.

by CNB