Lyric Theater in Wooster marks 6 months with movies, music and art

It’s showtime in Wayne County with the local Lyric Theater up and running six months in from its grand opening earlier this year.

“This has been a dream long in coming,” said Cameron Maneese, incoming president of the board of trustees. “Six years ago, when we started this project, the theater was an empty building in downtown Wooster. Today, we are bringing people together around movies, music, art and more from Wooster and the surrounding region.”

The Lyric is a nonprofit, three-screen cinema and live event venue located in downtown Wooster. The theater has reclining seats and an expanded menu, coupled with a mission to foster community engagement and arts appreciation.

“The Lyric offers a diverse schedule for movie lovers, families and arts enthusiasts alike,” said Jeremy Thomas, managing director.

The theater’s recently announced fall 2025 programming includes a wide selection of offerings. The Lyric features new releases, classics and independent films alongside live events including music, comedy and magic. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the theater reinvests proceeds and grant funding directly into programming that benefits the community, from $1 family movies and free student screenings to gallery shows for local artists and a professional stage for area musicians.

The fall lineup includes special offerings for families and kids.

Lyric Kids Flix is sponsored by the Boreman Family, with $1 classic movies on the first Saturday of each month.

Sensory-friendly screenings offer adjusted lighting and sound, captions, and freedom to move around and vocalize. This series is made possible by the Ohio Arts Council.

Through grants and community support, the Lyric offers special free screenings with snacks to kids in Wooster City Schools.

Several special film series are in the works. These include Halloween Classics in October; Noirvember, sponsored by Matt and Beth Baldwin, featuring noir classics; and Christmas Classics in November and December, sponsored by The Ralph R. and Grace B. Jones Foundation.

A new partnership with Wayne County Public Library, sponsored by Friends of the Library, is the Book to Film Club. The fall club will begin Sept. 9 with a screening of “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” followed by a brief discussion of the movie and book. The series will continue with “Frankenstein” on Oct. 14 and “The Maltese Falcon” on Nov. 10. Movies begin at 5:15 p.m. Registration is suggested but not required. Register at wcpl-oh.libcal.com/event/14835708.

Upcoming special event screenings include “The Room” on Oct. 11, an interactive showing with a live meet and greet with actor Greg Sestero; “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” interactive screening on Oct. 31; and Austenland on Nov. 1, a collaboration with the Buckeye Book Fair to include ticket packages with autographed books.

The Live at the Lyric! concert series is made possible by the Ohio Arts Council and area sponsors. This series brings national, regional and local acts to the theater and includes live music and stand-up comedy. The theater also is planning to expand live entertainment offerings with open-mic nights and open projector nights.

As a supporter of visual and performing arts, the Lyric Theater offers local art exhibitions curated by Mike Jackson. The exhibits rotate every three months and feature gallery openings and meet-the-artists events.

Theater memberships are available at three different levels, offering perks such as free tickets, discounts and free refills. Sponsorship opportunities are available for a variety of events, and donations are accepted by mail or online. There are volunteer opportunities for live events.

At the Lyric patrons will find a large beverage menu including local beer, wine and cocktails, plus popcorn, candy, hot pretzels, nachos, local hot dogs, local gourmet nuts, local freeze-dried candy and local Dubai chocolate.

Merchandise available for purchase includes custom Godzilla-in-downtown-Wooster T-shirts.

Seating varies by theater and includes recliners, rocker seats, snuggle loungers, booth seating and high-top tables.

Each space at the theater is available for private gatherings, meetings and catered events. Rental information is available on the website.

For details regarding membership, movies, events, art gallery showings, venue use, sponsorship, donations, employment opportunities and tickets, visit www.lyricwooster.org. For questions and information, email info@lyricwooster.org. Find lyricwooster on Facebook and Instagram.

“We are a nonprofit organization with a mission to bring art and entertainment and economic development to downtown Wooster and Wayne County,” said Greg Shaya, former president of the board of trustees. “Our aim is to offer distinctive experiences and build community. Today, six months into our operations, we can proudly say that we are delivering on that mission. And the best is yet to come.”