Miami’s Lyric Theater reopens after renovations

Miami’s historic Lyric Theater has reopened after extensive renovations to the century-old venue.

An unveiling of the expanded and improved theater in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood was held Thursday, the Miami Herald reported. Built in 1913 by black tycoon Geder Walker, the Lyric Theater is the city’s oldest entertainment venue. It hosted concerts with some of music’s most recognizable names, including jazz legend Duke Ellington and singer Aretha Franklin.

Dorothy Fields, founder of the Black Archives History and Research Foundation, led efforts to save the 819 Northwest Second Avenue theater from demolition during the 1980s. She also successfully pushed for the venue to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

“My vision is that people will come from all over the world to celebrate black culture at the Lyric Theater,” Fields told the Herald.

Another event at the theater is slated for this evening. [Miami Herald] — Eric Kalis