A History of the Lyric Theatre
On December 18, 1926, the building we know as the Lyric Theatre was dedicated by the Nobles of the Ararat Temple as "our own Castle, but in addition should fulfill the city's need for a spacious auditorium ... and with vast seating capacity (3,000) for the pleasure and benefit of all citizens of the southwest ... which becomes a valuable civic asset acquired without any outlay of public funds."
The Indiana limestone Greek Corinthian facade emulated the Temple of Vesta, and the "American Renaissance" or "American Beaux Arts" design was to architecturally conform with that of the 
Deramus Building and the American Hereford Building which would occupy other corners of the intersection.
The million dollar original cost was financed entirely by initiation fees and the public boasts about the absence of special assessment or subscription failed to include mention of the $600,000 note with the Union Trust of St. Louis which led to foreclosure in 1939. By 1942 the auditorium had been stripped of all its seats and the building was sold to the American Red Cross and used as a blood collection center in support of the war effort.
After the war, the building was used for legitimate theater, at first called the Playhouse and renamed the Victoria. The building was bought from the Red Cross by Midland Broadcasting (KMBC) in 1947 for $85,000. In 1958 the building was leased by the Durwood Theater organization (AMC) and reopened in 1959 as the Capri, a movie house of 700 seat capacity with a Wide Screen Todd-AO performance of South Pacific. In 1964 it converted to Cinerama.
In 1970 the Kansas City Lyric Theatre (as Lyric Opera of Kansas City was then called) signed a three year lease with AMC to bring its opera to the Capri, then reported to have a 
capacity of 1,238 seats. The following year, it was announced that the Capri would cease as a motion picture theater and become home to live theatrical arts. The Vienna State Opera Ballet initiated the season with five works. The Lyric season followed.
In 1974 the Lyric entered into a long term lease with MetroMedia, Inc., owners of KMBC-TV 9, giving it exclusive management of the KMBC Building theater, to be called the Lyric Theatre. Conditions were stipulated for sublease to other performing arts organizations. The name of the company was changed to the Lyric Opera of Kansas City to distinguish it from the venue. A grant from the Enid and Crosby Kemper Foundation in 1976 permitted extensive renovation of the stage, and refurbishment of the auditorium, lobbies and backstage areas. In 1982 the building was sold to the Hearst Corporation which continued its leasing arrangement with Lyric.
In November 1989, during a rehearsal of the Kansas City Symphony, a piece of plaster fell from the ceiling in the house, effectively shutting down the theater for the next two seasons. The Hearst Corporation agreed to repair the building roof, but not the theater ceiling. After assessment of the situation, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City purchased the building from 
The Hearst Corporation for $2,650,000 and proceeded with repair of the ceiling, renovation of the overhead lighting and music library and lowering and enlarging of the pit.
In September 1991 the Opera returned home from temporary sanctuary at the Music Hall. With money from several sources, including the Landmarks Historic Trust Corporation, the Lyric restored the limestone front steps and plaza of the building in the summer of 1997.
Additional information regarding the history of the building can be obtained by contacting the Landmarks Commission at City Hall: 816-274-2555. The Lyric Opera's archives are in the repository of Western Historical Manuscript Collection: 816-235-1543.
