Lyric Theatre Birmingham is a restored performing-arts venue in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, hosting concerts, symphonies, opera, theatre and community events. Check its event calendar for a performance that suits your plans, then review ticket and access details before setting out.
- Address: 1800 Third Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203.
- The theatre has 750 seats on two levels, including 12 opera boxes.
- Advance tickets are sold through Ticketmaster.
- From Kings Inn Civic Center/UAB, the Lyric is about a 9-minute walk.
What to know about the Lyric Theatre
The Lyric Theatre is a historic venue whose design reflects its origins as a vaudeville house. Built in 1914 for B.F. Keith’s Vaudeville circuit, it was designed for the acoustics and close seating that suited those performances. The theatre reopened after restoration in February 2016.
The Lyric is listed on the National Register as part of the Birmingham Downtown Retail & Theatre Historic District. Its auditorium has 750 seats on two levels, 12 opera boxes and 60 feet between the stage and the back of the balcony. Those details give a sense of the room’s scale while keeping the focus on live performance.
Its programme ranges from concerts and symphonies to operas, theatre productions and community events. The restored venue is also described as a home for live performances such as ballet.
Checking the event calendar and tickets
The Lyric’s event calendar is the place to look for scheduled performances; dates and times vary by event. Once you have chosen a show, buy advance tickets through Ticketmaster. The theatre does not have a full-time box office.
For most events, the on-site box office opens one hour before showtime; it sells tickets for a ticketed event when open. Check the official site before you go if you plan to buy in person.
Will Call is available beginning one hour before the relevant show. Tickets cannot be collected at another event or when the box office is closed.
How do you get to the theatre?
The Lyric is at 1800 Third Avenue North in downtown Birmingham. If you are walking through the city centre, allow time to reach the entrance and locate your route along the downtown streets.
For a day built around downtown on foot, the one-day Birmingham itinerary includes ideas for connecting stops around the city. The Lyric’s general phone number is (205) 252-2262.
Parking, entry and show-night planning
The theatre’s Plan Your Visit page links to an interactive map of area parking lots. The theatre does not specify parking prices or recommend a particular lot, so use the map to choose parking that fits your plans.
All guests are scanned with metal detectors and have their bags checked before entry. Weapons of any kind are prohibited. Allow time for screening as you plan your arrival.
The Floor level is accessible without stairs, and wheelchair spaces are marked there. There is no elevator access to the Loge, Opera Box or Balcony levels, which require stairs. A Phonic Ear system is available for guests with hearing impairment; reserve it in advance by emailing donny@alabamatheatre.com. ASL interpreters can be arranged with at least two weeks’ notice.
If another historic performance venue is on your downtown itinerary, the Alabama Theatre guide covers its events and arrival details.
FAQs
What kinds of performances take place at the Lyric?
The programme includes concerts, symphonies, operas, theatre productions and community events, as well as performances such as ballet.
Can you buy tickets at the Lyric Theatre?
Advance tickets are sold through Ticketmaster. The on-site box office sells tickets for a ticketed event starting one hour before showtime when it is open.
How can you arrange ASL interpretation?
ASL interpreters can be arranged with at least two weeks’ notice.