The largest and newest theater on Broadway, The Lyric was built in 1997 on the site of the former Apollo and original Lyric theatres and combined architectural elements from both to create a pastiche of old and new. The Lyric and the Apollo (built in 1903 and 1920 respectively) were demolished in 1996 but major architectural elements were protected under their landmark status. The facades from the original Lyric, and the proscenium arch, lobby, and ceiling domes from the Apollo were painstakingly removed, stored, and incorporated into the new theater. The historic dome was set within a new dome and the sidewalls, designed with pilasters and scalloped panels, were reminiscent of the theaters’ original architecture. Newly commissioned murals with a Greek mythological theme that recalls the Apollo’s original concept form a frieze over the side boxes. The new theater was created to present spectacles and large-scale productions such as Ragtime, the 1998 opening show.
