The Lyric Stage Company of Boston

We recently discovered this fantastic little theater when we attended their production of My Fair Lady. We were so impressed that we went back yesterday for their production of Saturday Night/​Sunday Morning, which was equally impressive. I love everything about this theater, and I plan on becoming a subscriber soon.

Love this little theater!
I’ve been to 4 shows now, and been delighted every time. They have a great variety from month to month and every production is well produced.
The set design is always on point and they use the two stage balconies in interesting ways. I recommend making a visit!

Great production of Sweeney Todd for fall of 2014! Sweeney Todd is one of my favorite musical/​movie — twisted, dark and positively eerie. The tragedy encompasses intertwining plots of hate and love, revenge and hope.
The performances by the actors and actresses of the Lyric Stage Company depicting the dreary settings and melodramatic representation of the inner psyche of each character are ingenious. Beyond the amazing capacity to act, they all had absolutely stunning voices that captured the essence of the moment. From the heartwarming love song of ‘Joanna’ to the wrenching confession and guilt of ‘Johanna: Mea Culpa’, I was mesmerized and moved by the emotions carried by the sound of their voices. The actors and actresses has perhaps one of the best voices and musicality that I’ve ever encountered at a musical. Very very impressive performance.
The venue is in the theater district on the second floor of Hotel 140.

I first discovered the Lyric in 2008 with the quirky Mystery of Irma Vep, and have been since fascinated with the depth and breadth of offerings by this local theater. So much so that I became a season ticket holder 2 years ago just so I could be continually surprised, enlightened and entertained. The Lyric typically uses local actors and talent, as many faces seem to return. I love the small feel of the place – during each show I feel drawn into the production and part of the on-​stage action. Season tickets for the Lyric are the most reasonable in town and a tremendous value. Granted not all shows are created equal and each resonates differently with audience members, but that’s what I like the most. Every production is different from the one before it, but all of the talented actors, musicians, set designers, etc. create something together that inspires curiosity, thought and fun.

I saw Chinglish here this season. This was the first non-​Shakespearean play I’ve ever attended, and I was very pleasantly surprised by both the performance and the venue. Never again shall I eschew community theater, folks, this is as good as it gets.
I think «intimate» is an understatement for this stage. From my seat, I could have easily used the side props as foot rests. Even from farther away, the tiered seating, ample acoustics and clever set designs integrate the audience into the performance seamlessly. It felt like I was in the play, just watching real events unfold, which could have been awkward and irritating if the acting wasn’t so believable.
I really liked the theatre itself, too. It’s in a random, unassuming Back Bay Street on top of a Y, but the interior is this beautiful historic-​looking two-​story with a winding staircase and open atrium. It looks like a hotel that used to be a bank or something. Concessions, entrances and restrooms were easily accessible and the building layout was generally conducive to a cozy, personal experience. After the performance, the cast and crew exit their dressing rooms into the same common space as the audience members, and they were really friendly and interested in talking to us about the play and their other work.

I have been attending shows here for the last 4 years… and I have never seen a poor performance, yet. I’ve seen Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Spelling Bee, Streetcar Named Desire, and many, many more. If you are a student, rush tix are $ 10, 30 minutes before the show and the folks there are super nice about you calling ~ 2 hours before to see if there are tix left. If you don’t have a student ID, you can buy a 4 pack of tickets (any 4 shows) for ~ $ 110, which is a great deal, too. They put on 7 shows a year, starting in October and ending in May. Good deals (50% off + fee) at bostix as well. And, you can park at the neighboring garage for $ 10.
This place if very intimate, so there isn’t a bad seat in the place (yes, I know many places SAY that, but it’s true here!).This place has spoiled me… I am SO done with big theatres where you pay $ 75 or more for the privilege of not being able to see a damn thing. The performers are all professionals and the sets are quite clever, given the small stage. The snacks are pretty limited, but are reasonably priced (no $ 10 beers here!) and they include a couple of types of beer and wine, cookies and chocolates.
A true Boston gem!

The end of the season finished with a bang, with Avenue Q. To echo Kerry Y.‘s review, the show was just as good as the theater.
Once again, the Lyric pulled it out of the bag. I’d seen Avenue Q at a larger theater in London, and was concerned as to how it would translate to a more intimate venue. It was fantastic — the Lyric’s production staff know how to make use of the space, so that every character, every song, every line, every stage whisper can be heard and enjoyed from every part of the theater.
Even more wonderful was the after-​party: the first Wednesday of every show sees the cast, staff and audience invited to a bar nearby to share hors d’hoeuvres and gossip. I met with the director, spoke to some of the cast, and fell in love all over again with this theater’s community.
Take my advice: buy a season ticket for the Lyric NOW. Student packages start at $ 72 for six shows!

What a fantastic theater. I recent saw Avenue Q here and I was thrilled by the experience — not only the show– but the theater.
Its a unique place, almost reminds me of a college theater or improv place. Very intimate, seats up high, angled down onto the stage. Stage area is not very big, but you are so close to the stage. I agree with others that there is not a bad seat in the house. Its very clean and modern feeling. Unlike other boston theaters, you are not on top of the person next to you or feeling squished in.
I would go out of to see anther show here.

This small gem of a theater gives
new meaning to «community.»
The cozy seats encourage everyone
to get to know their neighbors before the show.
There are NO BAD SEATS in the house!
HINT: 50% OFF TICKETS are often available in advance at
.

A small and intimate theater, not a poor seat in the house. Sat in second row center for Superior Donuts. A fantastic show with great performances by Will LeBow and Omar Robinson, and perfectly directed (again) by Spiro Veloudos. Must see!

The Lyric is a must-​do for out of town guests — I love to show off the best of Boston smaller theaters. no «bad» seats, but we usually aim for the Center sections. The sets are always creative and make the small stage surrounded by seats on 3 sides seem «just right». Staff are professional & friendly; I’ve sometimes been pleased & surprised to meet a producer or writer chatting with patrons at the door. Great shows, great atmosphere — never disappointed!

This is our third year as season ticket holders. The theater plays have been very entertaining. The venue is small. Staging of productions is very professional.

I have been to the Lyric probably 10 – 15 times. It’s a great theatre company with a variety of shows; there is always at least one musical per season as well as dramas, comedies, etc. My all time favorite Lyric show is «The Goat or Who is Sylvia?»
The Lyric can be somewhat expensive, so sometimes I’ll use BosTix or Goldstar for my tickets. The seating area is set up in a U shape around the stage. Acoustically, it’s great. I have never had a problem hearing anything and I have sat in many different locations. If you get one of the side seats, sometimes you can’t see things perfectly.
They also have a little snack bar that serves wine and beer. The restrooms are clean and the staff is nice. The Lyric always features talented actors and that’s why I keep going back! Check it out.

My husband and I recently attended our first show here («The Understudy») and it was a great experience. The theater is so tiny that there isn’t a bad seat in the house.
Tip: Half-​priced tickets are available in advance via
for many shows.

Before attending this show, I had absolutely no idea that this theater existed in the 2^nd floor of Hotel 140 (the building marked «YWCA» on Stuart Street).
It is a nice little theater with stadium seating on three sides of the stage that occupies the fourth wall and a bit of the center floor. I sat pretty high up the center seating area, and still had a pretty good view.
The concessions stand offered drinks and snacks that you could take into the theater with you, as well as certain items specific to the show. This was also where cheaper parking at certain local lots could be validated. A coat room was available just beyond for self-​service.
Bathrooms are located outside the theater doors down the orange hall, with three stalls in the women’s room. This was the first time I ever saw a line for the men’s room!

Saw Putnam County Spelling Bee. Funny, heart warming production. Intimate theater. There IS no bad seat in the house. I was entertained but was put off by the fact that the only African American in the production was cast a parolee (among other things). Couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable about this. He seemed to bear it better than I did.

Loved the Legacy of Light, which I saw last night on my first trip to this interestingly located theater. What a wonderful play to take aspiring to greatness women to! My mind raced all night afterward. Great story and wonderfully rich performances. I look forward to coming back to this theater.

We saw and loved Legacy of Light today. Cleverly constructed and well acted. It was our first Lyric Stage experience and we look forward to the next.

Alright, so I work here, but I think I can give a truly objective opinion of the theater. If we were talking about the box office or the concessions… that’d be a bit different. I grew up watching Lyric productions and when i got the chance to work for them, I jumped on it. It really depends upon the show, director and actors for a rating, but overall, under Spiro’s artistic direction, the Lyric Stage Company always puts up a good show (and the box office is awesome!) The 2008 – 2009 season has been huge, with 2 of the shows making it onto the Top Ten sales chart. The current show, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is great, I just saw it and was blown away.
Come see a show for yourself and look for me, let me know if i was right!

I saw 1776 here last year and it was a great production. The intimate seating around a thrust stage forces creative direction, but they rose to the challenge.
The actors were very talented and since I was in the first or second row, I definitely got some spit flying in my face. Thankfully, I love getting down and dirty with my theater.
Coming to Boston, I expected a lot of the theater district and I found myself pretty disappointed. However, this little theater showed me there are plenty of great performances in Boston just off the beaten path, but only if you know where to look.