Lyric Theatre In OKC Lays Off Workers

One of the state's premiere theaters has laid off a majority of their workforce amid the pandemic, in what artistic director Michael Baron called a "hard and difficult decision."

Baron says 15 of their 24 full-time staff members have been laid off. However, Baron says the layoffs are temporary and they are planning on bringing back those workers later in the year. Those 15 workers will still be employed for another 2 weeks at the theater.

The company has pushed their current season to next year, but are still planning on putting on their production of A Christmas Carol, which is scheduled to open November 27th.

Baron says they are currently trying to figure out how to make the Plaza Theatre safe in terms of social distancing for when productions resume. They anticipate cutting the seating in the theater from 300 to 100.

Lyric Theatre is still having their online educational program for kids that runs throughout the summer.