04/21/2026
What a JOY filled day Friday was as we officially opened our Grand Lyric Theater! A shout out to the Mayor's photography and social media team and to Clinton Bennett for both generously sharing their time, talents, and photographs! We are so grateful for the poignant remarks from Mayor Craig Greenberg about our former CEO Sam Watkins Jr. and his idea to create the Grand Lyric Theater to honor two former theaters in the Russell Neighborhood, The Grand and The Lyric. Sam was the heart of LCCC for 28 years and led to the purchase and development of the Old Walnut Street Campus at 13th and Ali and to making the theater a reality. He died in March and his funeral was held at the Grand Lyric on April 11th. It is fitting and what an honor that the Mayor declared Friday, April 17th, as Sam Watkins Jr. Day!
We are grateful to the community, community leaders, and elected officials for joining us Friday - the Team from Rep. Morgan McGarvey's Office including Former State Lawmaker Joni Ernst, Louisville Metro Council members including Councilman Ken Herndon and Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins, Former Mayor Greg Fischer and Former Deputy Mayor Barbara Sexton Smith, and Former Councilman Tandy. Thank you to Simmons College of Kentucky Drum Corp! And many thanks to WDRB News, WHAS11 News, WAVE, WLKY News, Louisville MetroTV, Louisville Business First and Louisville Defender for all the wonderful stories! Also we are so grateful to Byron + Synofunk for being our first band to perform on stage!