Clovis gets grants to finish renovations on Lyceum theater

Federal and state grants adding up to $1 million have given the city of Clovis a chance to finish renovations of the 1919 Lyceum theater.

The Lyceum has been closed since a theater group departed in 2013. With the new funding, city officials hope to reopen it in about a year.

The Lyceum is one of three historic downtown Clovis theaters in various stages of revival. The Mesa and State theaters, both also closed for years, reopened in 2021 after renovations, although the State closed again after storm damage in late 2021.

The same storm also set back the Eastern New Mexico city's efforts with the Lyceum, where the basement flooded and the stage and auditorium floors were damaged, Clovis City Manager Justin Howalt said.

The city this year received a $500,000 federal Saving America's Treasures grant that they were able to match with a $500,000 state New Mexico MainStreet capital outlay grant announced last week.

"Knowing we have $1 million as a budget is a good start," Howalt said in an interview. "We are under contract with an architect. Until we get actual prices, we don't know if $1 million is enough, but it will get us in a good place to open."

The city plans to get a new sign for the Lyceum, paint the exterior, update the stage and interior lighting, and redo the stage and auditorium flooring the city had already installed as part of $174,600 in investments since 2014. Among other improvements, the city also has installed new sound and lighting and remodeled the restrooms.

The city acquired the 700-seat Lyceum in 1982. A theater group operated it until 2013.

Community members donated the 1925 Mesa theater to Clovis Community College in 2003, but it was not until June 2021 that the Mesa reopened, renamed as the Norman & Vi Petty Performing Arts Center.

"We're not going to take the sign off. It's so historic," said Christy Mendoza, director of the Cultural Arts Series at Clovis Community College.

The 400-seat Petty offers another venue for the series for smaller concerts. The series primarily stages performances at the 1,400-seat Marshall Auditorium at Marshall Middle School.

The college has had only a handful of events at the Petty, but Mendoza hopes to have more in the coming year.

"We are doing our first play in there now," Mendoza said. "The stage is so small. It will be used for smaller music events."

The college's Cultural Arts Players are staging an adaptation of A Christmas Carol toady to Saturday at the Petty.

Renovations at the Petty are not complete.

"I'm hoping to have lighting and sound [improvements] in place in two years," Mendoza said. "I think we have to spend another [$200,000]."

The college received $500,000 from the Joe and Charlyne Sisler Foundation for renovations to that theater in 2011. Others have contributed $250,000 since then, and the Legislature approved $125,000 more in capital outlay funding this year.

Over the years, the stage was rebuilt, the former Mesa space was made handicapped accessible, the roof was replaced, new restrooms were installed, a neighboring building was demolished to create a parking lot, the lobby was renovated, and a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system was brought in, Mendoza said.

"Everybody is interested in seeing something at the Petty," Mendoza said. "We're getting there slowly but surely."

Even with the three historic theaters not yet all operational, they have already played a role in sparking downtown vitality, said Lisa Pellegrino-Spear, executive director of Clovis MainStreet, an economic development organization dedicated to revitalizing downtown Clovis.

"Downtown has seen significant improvement knowing the theaters are coming," Pellegrino-Spear said. "Last year, nine new businesses opened."

Red Door on Main, a craft beer taproom, and Bandolero Brewing, the first Clovis brewery, opened across the street from each other and near all three theaters, while The Rails restaurant has opened in the historic 1907 train depot.

"We're excited what [the theaters] can do for our downtown district," Howalt said. "MainStreet has done a great job recruiting businesses."