Two “Halls” Come Together During Spring Day of Service 2017: Lyric Hall and Dwight Hall

Back in 2006, John Cavaliere bought Lyric Hall, which was otherwise destined to be knocked down and turned into a parking lot. With a love for antique restoration originating from his grandparents who loved to collect them, John knew he had to save Lyric Hall, a theater of rich history and culture. Today the theater hosts a variety of events spanning from weddings to plays and has well known artists perform at its venue. Despite his passion for art and theater, John’s journey of restoring Lyric Hall has not been easy and has been marked with numerous challenges such as an unexpected basement flood that wiped out precious artifacts. Due to the overwhelming support of the community, Lyric Hall has continued to persist in spite of these challenges. Dwight Hall has aided the theater since 2012 in an effort to support art and culture in the community. It has partnered with John for its Day of Service and has sent student volunteers each year to Lyric Hall to continue its mission of building strong engagement between Yale and New Haven. Yale students participating in Dwight Hall’s Spring Day of service had a wonderful time learning about antique restoration, the theater’s history and its larger role in New Haven, as well as aiding John in a project.