Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PRODUCE QUALITY PROFESSIONAL THEATRE IN OKLAHOMA; TO ENCOURAGE AND EDUCATE TALENTED INDIVIDUALS; TO PROMOTE COLLABORATION AMONG THE ARTS IN OUR COMMUNITY; AND TO ENRICH THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA.
- Income
- $5.3 million
- Spending
- $6.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -8.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 49%
- Employees
- 281
- Volunteers
- 457
- Highest pay
- $157,404, artistic director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 35% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2543 of 43 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $5.1 million spent. LYRIC THEATRE IS THE STATES LEADING PROFESSIONAL THEATRE COMPANY EMPLOYING MORE THAN 200 ACTORS, MUSICIANS, AND DESIGNERS ANNUALLY. FOUNDED IN 1963, LYRIC SERVES OVER 150,000 ADULTS AND YOUTH WITH A YEAR-AROUND SEASON OF CLASSIC TO CONTEMPORARY MUSICALS AND PLAYS FEATURING ARTISITS FROM OKLAHOMA AND AROUND THE NATION. LYRIC CREATES FULL-SCALE PRODUCTIONS ON TWO STAGES AT LYRICS INTIMATE 279-SEAT PLAZA THEATRE AND THE GRAND 2,400-SEAT CIVIC CENTER MUSIC HALL. LYRIC THEATRE IS A REGULAR RECIPIENT OF PRESS AWARDS AND CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR THE EXCELLENCE OF ITS PROGRAMMING. LYRIC THEATRE IS A LEADER IN THEATRICAL TRAINING FOR YOUTH WITH ITS THELMA GAYLORD ACADEMY OFFERING PROFESSIONAL CLASSES IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE PERFORMING ARTS. SO THAT TUITION FEES ARE NEVER A BARRIER TO PARTICIPATION, LYRIC PROVIDES MULTIPLE SCHOLARSHIPS EACH YEAR TO ITS EVER GROWING AND DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION. IN ADDITION, LYRICS MUSICAL INTERACTIVE THEATRICAL TOURING PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE-OF-CHARGE LIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS IN SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT OKLAHOMA. MORE THAN 90 SCHOOLS AND 48,000 STUDENTS ARE SERVED ANNUALLY THROUGH LYRICS POPULAR TOURING PROGRAM THAT HAS VISITED COMMUNITIES IN MORE THAN FIFTY OKLAHOMA COUNTIES. SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTING TO OKLAHOMA CITYS ECONOMY, LYRIC THEATRE ATTRACTS PATRONS FROM ACROSS OKLAHOMA AND THROUGHOUT OUR REGION. MOST NOTABLY, LYRICS PLACEMAKING ROLE IN THE CITYS URBAN CORE WAS FIRMLY ESTABLISHED WHEN IT ACQUIRED AND RENOVATED THE HISTORIC PLAZA THEATRE WHICH BECAME THE LEADING CATAYLST FOR THE THOROUGH REVITALIZATION OF THE NOW VIBRANT PLAZA DISTRICT. LYRIC THEATRE IS CREATING MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES OF, BY AND FOR OKLAHOMA.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1984.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.