The entertainment venue Lyric Baltimore has named a new leader.
Thomas Bailey, a 30-year veteran of the arts and entertainment industry, will serve as the next chief executive officer and general manager of Lyric Baltimore. He will oversee the operations of the 2,500 seat theater and the touring acts who perform there.
“I am honored to join Lyric Baltimore, a truly historic and iconic institution that has hosted legendary performers for over 100 years,” Bailey said in a statement. “I look forward to working with our excellent team to ensure the Lyric continues to thrive as a premier destination in Baltimore’s vibrant cultural landscape, attracting patrons from across the Mid-Atlantic region, and bringing them top-tier talent.”
Bailey most recently served as the executive director and general manager at the Guild Theater in Menlo Park, California, where he oversaw the historic movie theater’s transition into a non-profit venue.
Before that, Bailey worked as the general manager of The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York, where he led the theatre’s renovation and re-opening.
“Tom is a highly successful and experienced leader with an impressive track record of building on the legacy of historic venues to create thriving cultural destinations,” said Steve Palmer, chairman of the Lyric Foundation Board of Trustees, in a statement. “His deep expertise in strategic leadership, operations, and union labor negotiations makes him uniquely qualified to lead our organization. We’re confident that Tom’s experience will be vital in advancing the Lyric’s core mission of providing world-class entertainment, ensuring the proper care and maintenance of our historic venue, and expanding our impactful arts education programs for Baltimore area youth. We’re incredibly excited about the future of the Lyric with Tom at the helm.”
Bailey will succeed Lyric Baltimore Executive Director Jonathan Schwartz, who has led the organization since 2018.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t extend my gratitude and appreciation to Jonathan for his leadership over the past seven and a half years,” Palmer said. “There is little question that the Lyric would not be in the successful position it’s in today without Jonathan’s vision and dedication. The Lyric Board of Trustees and I wish him all the best as he has decided to pursue other career opportunities.”
Under Schwartz’s leadership, Lyric Baltimore upgraded to a half-million dollar sound system and transitioned its ticketing from Ticketmaster to eTix.
Schwartz served as chief of staff to former Baltimore County Councilwoman Vicki Almond before the Lyric’s vice board chairman encouraged him to apply to be the Lyric’s executive director.
“It was not something I was looking for. He had to convince me to do it,” Schwartz told Baltimore Fishbowl in an interview earlier this year. “I went through the process, and here we are. I like to say it was an accidental journey, as opposed to something that was planned out.”
In addition to the Lyric serving as an entertainment venue, Schwartz also spoke highly of the organization’s educational work
“Our work with students tends to be about their life experiences, talking about what they see on a daily basis, and being encouraged to express what they’re seeing in a positive way by writing it or performing it or improving it, he said in that interview. “They’re being heard and they’re being valued, in a positive and constructive way.”
The Lyric first opened on Oct. 31, 1894 when the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Australian opera singer Nellie Melba performed there.
The venue, which celebrated its 130th anniversary last fall, has hosted performers such as Pink Floyd, Aretha Franklin, The Grateful Dead, and Robin Williams, among many other distinguished acts.
