In the checkerboard past of New London's downtown, the building at 243 State St. once housed the elegant Lyric Hall - an architectural and structural marvel that hosted dance recitals, concerts, theater productions and cotillion balls.Now, Lyric Hall is about to experience a resurrection as a multifaceted, cultural go-to spot with a variety of guises opening over the next few months. Included in the overall Lyric Hall umbrella will be both profit and nonprofit ventures.

Now, Lyric Hall is about to experience a resurrection as a multifaceted, cultural go-to spot with a variety of guises opening over the next few months. Included in the overall Lyric Hall umbrella will be both profit and nonprofit ventures.Two projects are nearing completion: a retail art gallery - occupying the space associated with the old Whaler restaurant - and a Russian tea room. Both should be open in the spring, says Dylan Gaffney, who purchased the building with Gregory Nersesyan in 2004. The pair have been renovating the building since and are behind the tea room and gallery.

Two projects are nearing completion: a retail art gallery - occupying the space associated with the old Whaler restaurant - and a Russian tea room. Both should be open in the spring, says Dylan Gaffney, who purchased the building with Gregory Nersesyan in 2004. The pair have been renovating the building since and are behind the tea room and gallery."There's a lot of restoration going on, and we basically had to gut the building to deal with issues like asbestos and so on," Gaffney says. "The downstairs is nearly done and the upstairs is a longer process. But the facility was so beautiful and had such a wonderful history that we want to restore this for the community at large."

"There's a lot of restoration going on, and we basically had to gut the building to deal with issues like asbestos and so on," Gaffney says. "The downstairs is nearly done and the upstairs is a longer process. But the facility was so beautiful and had such a wonderful history that we want to restore this for the community at large."Nersesyan, who opened a theater school in Moscow with Eugene O'Neill Theater Center founder George White after the two met in a cultural exchange program, originally hoped to use Lyric Hall to open a Russian theatrical school. In that context, a nonprofit group called the ASTI foundation was formed.

Nersesyan, who opened a theater school in Moscow with Eugene O'Neill Theater Center founder George White after the two met in a cultural exchange program, originally hoped to use Lyric Hall to open a Russian theatrical school. In that context, a nonprofit group called the ASTI foundation was formed.Over time, as the renovation took place, plans for the building expanded and evolved.

Over time, as the renovation took place, plans for the building expanded and evolved."The idea to resurrect the name and spirit of Lyric Hall is an ongoing process," says White, who is helping Gaffney and Nersesyan refine the overall vision for the space.

"The idea to resurrect the name and spirit of Lyric Hall is an ongoing process," says White, who is helping Gaffney and Nersesyan refine the overall vision for the space.He says there will be a meeting at the end of the month with a variety of New London civic and cultural leaders to provide further focus and discuss possibilities. The original concept of a Russian theater initiative is no longer the principal focus of the building, White says, but such a project is certainly something that can be discussed as things fall into place.

He says there will be a meeting at the end of the month with a variety of New London civic and cultural leaders to provide further focus and discuss possibilities. The original concept of a Russian theater initiative is no longer the principal focus of the building, White says, but such a project is certainly something that can be discussed as things fall into place.Gaffney says, "Lyric Hall traditionally was a place where people staged their own events. We're not trying to compete with facilities like the Garde but to work in that same spirit. Lyric Hall will be small enough so that everyone can feel like they can stage an event in grand surroundings."

Gaffney says, "Lyric Hall traditionally was a place where people staged their own events. We're not trying to compete with facilities like the Garde but to work in that same spirit. Lyric Hall will be small enough so that everyone can feel like they can stage an event in grand surroundings.""This should be a place where profit and nonprofit activities can both take place," White adds. "You should feel welcome having a wedding reception at Lyric Hall. If you've got a string quartet or want to host a dance class or deliver a lecture, this is the place. It will be a place to harbor ideas."

"This should be a place where profit and nonprofit activities can both take place," White adds. "You should feel welcome having a wedding reception at Lyric Hall. If you've got a string quartet or want to host a dance class or deliver a lecture, this is the place. It will be a place to harbor ideas."