Matt Gentry | Roanoke Times

Monday nights are popular at the theater, what with free popcorn.

BLACKSBURG -- You know that big date you’ve got coming up?

The one you’re pretty excited about, even though you’ve been running a bit low on cash lately?

The one that’s making you a bit nervous, because it’ll be your first time out with that special someone and you’re not entirely sure you’ll be able to be witty and charming and oh-so-suave for several hours on end?

The one you’ve just convinced yourself that you can’t go on anymore because of the first few lines of this story?

Never fear! The answer to all your woes is right under your nose in downtown Blacksburg, and it has just been voted “best cheap date” and “best first date” by your esteemed fellow New River Valley residents.

The Lyric Theatre, which originally opened in 1930, has been a Blacksburg staple for movies and live performances since re-opening following extensive renovations in 1998.

The support of the Lyric Council, the theater’s volunteers and scores of loyal residents have made the theater an irreplaceable part of the arts and entertainment scene in the New River Valley.

Jim Dymock, who is on the Lyric Council and has been serving as a volunteer “from the beginning,” said the variety of movies that are shown at the theater helps to draw regular audiences.

He can’t really blame these regular patrons either; the Lyric was one of the weekly haunts for the self-described “dyed in the wool Hokie” during his years as a student at Virginia Tech.

Susan Hensley, also a member of the Lyric Council, likened a trip to the Lyric to a vacation, calling it “an escape” from everyday life and an opportunity to check out the same films that her son, who lives in New York City, sees every week — but she pays about half the New York City price. Moviegoers who have a membership to the Lyric Theatre get a 50-cent discount on tickets, which are $4 for weeknights and matinees and $5 on weekend evenings.

“We get lots of people who are surprised at how cheap things are,” said Peg Warren, a four-year volunteer at the Lyric, referencing not only the theater’s less costly movie tickets, but also the low prices for items at the concession stand, such as $2 candy and $4 popcorn.

Well, it’s $4 every night except Monday, which is the busiest night of the week at the Lyric, thanks to the generous helpings of free popcorn being dished out at the concession stand.

Lyric general manager Mike Pastor said that the Monday evening showings often outsell the opening night for some films.

Amy Villamagna, a graduate student at Virginia Tech who attended a screening of “Brokeback Mountain” with a group on a recent Monday, said that the lure of free popcorn is a big draw for her and her friends.

Along with having you covered on the money-saving front, the Lyric also offers a perfect experience for a first date.

Everybody knows that checking out a movie is a good way for shy types to feel more comfortable on their first time out with someone new. Besides, it can provide instant conversation fodder for any after-movie plans.

And the movie itself doesn’t even have to be that romantic to bring flocks of couples to the Lyric.

Mary Mainous, a regular patron of the theater, noted that she saw sellout crowds on Valentine’s Day, widely known to be the biggest date night of the year.

The movie at the time was “Munich,” a drama about the aftermath of the murder of 11 Israeli athletes at the hands of Palestinian terrorists during the 1972 Olympics in Germany.

Not exactly warm and fuzzy stuff.

Having noticed how popular the theater is for dates, Pastor said that the Lyric Council is considering plans to collaborate with other downtown businesses for special promotions, such as discounted dinner prices at nearby restaurants.

All talk about cheap movie tickets and good date options aside, the Lyric’s popularity stems from the loyalty of NRV residents who want to help promote local businesses.

Moviegoer Cary Hopper said that he comes to the Lyric two or three times a month with his wife, Susan Sypolt. He explained that the Lyric has remained his theater of choice for more than 15 years.

Marylou, a volunteer who usually staffs the ticket booth for evening showings, summed it up perfectly.

“It is the place to be, especially on Monday nights. It’s right downtown, you can see the best movies out inexpensively, and it’s part of the family community.”

The Lyric, online