Representatives of Bruner Toyota and Gulf States Toyota presented The Lyric Performing Arts Company board with a $10,000 check Thursday.

Half of the donation came from a Toyota community grant program, and the other half is from local Toyota dealers Dwain and Greg Bruner.

Waldrop Construction Co. of Brownwood is working to complete restoration of the century-old downtown theater prior to performances planned in December.

The Bruners were accompanied by Bruner Toyota sales manager Kyle Hurt, sales representative Patsy Keating and Gulf States Toyota district manager Brett Brown of Lubbock.

Lyric board members present were Hank Hunter, Nancy Jo Humfeld, Rachel Tobin, Virginia Bishop, Bill King, Eric Evans and Gene Deason.

The presentation came a day after seats for the theater had been installed. The theater will hold approximately 360 audience members counting both the floor and the balcony.

Lyric performances scheduled for early December include Handel’s Messiah and the musical “Anything Goes.”

Greg Bruner said the application process for community grants is difficult, so the award represents the company’s commitment to local projects such as the Lyric. It is the second grant received that benefits this area. In 2011, Toyota awarded grants to local fire departments.

Pictured left to right are:  (front row) Dwain Bruner, Greg Bruner, Brett Brown, (back row) Kyle Hurt, Eric Evans, Patsy Keating, Virginia Bishop, Dr. Nancy Jo Humfeld, Hank Hunter, Rachel Tobin, and Bill King.