After decades of being dark, the lights are coming back on at the historic Lyric Theatre in downtown Birmingham.

The Oct. 4 lighting of the marquee that hangs above the long-neglected venue is one of the first steps in restoring the century-old building. Dating to 1914, the Lyric was built for Vaudeville, with spacious wings to hold elaborate staging and sets, and ample dressing rooms to accommodate the song-and-dance stars of the day. The theatre’s pin-drop acoustics allowed performances without electrical amplification.

A complete refurbishing of the venue is expected to cost about $9 million. The “Light Up the Lyric” fundraising campaign aims to raise $7 million, which would garner another $2 million in federal tax credits.

The Lyric Theatre’s lead fundraiser, Tom Cosby, says the step-by-step process calls for the exterior work to be completed first, then the lobby and auditorium, which will seat about 800. Additional work will include installing air conditioning, concession stands, and up-to-code restrooms.

According to Cosby, Lyric supporters have already raised about 71 percent of the campaign’s goal. They hope to raise the remaining funds by the end of this year. Alabama Power is one of the supporters of the restoration effort.

Cosby says he is hoping for a grand re-opening of the Lyric in its centennial year – in late 2014. For more information on the progress of the restoration project, go to www.lightupthelyric.com.