All 291 seats at the Georgetown Palace Theatre will need to be replaced following flooding in January. (Jessica McLaren/Community Impact)
After a four-month closure due to catastrophic flooding, the Georgetown Palace Theatre will reopen on May 29 with a five-week run of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” coinciding with the venue's centennial celebration.
On Jan. 25, a sump pump failure beneath the historic theater allowed water from a natural spring to rise 3 1/2 feet under the stage and through the third row of seats, according to Development Director Debra Heater. Staff discovered the lights off and standing water throughout the auditorium that afternoon.
The flood occurred amid freezing temperatures and icy roads when no one was available to respond to alarms.
There was standing water in the Palace Theatre following the flood, which destroyed the first three rows of seats. (Courtesy Georgetown Palace Theatre)
The details
The flooding resulted in over $500,000 in damages, destroying the first three rows of seating and ruining the sound system, electrical infrastructure, performance keyboards and the grand drape. The mitigation efforts alone cost $70,000 to dry out the room, Director of Production Morgan Taylor Myers said.
"When we came in here and saw what happened, we were all just devastated," Heater said. "We work really hard every single day. When that just gets halted, it's really sad."
The closure led to the cancellation of two shows, including Disney’s “Frozen” and the venue’s centennial gala. One production, “Swing,” was briefly relocated to Georgetown High School’s Klett Center.
The Palace Theatre closed in January after a flood caused more than $500,000 in damages, forcing the theater to move two shows, including its 100th anniversary celebration. (Courtesy Palace Theatre)
Latest update
The Georgetown community responded swiftly, raising a total of $400,000, Heater said. This includes a $100,000 matching grant from the W.D. Kelley Foundation that was met in just four days.
The theater is also running a Save a Seat campaign, allowing donors to purchase commemorative plaques for new seats, priced between $500-$5,000. This campaign is responsible for about half of the funds raised thus far.
Since the original seats could not be replicated, all 291 seats in the theater are being replaced with new gold and black upholstered chairs, costing around $130,000.
The new seats are expected to arrive in three to four months. Temporary folding chairs will be used in the meantime.
The Palace Theatre’s repaired stage after the Jan. 25 flood. The water destroyed the sound system beneath the stage, keyboards, parts of the stage structure and stored drapery. (Courtesy Georgetown Palace Theatre)
Heater praised the community's support.
“They are givers, and they come to every single thing we do here. It means the world to me that we have touched people like that,” she said. “[The theater] is part of their life, part of my life every day, because I work here and I love theater.”
What’s changing
The theater is awaiting new lobby wallpaper featuring a poppy print to honor Georgetown, along with metal art deco panels to replace old decorative elements. Heater commended 1836 Legacy Construction for completing most restoration work in just two months.
The red and black carpet has been replaced throughout the venue to reflect a modern, blue, black and gold art deco theme.
The theater was renovated from its original red and black theme to one that incorporates blue, black and gold while maintaining its art deco style. (Courtesy Palace Theatre)The renovated Palace Theatre features darker art deco styling with gold accents, and a poppy mural will be added to the lobby walls to honor the city of Georgetown. (Jessica McLaren/Community Impact)
The exterior marquee has also been updated with new stucco, fresh white paint and new tile. Last week, just days after construction wrapped, the theater hosted its first rental—a Bollywood dance company followed by a K-pop group.
"We've built it back better than it was," Heater said. "I just want people back in here celebrating our 100 years. We're not going anywhere."
The theater still needs about $100,000 to cover all restoration costs. Without it, the organization may need to take out a loan or dip into capital funds earmarked for finding a new administrative home and playhouse—a five-year strategic goal currently on hold.
About the theater
Built in 1925 by A.C. Moore, the Palace Theatre opened in 1926 as a silent movie house on Georgetown's square. Its current art deco facade was added 10 years later during a brief renovation. After closing in the late 1980s, local citizens formed a nonprofit in 1990 to preserve the building, which reopened in 2001.
Construction at the Georgetown Palace Theatre took place from February through April, with its opening show slated for May 29. (Courtesy Georgetown Palace Theatre)
The nonprofit now operates with 15 staff and a $2.6 million annual budget, drawing 50,000 visitors a year and providing a significant economic boost to downtown businesses, Heater said. It features local talent in musicals and plays, offers rentals, and partners with other nonprofits to provide stage access for community missions.
Education remains a priority, with programs at the Doug Smith Performance Center serving over 6,600 students annually through classes, camps, and youth performance companies, according to the theater’s website.
Get involved
The theater is accepting donations and sponsorships. Interested parties can contact Heater at [email protected] or 512-736-2496. Heater also encourages the community to purchase tickets and help spread the word.
Debra Heater, development director at the Georgetown Palace Theatre, stands in the renovated auditorium after flooding caused over $500,000 in damages in January. (Jessica McLaren/Community Impact)
