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.
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.
