Community
BY JESSICA MCLAREN
After a four-month closure due to catastrophic ooding, the Georgetown Palace Theatre will reopen on May 29 with a ve-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 Devel- opment Director Debra Heater. Sta discovered the lights o and standing water throughout the auditorium that afternoon. The ood occurred amid freezing temperatures and icy roads when no one was available to respond to alarms. The details The ooding resulted in over $500,000 in damages, destroying the rst three rows of seating and ruining the sound system, electrical infra- structure, performance keyboards and the grand drape. The mitigation eorts alone cost $70,000 to dry out the room, Director of Production Morgan Taylor Myers said. “When we came in here and saw what hap- pened, we were all just devastated,” Heater said. “We work really hard every single day. When that just gets halted, it’s really sad.” 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 commem- orative 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. Looking ahead 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 Renovations wrap up on Georgetown Palace Theatre after ooding
We’ve built it back better than it was. I just want people back in here celebrating our 100 years. We’re not going anywhere. DEBRA HEATER, GEORGETOWN PALACE THEATRE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
The Georgetown Palace Theatre’s stage had to be repaired after a Jan. 25 ood destroyed the sound system beneath the stage, keyboards, parts of the stage structure and stored drapery.
COURTESY GEORGETOWN PALACE THEATRE
Debra Heater, development director at the Palace Theatre, thanked the community for its support following the ood.
JESSICA MCLARENCOMMUNITY IMPACT
Built in 1925 by A.C. Moore, the Palace Theatre opened in 1926 as a silent movie house.
All 291 seats in the theater will be replaced since the originals could not be replicated.
COURTESY GEORGETOWN PALACE THEATRE
COURTESY GEORGETOWN PALACE THEATRE
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.” 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 nding a new administrative home and playhouse—a ve-year strategic goal currently on hold.
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810 S. Austin Ave., Georgetown www.georgetownpalace.com
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GEORGETOWN EDITION
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