Getting Creative {Georgetown Palace Theatre}
The Georgetown Palace Theatre Perseveres
Words by Sean Saldana Photos Courtesy Palace Theatre
First built in 1925, the Palace Theatre started off by screening silent films. Opened in Georgetown’s downtown square, the theatre quickly became one of the city’s premier entertainment centers.
A few years after the theatre showed its first film with sound, it was reported that, “the new theatre was marked by record-breaking attendance” with no standing room available, according to a 1920s article in The Williamson County Sun.
In 1936, the Palace was renovated and redesigned in the iconic art deco style it has become renowned for; and, for the next several decades, the theatre cemented itself as an important part of the City of Georgetown. By the early ’90s, it had become the longest continuously operating theater in Williamson County.
There was, however, one problem, The Palace Theatre had fallen into disrepair. With aged equipment and decreasing revenues, she was listed for sale.
It didn’t take long for local residents to come to her rescue. In 1991, a group of citizens banded together, formed a nonprofit called Georgetown Palace Theatre, Inc., and purchased the property.
Since then, Georgetown Palace Theatre has become a focal point of arts and community for the Georgetown and Austin areas and has taken on the mission of providing an “affordable and accessible venue for musical and dramatic entertainment” in Central Texas.
Over the past three decades, the organization has undergone significant renovations, secured a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, a million-dollar donation from philanthropist Doug Smith, and launched several education programs and classes. According to the organization, it has granted over 1,600 scholarships.
Most noteworthy of all though, Georgetown Palace Theatre has put on over a hundred shows ranging from Broadway classics to seasonal performances by amateur actors who compete for roles through open auditions.
But like every arts organization, Palace Theatre has disproportionately been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Executive artistic director Ron Watson says, “We’ve gone through some painful times. We’ve laid off some of our staff. The rest of us are working at 50%.”
Like so many times before, though, the theatre has refused to take these challenges lying down. In April, after shutdowns went into effect, the organization launched The Palace Plays On, a virtual event that featured over 40 free performances and an auction to help keep the theatre afloat while shutdown orders were in place. “In that first auction, we must have raised $23,000,” Ron says. “We’re in the arts, so we’re going to be creative.”
A few months later, after restrictions were lifted, the theatre reopened, hosting outdoor showings of popular movies, to give people a gathering place while still observing safety guidelines. Ron smiles, “We actually renamed our parking lot: the courtyard.”
“I bought an inflatable screen on Amazon, got the rights to show movies, and showed Grease. We had over 80 people at each showing,” he enthuses.
Throughout the fall, the theatre has slowly begun to increase its number of stage performances.
Ron says that as the organization continues to struggle financially, more government aid will be crucial to the Palace’s survival through the coming months.
In the meantime though, the show must go on.
The Georgetown Palace Theatre’s 2020-2021 season includes productions such as The Music of Motown, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, and Singing in The Rain. Visit their website for an extensive list of their outdoor entertainment options and shows this season or simply to donate to the organization.
Contact:
(512) 869-7469
810 S Austin Ave.
georgetownpalace.com
@GeorgetownPalace
