The waters may be gone, but the State Theatre is still sunk in the aftermath of that June 13 water-main break that left the venue’s stage, backstage, basement, and a quarter of its 300 seats inundated. Flood damage was so extensive that the theatre is still trying to determine what has to replaced and when the space can resume hosting performances. When the disaster was discovered early that Tuesday morning, the theatre had a week left in the run of its production of Bunk Bed Brothers. Fortunately, since the State and next-door neighbor Paramount Theatre are part of the same organization, the Austin Theatre Alliance, the show could be moved into the adjacent house and finish its run. (The Paramount did have to sacrifice a few screenings in its Summer Film Series but has rescheduled the bumped Indiana Jones trilogy to Sept. 8-10.) The State and Bunk Bed production team were able to dry the set’s waterlogged shag carpet and replace damaged props in time for a Thursday night performance (a show introduced, it’s worth noting, by State artistic director Michelle Polgar, dripping wet in a snorkel, mask, and swim fins). Much to the beleaguered State staff’s relief, the comedy’s remaining perfs drew well, actually pulling in more patrons than the State could have accommodated.
Of course, that was just one show. The State was booked solid all but one week this summer, which means a slew of other shows, including a revival of Steven Tomlinson’s American Fiesta, might need to be relocated. First priority was finding new space for the Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance company, set for June 24-25 at the State, and Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company, which had the theatre July 9-10. Talks with the UT Performing Arts Center led to both productions being shifted to the McCullough Theatre on the UT campus. Initially, it looked as if American Fiesta might be able to open at the State as scheduled on July 19, but now it appears the theatre will need two to three months to effect repairs. The State is committed to bringing back American Fiesta, but whether that will be in July at another space or at the State later in the year was still undetermined at press time.
According to Ken Stein, executive director for the Austin Theatre Alliance, insurance damage estimates now exceed several hundred thousand dollars. That includes replacing the theatre’s stage, which was ruined; a lighting system, which was underwater; four rows of theatre seats, which retained water and began to rust; and the rehearsal room stage. How the State will pay for all this is still in question; insurance claims are in the early stages, and the city’s participation isn’t yet clear (though the damage came from a city water main). Contributions in the first few days after the flood yielded almost $15K, ranging from $20 to a $5,000 gift from ATA development officer Deborah Dobbs. Still, that’s a drop in the proverbial bucket for a six-figure repair bill. So ATA is partnering with Catapult Systems, RaceWorks, RunTex, and Gold’s Gym to hold Run for the Arts, a 5K run to save the State, on Saturday, Sept. 9. Registration information will be available soon, but you don’t have to wait two months to save the State. To make an online donation or for more information, visit www.austintheatre.org.
This article appears in June 23 • 2006.