Joel EngelhardtProduction equipment breaks a fire sprinkler line, flooding the 32-year-old theater off of PGA Boulevard.
A broken fire-suppression sprinkler line flooded the Eissey Campus Theatre at Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, forcing the theater’s indefinite closure.
Seven performances have been moved, some to the college’s Lake Worth campus. Signs taped to the building’s entrances warn visitors “Building closed. No entry” with a red stop sign underlined by the words “Do not enter.”
The line break happened April 7 when stage equipment for an upcoming performance hit an overhead sprinkler line, flooding the theater, Kerry Capell, director of communications, said in an email to Stet News.
The damage includes flooding to the stage and adjacent areas, with impacts to nearby rooms, electrical equipment and theater props, Capell said.
Repairs are required to the sprinkler system, along with restoration of electrical and fire alarm systems, and remediation of water damage, Capell wrote.
The school has not determined yet when the theater can reopen.
“The college is working closely with facilities staff and safety officials to assess the damage and complete repairs as quickly as possible,” Capell wrote. “All ticket holders have been notified.”
The college did not provide the name of the show that was under preparation when the line broke but performances planned for Saturday and Sunday of “Piratical … A Cirque Adventure” have been moved to the Duncan Theatre on the school’s Lake Worth campus.
Also moved is “Welcome Back, Copeland Davis!,” a performance of the Copeland Davis Trio with the Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches planned for Saturday night, May 16. It will be held on Sunday May 10 at the Duncan.
Capell referenced the theater’s three-decade history in the community. The 1994 building is named for Ed Eissey, the college’s third president, who died in December 2017.
“We truly appreciate the patience, flexibility and support of our community as we make the necessary repairs that ensure the successful reopening of the theatre,” Capell wrote.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with additional information after its initial publication on Friday, April 17.
Joel is a founder, reporter and editor at Stet News. His award-winning newspaper career spanned more than 40 years, including 28 years at The Palm Beach Post, which he left in 2020. Joel lives with his wife in Palm Beach Gardens. He volunteers on the board of NAMI Palm Beach County and the Palm Beach Gardens Historical Society.
