Georgetown Palace Theatre Brings Friendship, Fresh Starts and Plenty of Laughs to the Stage With New Comedy
Georgetown residents looking for a good laugh and an evening out have a new reason to visit the theater this fall. The Georgetown Palace Theatre has opened The Second-to-Last Chance Ladies League, a comedy about four longtime friends who discover that starting over can be a lot more complicated, and entertaining, than they imagined.
The production opened Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Doug Smith Performance Center, located at 206 W. Second Street in Georgetown, and continues through Sunday, November 15. Written by the popular comedy-writing trio Jones Hope Wooten and directed by Lorri Boyd, the play brings a familiar group of Southern women back together for another round of friendship, misadventures and unexpected life changes.
For Georgetown and Williamson County audiences, the show offers something a little different from the traditional musical or drama. It's a character-driven comedy about getting older, making changes and leaning on the people who have known you the longest, even when those same people have a knack for making things more complicated.
Four Friends, One New Business and More Trouble Than They Bargained For
At the center of The Second-to-Last Chance Ladies League are Libby Ruth, Deedra, Monette and Charlie, four friends who have shared enough history to know one another's strengths, weaknesses and most embarrassing moments.
Their latest adventure begins at Laurelton Oaks, a wedding venue that has played an important role in their lives. When Deedra purchases the property, the friends decide to give the business a fresh start, transforming it into an events center called Occasionally Yours.
The idea seems promising. Instead of hosting only weddings, the venue will welcome everything from baby showers and bachelorette parties to memorial services and other special occasions.
Of course, running an events business with four strong personalities involved proves anything but simple.
Monette is navigating another divorce, Charlie is dealing with a midlife crisis, and Libby Ruth has decided to return to college, only to find that her husband's renewed romantic interest is interfering with her studies.
Meanwhile, Deedra has her own problem: Sedalia Ellicott, the property's former owner, isn't particularly interested in giving up control.
As the women attempt to keep their business afloat, the celebrations they organize become a steady source of comic disasters. Over the course of a year, they find themselves dealing with difficult relationships, unexpected setbacks and even another last-minute wedding.
Beneath the comedy is a story about women who refuse to believe that their best opportunities are behind them.
According to the theater's production description, the play is a sequel to Always a Bridesmaid, although audiences don't need to have seen the earlier show to follow the story. Both plays feature the same circle of friends, whose loyalty to one another survives their disagreements, questionable decisions and personal upheavals.
The Writers Behind The Second-to-Last Chance Ladies League
The comedy comes from Jones Hope Wooten, the writing partnership of Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, known for plays featuring colorful Southern characters, fast-moving dialogue and the humor that comes from complicated friendships and family relationships.
Their work often explores the everyday situations people recognize from their own lives, including weddings, marriage, aging, family expectations and the sometimes messy process of figuring out what comes next.
The Second-to-Last Chance Ladies League continues that tradition by returning to characters introduced in Always a Bridesmaid, a comedy built around lifelong friendship and the promises women make to one another.
This time, rather than focusing primarily on weddings, the characters find themselves confronting the possibility of reinventing their lives. The result is a story that combines physical comedy and personal mishaps with more familiar questions about relationships, independence and the value of having friends who stick around through life's changes.
The Georgetown production is directed by Lorri Boyd, whose work brings the characters and their sometimes chaotic business venture to the Doug Smith Performance Center stage.
Georgetown Palace Theatre Has Been Part of the Community for 100 Years
The new production arrives during a milestone year for one of Georgetown's best-known cultural institutions.
The Georgetown Palace Theatre celebrated its 100th anniversary in February 2026, marking a century since the historic theater first welcomed audiences to its downtown location.
Built in 1925 at 810 South Austin Avenue, the Palace opened in February 1926 as a movie theater showing silent films. Sound films followed in 1929, and a 1936 renovation gave the building its distinctive Art Deco appearance.
For generations, the Palace was a familiar part of downtown Georgetown, but by 1989, changing moviegoing habits had forced the theater to close.
Rather than allow the building to disappear from the community's cultural life, local residents organized an effort to save it. In December 1990, supporters established the nonprofit Georgetown Palace Theatre, Inc., raising money and volunteering their time to bring the building back into use.
That community effort helped transform the former movie house into a live-performance venue. Following a major restoration, the historic Palace reopened in October 2001.
Today, the nonprofit operates both the historic Springer Stage and the Doug Smith Performance Center, presenting plays, musicals and educational programming for audiences throughout Georgetown and Williamson County.
A Centennial Year That Also Brought Unexpected Challenges
The theater's 100th anniversary has not been without difficulties.
According to the Palace's official history, the historic Austin Avenue building suffered extensive damage during the January 25, 2026, winter weather event, forcing the organization to cancel or postpone performances while repairs were completed.
Local donors, foundations, businesses, performers and the City of Georgetown contributed to the recovery effort. The theater also held benefit concerts featuring performers who donated their time and talents.
The organization reports that the restoration allowed the historic venue to recover and continue serving the community during its centennial year.
Against that backdrop, productions such as The Second-to-Last Chance Ladies League are part of a theater season that continues to bring audiences together while supporting an institution Georgetown residents helped preserve decades ago.
A More Intimate Theater Experience at the Doug Smith Performance Center
Although many residents associate Georgetown Palace Theatre with its historic building on Austin Avenue, The Second-to-Last Chance Ladies League is being performed at the organization's second venue.
The Doug Smith Performance Center, located at 206 W. Second Street, opened in 2020 as part of the Palace's expansion into performing arts education and smaller-scale productions.
The 14,500-square-foot facility includes a 175-seat performance space, classrooms, a dance studio and areas for rehearsals and educational activities.
Its smaller auditorium offers a different experience from the historic Palace, giving audiences an opportunity to enjoy productions in a more intimate setting.
The facility also serves an important role beyond public performances. Through its educational programs, the Palace provides year-round opportunities for children and teenagers to participate in acting, musical theater, dance and other performing arts activities.
The organization reports serving more than 6,600 students annually through its education programming, including classes, camps, youth productions and other theater experiences.
For families interested in Georgetown performing arts, the Palace is both a place to watch live theater and an opportunity for young performers to develop their own skills onstage.
Planning to See The Second-to-Last Chance Ladies League in Georgetown?
The comedy runs through November 15, 2026, giving local audiences several weeks to catch a performance.
The theater lists the production's running time at approximately two hours, including an intermission. It carries a PG rating and includes mature themes involving sexual content, infidelity and addiction. Parents considering bringing younger children are encouraged to review the content information before purchasing tickets.
Tickets are listed through BroadwayWorld at approximately $18 to $38, although patrons should check the theater's official box office for current pricing, available performances and seating.
Visitors should also pay attention to the venue when making plans. The Georgetown Palace Theatre operates two separate locations, and this production takes place at the Doug Smith Performance Center, not the historic Springer Stage.
The theater recommends allowing extra time for downtown Georgetown parking. Free parking options include the Georgetown Public Library lot and the Austin Avenue and Rock Street parking garages, along with eligible downtown street parking.
Evening performances generally begin at 7:30 p.m., with matinees at 2 p.m., although patrons should confirm the specific date and showtime when booking.
For tickets and additional information, visit the Georgetown Palace Theatre's official website or contact the box office at 512-869-7469.
Another Reason to Spend an Evening in Downtown Georgetown
With its restaurants, shops, historic architecture and walkable downtown streets, Georgetown offers several ways to turn a theater performance into an evening out.
A visit to the Doug Smith Performance Center can be paired with dinner before the show or a stop downtown afterward, providing an opportunity to support local businesses while enjoying a production close to home.
And while The Second-to-Last Chance Ladies League is designed to make audiences laugh, its story carries a message that extends beyond the stage. The four friends may not have everything figured out, but they continue to show up for one another as they navigate new chapters in their lives.
It's a fitting story for a theater whose own history includes second chances, devoted friendships and neighbors coming together to keep something meaningful alive.
As the Georgetown Palace Theatre continues its centennial season, residents can look forward to additional productions and opportunities to support local performing arts.
Stay connected with My Neighborhood News for more community news, upcoming events, local entertainment and stories about the people and places that make Williamson County home.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
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