For Immediate Release Media Contact: Sarah Nesbit 972-744-4612 or 214-793-9596 [email protected]

EISEMANN CENTER PRESENTS “TEXAS IN PARIS” FOR FIVE PERFORMANCES NOV. 16-19, 2017

RICHARDSON, TX − Eisemann Center Presents continues the Theatre Series with the production Texas in Paris, a musical by Dallas’ own Alan Govenar, based on true events, starring Tony Award-winner Lillias White with Willy Welch for five performances November 16-19, 2017 at the Eisemann Center, 2351 Performance Drive in Richardson, Texas. Akin Babatunde directs this story of a man and a woman — one white, one black – invited to France to perform at the Maison des Cultures du Monde. They have never met, have no professional singing experience, and face the challenge of working together and co-existing in an unfamiliar world. Apprehensive of each other, they struggle with preconceptions but forge a surprising spiritual bond that transforms their on-stage performance and their lives.

Texas in Paris was originally produced Off-Broadway at the York Theatre Company in 2015. The show received four Audelco Award nominations for Musical Production, Director, Actress, and Musical Director. In addition, Lillias White received a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for her role as Osceola Mays.

Lillias White is a singer and actress of stage, television, and film who is particularly admired for her performances in Broadway musicals. In 1997 she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical and for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for portraying Sonja in 's . She was nominated for a Tony Award again in 2010 for her work as Funmilayo in 's Fela!. She is also an active cabaret singer and has appeared in concert with the , the Philharmonic, and at .

Willy Welch has performed Off-Bway in: Flipside: The Patti Page Musical. Recent Regional & Tours: Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues, Bonnie & Clyde, Flipside: The Patti Page Musical, Sanders Family Trilogy (Stanley), Annie (FDR), Woody Guthrie’s American Song (Woody), Man of La Mancha, Civil War Christmas, Guys on Ice, Pump Boys & Dinettes (Jim), Assassins (Proprietor & Balladeer), The Gifts of the Magi. Besides acting, Willy is a touring singer/songwriter whose compositions have been performed & recorded by dozens of artists, including Peter Paul & Mary, Jason Alexander, the Dallas Shakespeare Festival and Barney & Friends (PBS).

Performances of Texas in Paris are November 16-18, 2017 at 8:00 pm with matinees on November 18 and November 19, 2017 at 2:00 pm in the Bank of America Theatre. Tickets are $40-$48 and are available online at www.eisemanncenter.com or by calling the Eisemann Center Ticket Office at 972-744-4650. Group discounts for 10 or more are available at 972-744-4650.

The Charles W. Eisemann Center is located at 2351 Performance Drive in Richardson, Texas. The Eisemann Center is accessible from Highway 75 North taking the Galatyn Parkway/Renner Road exit going north and the Galatyn Parkway/Campbell Road exit going south, or from the DART light rail station at Galatyn Park. Eisemann Center Presents 2017-2018 sponsors include: The Dallas Morning News, WFAA-TV, UT Dallas School of Arts & Humanities, Altrusa International of Richardson, Inc., Methodist Richardson Medical Center, State Farm and Raising Cane’s.

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2351 Performance Dr. Richardson, TX 75082 • Administrative Office 972.744.4600 • Fax 972.744.5823 Ticket Office 972.744.4650 10-6 Monday through Saturday • www.eisemanncenter.com