Mandy Patinkin, Ben Vereen, Andrea McArdle, Faith Prince and More Highlight Eisemann Center Presents' 2014-15 Season

The Eisemann Center and the City of Richardson announced the 2014-2015 Season of Eisemann Center Presents (ECP) at the Annual Season Preview Party on Thursday, May 8, 2014.

The season will include the popular Theatre Comedy Series with four productions and 23 performances; the Methodist Richardson Family Theatre Series with five productions and Jeffrey Siegel's Keyboard Conversations with a total of four concerts.

In addition, there are eight MainStage Shows featuring a diverse mix of programming and artistic disciplines. Some of the more popular productions and artists from the past twelve years are returning to join the season - Mandy Patinkin, Steve Solomon, the Paul Taylor Dance Company and The Church Basement Ladies. They will be joined by some outstanding new artists and shows for the Eisemann Center, including Ben Vereen, Darlene Love, Dennis DeYoung, Arlo Guthrie, Taylor Mac, Andrea McArdle, Faith Prince, Donna McKechnie, and Maureen McGovern.

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MAINSTAGE SHOWS

STEPPIN' OUT LIVE WITH BEN VEREEN / Sat, Oct. 11, 2014 at 8:00 pm
Few entertainers today are as accomplished or versatile as Ben Vereen. His legendary performances on stage and screen transcend time. Steppin' Out Live with Ben Vereen is a unique blend of artistry, combining a homage to Broadway, Frank Sinatra and a special tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr. His performances are filled with song and dance, stories of his life and a great deal of humor.

THE HIT MEN - Former stars of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons / Sat, Nov. 22, 2014 at 8:00 pm
Former members of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and other chart-busting groups have united to form THE HIT MEN, a super group of musicians and vocalists who were the Four Seasons and the Shondells with Tommy James. They are the authentic rock and rollers whose legacy includes hundreds of hit records of the 60s, 70s and 80s - the guys who made and played the hits that make up the soundtrack of our lives.

A DARLENE LOVE CHRISTMAS - LOVE FOR THE HOLIDAYS / Tue, Dec. 2, 2014 at 7:30 pm
It's no wonder The New York Times raves "Darlene Love's thunderbolt voice is as embedded in the history of rock and roll as Eric Clapton's guitar or Bob Dylan's lyrics." Her Christmas show Love for the Holidays is a mixture of 1960s hits and Christmas songs expertly arranged featuring her #1 holiday classic "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" that she has performed annually on the Late Show with David Letterman for the past 27 years.

DENNIS DEYOUNG: THE MUSIC OF STYX / Fri, Jan. 16, 2015 at 8:00 pm
Dennis DeYoung is a founding member of the rock group STYX, one of America's most successful and enduring bands. DeYoung wrote eight of their nine top ten singles and was lead singer for several classics including "Lady," "Come Sail Away," "Best of Times," "Mr. Roboto," "Show Me the Way," "Desert Moon," "Don't Let it End," and "Babe." This show is sponsored by the Tavern on Main Street in Richardson, Texas.

PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY / Sat, Feb. 7, 2015 at 8:00 pm
The Paul Taylor Dance Company is one of the world's most highly respected and sought-after modern dance ensembles and will be presented in partnership with the University of Texas at Dallas School of Arts & Humanities. Dance maker Paul Taylor is a master choreographer, and the company is returning to the Eisemann Center stage for the sixth time. Performances by the Paul Taylor Dance Company feature some of the most purely romantic, astonishingly athletic and funniest dances ever brought to the stage.

ARLO GUTHRIE - ALICE'S RESTAURANT 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR / Fri, Feb. 27, 2015 at 8:00 pm
It was 50 years ago when Arlo Guthrie took the trash following a Thanksgiving dinner that couldn't be beat. This hilarious account of actual events became a Platinum selling record and a full length film. Folk icon Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant 50th Anniversary Tour brings to the stage for the first time in a decade the full song along with other favorites from his extensive music catalog.

4 GIRLS 4 / Fri, Mar. 20, 2015 at 8:00 pm
When four dynamic, award-winning musical stars from Broadway, film, television and recordings come together for one night on the same stage, what transpires is an evening of song, dance, laughter, and memories that will leave you seeing stars. 4 GIRLS 4 is a funny frolic starring four famous females - Andrea McArdle, Faith Prince, Donna McKechnie and Maureen McGovern.

THE JOY LUCK CLUB / Sat, Apr. 25, 2015 at 8:00 pm
Closing out the MainStage Shows for 2014-2015 will be The Joy Luck Club, based on the best-selling book by Amy Tan. A timeless tale with universal relevance, it tells the story of four Mahjong-playing mothers, all from different provinces in China and their relationships with their children. It follows the paths of these immigrant women from China - and the relationships they have with their American-born daughters, their hopes, fears, and tragic pasts. This classic mother-daughter story encompasses many universal themes: family, hope, love, sacrifice, strength, and wishes for a better life. This production is presented in partnership with the Dallas Chinese Community Center.

THEATRE COMEDY SERIES

ENDURANCE / Oct. 16-19, 2014 (Five performances) Produced by Split Knuckle Theatre
Trapped in Antarctica with no hope of rescue, the great British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton kept 27 men alive for two years in the most inhospitable climate on earth. Ninety-five years later, in the worst economic meltdown since the Great Depression, Hartford insurance man Walter Spivey, struggling to justify his recent promotion and save his employees' jobs, relives Shackleton's story. Endurance brings every moment of the story into perfect focus in an elegant, humorous and moving show.

Steve Solomon's CANNOLI, LATKES AND GUILT! THE THERAPY CONTINUES... / Nov. 13-15, 2014
(Five Performances)
Just in case you've missed one of Steve Solomon's award-winning My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish...comedies; he's back with a hilarious show featuring the very best comedy bits from his earlier three shows - plus loads of new comedy pieces from one of America's best storytellers and dialecticians.

THE LAST TWO PEOPLE ON EARTH: AN APOCALYPTIC VAUDEVILLE / Feb. 17-22, 2015
(Seven performances) Texas Premiere starring Mandy Patinkin and Taylor Mac
It's the end of the world as we know it. A flood of biblical proportions leaves us with only two people on Earth, who discover that their common language is song and dance. Together they chronicle the rise and fall and hopefully, rise again of humankind, through music that runs the gamut from Rodgers and Hammerstein to Sondheim, R.E.M. and Queen. The show features direction and choreography by Susan Stroman; music direction by Paul Ford presented in association with Staci Levine.

THE CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES IN THE LAST "POTLUCK" SUPPER / Mar. 12-15, 2015
(Six Performances)
It is 1979, the day of the church's Centennial Celebration, and past parishioners have gathered to share covered dishes and stories from the last 100 years. As the women work in the kitchen, these shared memories burst into life through a series of flashbacks. Meanwhile, the Centennial Celebration continues on the lawn. But the celebration is bittersweet. Times are tough in this small farm community, and hard decisions will have to be made. But, once again, your favorite church basement ladies handle it all with grace, hilarity, and some brand new toe-tapping musical numbers.

METHODIST RICHARDSON FAMILY THEATRE SERIES

Eisemann Center Presents' Methodist Richardson Family Theatre Series is a Sunday matinee series for children and families of all ages. All Methodist Richardson Family Theatre Series performances take place in the Hill Performance Hall. Community partner Barnes & Noble on 15th Street in Plano, Texas, offers a related Story Hour on the Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. preceding the Sunday performances at the Eisemann Center. The Eisemann Extras program sponsored by Vision Bank will enter its second season with pre-show activities designed to stimulate and engage our youngest patrons.

THE BERENSTAIN BEARS LIVE! / Sun, Oct. 19, 2014 at 2:30 pm
Adapted from the classic children's book series by Stan and Jan Berenstain, The Berenstain Bears LIVE! brings everyone's favorite bear family to life in a thrilling theatrical experience that kids as well as their parents will treasure for many years to come. Story Time at Barnes & Noble on 15th St. in Plano takes place on Fri, Oct. 17, 2014 at 6:00 pm.

HANSEL AND GRETEL / Sun, Nov. 16, 2014 at 2:30 pm
Join us in this wondrous retelling of The Brothers Grimm fairy tale of parents, children, and witches. Hansel and Gretel stray from the path which invariably leads you to a Witch's gingerbread house. Produced by Theatre IV, Hansel and Gretel outsmart the Witch and find that the real treasure is family and home. Story Time at Barnes & Noble on 15th St. in Plano takes place on Fri, Nov. 14, 2014 at 6:00 pm.

THE TEACHER FROM THE BLACK LAGOON AND OTHER STORY BOOKS / Sun, Feb. 15, 2015 at 2:30 pm
Theatreworks USA presents an exciting new musical revue based on favorite contemporary children's books. Books include: The Teacher from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler and Jared Lee; Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey; Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard; I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen; Lily's Plastic Purple Purse by Kevin Henkes; Love Splat (Splat the Cat) by Rob Scotton, and The Grasshopper and the Ant based on a fable by Aesop and adapted by Eric March. Story Time at Barnes & Noble on 15th St. in Plano takes place on Fri, Feb. 13, 2015 at 6:00 pm.

CLICK, CLACK, MOO / Sun, Mar. 29, 2015 at 2:30 pm
When his granddaughter Jenny comes for a visit, Farmer Brown declares the farm a "tech-free zone." He puts her laptop in the cold barn along with the shivering cows, who use her computer to type messages requesting blankets. "No way," replies Farmer Brown. "No blankets!" So the cows go on strike and the chickens join the cows in solidarity. No blankets: no milk, no eggs! Will Farmer Brown give in to the animals' demands? Click, Clack, Moo is based on the Caldecott Honor Book by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin. Story Time at Barnes & Noble on 15th St. in Plano takes place on Fri, Mar. 27, 2015 at 6:00 pm.

FANCY NANCY THE MUSICAL / Sun, Apr. 12, 2015 at 2:30 pm
Fancy Nancy and her friends, Bree, Rhonda, Wanda, and Lionel are going to be performing in their very first show, "Deep Sea Dances." Nancy is positive, that's fancy for 100 percent sure, that she and Bree will be picked to be mermaids. When another girl wins the coveted role of the mermaid, Nancy is stuck playing a dreary, dull tree. Can Nancy bring fancy flair to her role, even though it isn't the one she wanted? Book and lyrics are by Susan DiLallo, music by Danny Abosch, and Direction/Choreography by Sam Viverito, based on the book series by Jane O'Conner and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. Story Time at Barnes & Noble on 15th St. in Plano takes place on Fri, Apr. 10, 2015 at 6:00 pm.

JEFFREY SIEGEL'S KEYBOARD CONVERSATIONS
Jeffrey Siegel's Keyboard Conversations® are piano concerts with broad, popular appeal and lively commentary, making the music more accessible and meaningful for all. Each piece is performed in its entirety and there is a question and answer session following the concert. Gain a whole new perspective and enrich your life with great music! If you're a newcomer to classical music, you'll be captivated to hear pianist Jeffrey Siegel talk about the great composers' lives and illustrate musical themes from each featured work. If you're a seasoned listener, you'll delight in Siegel's fresh and intriguing insights into the music and be thrilled by his virtuoso performances.

Piano or music teachers may request one complimentary ticket for each ticket purchased (single or subscription) to bring a student to experience a Keyboard Conversations® concert.

Concerts for 2014-2015 are:

The Miracle of Mozart! / Mon, Oct. 13, 2014 at 7:30 pm
Rachmaninoff and Friends / Mon, Dec. 8, 2014 at 7:30 pm
Torment and Triumph - Franz Liszt - Satan or Saint? / Mon, Mar. 2, 2015 at 7:30 pm Classics Go Pop! / Mon. Apr. 27, 2015 at 7:30 pm

Subscriptions for the Theatre Comedy Series are on sale to the public with a 15% discount on full series subscriptions ranging from $150.45 to $170.85. The Methodist Richardson Family Theatre Series subscriptions range from $52.00 to $92.00, a savings of 20% off single ticket prices. The Keyboard Conversations® series subscriptions range from $95.20 to $112.20 at a 15% discount off single ticket prices. All ticket prices include a $1.50 non-refundable facility maintenance fee.

Due to the artistic diversity of the MainStage Shows, these events are not packaged as a subscription series. All of these shows, as well as the other shows in the season qualify for this unique discount flex program, in which you can create your own entertainment package with a minimum of any four shows and enjoy savings up to 20%. The Multi-Show Discount Program does not guarantee the same seats, but offers you great flexibility of choice economically (different price levels and quantity of seats on a show-by-show basis), as well as artistically (shows of choice). If you are a subscriber to one or more of our subscription series, those shows will also count towards this discount package making it even easier for you to get discounts on other shows of interest. All shows must be ordered at the same time in order to receive the discount benefits offered.

Single tickets may be purchased online at www.eisemanncenter.com, by telephone and in person beginning Monday, July 14, 2014. For more information, call the Eisemann Center Ticket Office at 972-744-4650. The Ticket Office is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm and one hour prior to curtain time for all events. The Ticket Office fax number is 972-744-5830. Series subscriptions are not available online, but orders are accepted by mail, fax, telephone, and in person at the Ticket Office. Group discounts are available for groups of 10 or more patrons. Group Sales can be reached at 972-744-4657. A digital version of the season brochure can be found at www.eisemanncenter.com.

The Eisemann Center is a City of Richardson facility located in the Galatyn Park Urban Center at 2351 Performance Drive in Richardson, Texas. Eisemann Center Presents 2014-2015 Season sponsors include Methodist Richardson Medical Center, Vision Bank, the University of Texas at Dallas School of Arts & Humanities, Target, the Tavern on Main Street and media partners The Dallas Morning News, WFAA-TV and WRR Classical 101.1 FM. Additional support provided by Altrusa International of Richardson, Texas, Inc. and the Richardson Woman's Club.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride

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