RICHARDSON, TEXAS, April 22, 2002 - A series of firsts will take place this September when the Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts and Corporate Presentations opens its doors to a new era of performing arts and corporate events in Richardson’s new Galatyn Park Urban Center.

“FIRSTNIGHTS! Setting the Stage for a Season of Firsts,” is the theme surrounding the Eisemann Center’s series of gala opening events scheduled to take place from September 12 through September 22.  A formal dedication, an evening of Broadway music, a showcase of Richardson performing arts groups, a night of classical music, improvisational comedy, dinners, receptions and a public open house will make up this eleven day period of special events. 

A committee of over 130 volunteers, headed by former City Council Member John Sweeden and civic leader Courtenay Tanner, is assisting the Eisemann Center staff in the planning of the gala events.  For the various dinners and receptions slated to take place, four of Richardson’s full-service hotels will share in the catering of these functions. 

“FIRSTNIGHTS! is a grand collaboration between the City of Richardson, its citizens, local businesses and hotels, arts groups, and generous sponsors who all support and are excited by the Eisemann Center’s opening and what it means for our community,” said City of Richardson Mayor Gary Slagel.  “As important as the Gala is, it simply represents the beginning, the setting of the stage, for many future seasons of diverse programming, business gatherings, and special events in Richardson.”  

FIRSTNIGHTS! will begin on the afternoon of Thursday, September 12^th when the formal dedication and ribbon cutting take place at 4:00 PM.  Sponsored by Hunt Construction Group, the company that oversaw the construction of the Eisemann Center, the dedication will involve City officials, donors, sponsors, community leaders, and others who have participated over the years in making the Eisemann Center possible. Former Mayor, Ray Noah, will serve as Honorary Chairman for the Dedication.  A reception catered by Holiday Inn Select of Richardson will be held in the Leftwich Grand Foyer of the Center.

Saturday, September 14^th will be the official opening night of the Eisemann Center and will be a black-tie affair.  Sponsored by the Margot W. and Ben H. Mitchell Fund of the Communities Foundation of Texas, the night will begin with a dinner for approximately 600 patrons in the Symphony Ballroom of the Renaissance Dallas-Richardson Hotel followed by a concert of Broadway show tunes in the Eisemann Center’s 1550-seat Margaret and Al Hill Performance Hall entitled “A Special Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin.”  A post-concert reception for all attendees will include dancing, music, and other entertainment throughout the Center’s other venues and lobby spaces and will be catered by the Radisson Hotel of Richardson.

Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin are both noted for their performances on Broadway, in television, movies and concerts.  LuPone’s Broadway credits include “Pal Joey,” and “Anything Goes,” for which she received a 1988 Drama Desk Award and a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical.  In London she is noted for creating the role of Norma Desmond in “Sunset Boulevard.”   Many will remember her playing the role of the mother on ABC’s “Life Goes On.”  Currently, LuPone is starring in the revival of “Noises Off” on Broadway.  Patinkin received a Tony nomination for starring in the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical “Sunday in the Park with George,” and has appeared in the Tony Award-winning musical “The Secret Garden,” and in the musicals “Dress Casual,” and “Falsettos.”  In 1995 Patinkin won an Emmy for his critically acclaimed performance in the CBS series “Chicago Hope.”

LuPone and Patinkin’s opening night concert for the Eisemann Center will represent the first time these two premier artists have performed together since they both appeared in the original Broadway production of “Evita” in 1980.  In that acclaimed production LuPone won both the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Actress in a Musical for playing the role of Eva Peron, and Patinkin won a Tony Award for his role as Che.  “We are elated that these two outstanding performers have agreed to perform together once again and to create a show specifically for the opening of the Eisemann Center,” said Eisemann Managing Director Bruce C. MacPherson.  “It makes an already distinctive occasion even more extraordinary.”

On Sunday, September 15^th from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM the Center’s stages will have Richardson based performing arts and visual arts organizations collaborating in a Richardson Arts Showcase.  The Hill Performance Hall will play host to the music groups with the Richardson Community Band, Texas Chinese Philharmonic Association, Richardson Symphony, Texas Opus III, and the Rich Tone Chorus participating.  Dance and theatre groups appearing in the Center’s 368-seat adaptable Theatre space will include the Dallas Repertoire Ballet, Maharlika Dancers, New World Ballet, Tuzer Ballet, Richardson Theatre Centre, and the Repertory Company Theatre.  The Friends Of The Library will feature readings by winners of the Library’s student poetry contest in the Center’s Multi-Use Room, with an exhibit of artwork by the Richardson Civic Art Society also on display.  A variety of family activities will take place throughout the day in the Center’s lobby areas.  The showcase is free to the public, but tickets will be required. 

FIRSTNIGHTS! will go classical on Thursday, September 19^th when the Hill Performance Hall is transformed into a concert hall setting.  The Richardson Symphony, under the direction of Anshel Brusilow, join with pianist Jon Nakamatsu for an all Rachmaninoff program. This Classical Celebration, sponsored by the Galatyn Park Corporation, will feature Nakamatsu, winner of the 1997 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, performing the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 in d minor.  The 75 member Richardson Symphony will also perform Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2.  All patrons will enjoy a post-concert reception hosted by the Omni Hotel of Richardson.

The focus of the gala will shift to the Center’s adaptable Theatre space on Friday, September 20 and Saturday, September 21 when The Second City National Touring Company brings its unique brand of improvisational comedy to the Theatre’s stage for four performances.  Featuring a blend of scenes, songs, and improvisations performed by a six-member cast, The Second City has been the springboard for developing some of the world’s best comedians for over 40 years.  John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Joan Rivers, George Wendt, Mike Myers, and Ryan Stiles among others all got their start with this prolific company. Friday night’s opening performances at 7:00 PM and 10:30 PM, although billed as a “fun” black-tie affair, is done so in keeping with the light-hearted nature of the evening.  “Mission: Im-prov-ible,” will include a dinner and reception for all patrons attending the two performances that will take place in the Center’s lobby between shows.  The Second City will perform again on Saturday, September 21 with public performances at 7:00 PM and 10:30 PM. 

FIRSTNIGHTS! will come to a conclusion on Sunday, September 22 when the Eisemann Center opens its doors for a public Open House from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM.  All areas of the Center will be made available for the public to inspect, including the dressing rooms, green rooms, orchestra pit, production booths, stages, ticket office, and other areas normally not open to the public.  “This will be a great opportunity for people to explore the backstage world and to see this exceptional new facility before it becomes busy with events of all types and access to these traditionally private areas is not possible,” said Gala Co-Chairman John Sweeden.

Prices for all ticketed gala events will be announced in May with tickets going on sale to the public on Monday, June 3.  The Eisemann Center’s ticket office may be reached at 972.744.4650 or by visiting the web site at www.eisemanncenter.com.  Until the Center’s construction is completed in August, the Ticket Office will be temporarily located on the second floor of the City of Richardson’s Service Center at 1260 Columbia Drive.  The Charles W. Eisemann Center is located at 2351 Performance Drive in the new Galatyn Park Urban Center of Richardson.  Administrative offices are currently located directly across the street from the Eisemann Center at 959 E. Lookout Drive, Richardson, phone 972.744.4600.