No Ordinary Party: Storied Houston Theater Channels Hit TV Show Empire *in Over-the-Top Gala

What: The Ensemble Theatre Follow the Dream: Celebrating the Empire Gala

Where: Hilton Americas-Houston

Who: Chairs Argentina James, Scott Minnix, and Jesse Tyson; honorees Mayor Annise Parker, Irma P. Hall, Katylnn Simone, Attica Locke, who was unable to attend and represented by her mother Sherra Aguirre; Dan Domeracki of corporate honoree Schlumberger; and emcee Deborah Duncan.

PC Moment: The Ensemble Theatre opened its over-the-top annual gala with a performance of the song “You’re So Beautiful” from the Fox hit series Empire, which is written and co-produced by Houston-raised Attica Locke, one of the evening’s honorees. Other spectacular performances followed, including a number from the upcoming season opener Platanos Y Collard Greens and a solo sung by honoree Katlynn Simone.Over 500 attendees raised $350,000 for the American theatre founded in 1976.