How did a town of 10,000 people in the Missouri Ozarks become one of the Midwest’s top tourist attractions? The story of Branson includes hillbillies, the Presley family and Roy Clark.

In 1962 Paul Henning created “The Beverly Hillbillies,” a television comedy about the Clampett family of Branson, Missouri and their adjustment to life in Beverly Hills, California.

This helped make Branson a familiar name across America. Five years later, the Presley family (no relation to Elvis Presley) moved the Presleys’ Country Jubilee to Highway 76 in Branson. Finally, in 1983, Branson began its transformation into a major tourist attraction when the Roy Clark Celebrity Theatre opened and began to bring famous country music stars to Branson.

The Austin Area Commission for the Arts is proud to bring a taste of Branson right here to Austin with Branson on the Road on Friday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Paramount Theatre.

The show is in the tradition of the traveling road shows during the glory days of the Grand Ole Opry with classic country, hilarious comedy, bluegrass, rockabilly and gospel led by co-hosts Debbie Horton and Donnie Wright.

“We base our show from the live music capital of the world, Branson, Missouri,” said Debbie Horton, “and realized that there are many people who will never have a chance to visit Branson personally, so we decided to bring our Branson stage show directly to them.”

Horton holds the distinction of being the only woman to have played lead guitar for the great Johnny Cash. She hosted her own show at the old BoxCar Willie Theater in Branson and has performed on the famous Louisiana Hayride and Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree in Nashville.

Wright is a musician and arranger—versatile on many instruments including fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo and bass. He is a veteran performer of stage and TV with a long list of successful performances including The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, The Presley’s Show in Branson, The Pine Mountain Jamboree in Eureka Springs, and a long-standing run at The Golden Nugget in Las Vegas.  Horton and Wright are joined on stage by Brian Capps on upright bass.

Tickets are available now at austinareaarts.org or at the ArtWorks Center (Thursday to Friday 10 a.m. to  5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

Paramount Theatre

Branson on the Road, April 28 at 7:30 p.m.

C. Willi Myles, “America’s Everyday Comedian,” May 5 at 7:30 p.m.

ArtWorks Center

$5 Kids Studio: Dragon, April 29 at 10:30 a.m.

Bob Ross Floral Oil Painting, May 6 at 1 p.m.

Date Night in the Clay Cavern, May 6 at 6 p.m.

Find out more at www.austinareaarts.org