Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT:

Dr. Mildred Summerville 252-230-2689 

sparetherodspoilthechild2016@gmail.com

Tall One Outreach Ministries presents the Award-Winning Gospel Stage Play "Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child" Part 2, written and produced by Dr. Mildred Summerville and directed by Trina Jeffrie (AKA Sister Cantaloupe) at the Carolina Theatre, 309 West Morgan Street, Durham, North Carolina on September 29, 2018, at 7:30 pm. Viewers are in for an unforgettable experience! Gracing the stage are Grammy Award-Winning artist Le'Andria Johnson, Gospel singing sensation, Shawn McLemore, who is known for his hit single "I Believe" featuring James Fortune, Recording artists, Dr. Pauline Plummer, Rhonda McLemore, Queen of Gospel Comedy, Trina Jeffrie and Apostle Aaron McNair, renown preacher, teacher, and author. The additional supporting cast members will be selected from Durham School of the Arts and North Carolina Central University Department of Theatre and Dance. Also making an appearance is the Grammy nominated, talented R&B Diva Angie Stone!

A must-see story; the play is alternately a moving drama and a side-splitting comedy that will be talked about in families and generations to come. These insurmountable challenges have been encountered by most families.In this gripping and engaging dramatic piece, a woman is simply known as "Grandma" serves as the pillar of her surroundings. Her son's family is in crisis, and those within her neighborhood are drowning in chronic troubles of their own. Through it all, Grandma seeks God on behalf of those who are not spiritually inclined enough to seek Him for themselves. Even those who resent her, such as her son's sometimes-rigid wife, Linda, ultimately end up on Grandma's prayer list. And when the walls of the lives of those around Grandma seem to come tumbling down, they know who to turn to for guidance and sound counsel. It's not always advice that they want to hear, but it is consistently the precise word needed to steer them in the right direction.

Using spirit-filled music and memorable characters like James, the doting son, Linda, the insensitive daughter-in-law, Tracy, the high-strung teenager, and Sister Cantaloupe, Grandma's feisty sister, Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child portrays issues within the community such as family dysfunction, peer pressure, substance abuse, and other pertinent matters that are too often inadequately addressed or considered taboo altogether.

Other characters in the cast bring even more drama to the script. In her God-given wisdom, Grandma confronts Tracy's suppressed anger and bitterness, convincing her to disclose facts about a rape kept secret for years. Also, she fervently prays for her grandson, William, who has a change of heart and avert a life of gang involvement.

Though compounding events take a toll on Grandma, the audience will rejoice in knowing that this elderly woman's life was prayer-centered, purpose-inspired and inevitably not at all lived in vain. Extraordinary drama, corrupt karma, a supportive pastor, and a praying grandma, all come together to make Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child a must-see theatrical production! Infused with foot-stomping gospel music, this is soul-stirring entertainment that will warm hearts, tickle funny bones, uplift the spirits, and search the souls of all those who experience it.

REVIEWS

"Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child" is a professional play that speaks to all ages. I was particularly amazed to see young people who had so accurately depicting what our youth are going through. Everyone should see this exceptional play. Your life will never be the same. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will laugh again. You need to see it!" Pastor Shirley Caesar, Mt. Calvary Word of Faith.

"Dubbed as the latest and the greatest gospel play ever performed, Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child will make you laugh, cry, think, rejoice and will make a difference in your life. From the scenes on the street, home, and church, you will see a reflection of your own life. My life has truly been enriched through my support of this play." Peggy Tatum, TCP Magazine.

CAST

Le'Andria Johnson is an American gospel musician and singer-songwriter. She was the season three winner of the BET gospel singing competition show Sunday Best. Johnson's Sunday Best coronation song, "I Shall Leap into My Destiny," co-written by Johnson, entered the Billboard Gospel chart at number 1. As part of her win, she won a national recording contract, a 2010 Ford Taurus, and a cash prize courtesy of Degree Nature Effects. After winning Sunday Best, Le'Andria was signed by showbiz entrepreneur and father of Beyonce, Matthew Knowles, to Music World Gospel, in a joint venture with BET and the Sunday Best brand. A debut seven-song EP, The Awakening of Le'Andria Johnson, which spawned the hit "Jesus," was released in 2011, followed by a second seven-song EP, The Evolution of Le'Andria Johnson, in 2012. The two EPs were then combined in 2012 to make a full album, titled The Awakening of Le'Andria Johnson Deluxe. Johnson is the first Sunday Best contestant to receive a Grammy Award, which she won in 2012 for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance.

Angie Stone rose to fame in the late 1970s as member of the hip hop trio The Sequence. Soon after, Stone began working with futuristic rap group Mantronix and singer Lenny Kravitz. In the early 1990s, she became a member of the R&B trio Vertical Hold. Stone has released albums such as Black Diamond, Mahogany Soul, and 5 other albums including Dream in 2015. Stone has appeared in movies such as The Fighting Temptations, Pastor Brown and School Girls. Stone has been nominated for three Grammy Awards. The song, "Baby" from her album, The Art of Love and War was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with vocals at the 2008 Grammy Awards. Angie Stone has performed in a stand-up theatre play tour, titled Issues: We've Got Them All, in which she had a leading role. Stone toured with Sisters in the Spirit in 2007. She also toured in Europe, performed at various Summer Festivals in the U.S. and in the Netherlands.

Trina Jeffrie's break out character "Sister Cantaloupe" has become a household name in the gospel community."Sister Cantaloupe", created by Trina, is a cat eyeglass wearing, colorful, and loud speaking church-going sister. She is often compared to Tyler Perry's character "Madea". But this church busybody was created some 25 years ago and has performed in every religious community you can imagine. Trina, the writer of all of her one-woman acts, has left audiences rolling in the aisles with her unique style of comedy and drama. Trina has three award winning hit DVD & CD's, and has recorded five Video/CD/DVD that are nationally distributed including Go Cantaloupe Go (1996), Laffing Out Loud with the Lord (1998), Un-Be-Weave-able (2002), Dr. Bobby Jones All Star Comedy (Lions Gate 2004), and Armed and Dangerous (2006). Her DVD 3-pack Classic Comedian Collection (2012) was awarded Best New Artist and Best Video. Jeffries is the 2014 winner of the AMG award for "Comedian of the Year".

Though Sister Cantaloupe is a huge success, Trina's talents range far beyond the character. She has also toured two years in the national play, "Friends and Lover" with stars such as Leon (Waiting to Exhale), Mel Jackson (Soul Food), Megal Neuye (Jawwana Man),and Monica Calhoun (The Best Man). Trina has been afforded the opportunity to be involved in motion pictures, television, and magazine publications. Because of her versatility and ambition, she has written movies, plays, produced and directed. She co-wrote and starred in Casino starring Gerald LeVert and Kelly Price, she was also in "Leap of Faith" starring Steve Martin and "Necessary Roughness" starring Sinbad and more. Trina made the vow that God would be her first love and acting her second. Trina is quick to say, "God is the only Daddy I've known and HE spoil's me so, to God be the Glory".

Dr. Pauline Plummer released the single entitled "Quiet Place" in 2006 and received a Gospel Choice Award for "Best New Artist". Her next CD, entitled, "Pauline", was released in 2009 and features such outstanding cuts as "Just Who You Are", "Quiet Place", & "You've Been Good", to name a few. Pauline was named "Best Female Singer" by Gospel Choice Awards and was honored with "the Heritage Music Award" by the Jasper Awards in Birmingham, Alabama. Pauline's mission is to minister music with a message of salvation, healing, hope and deliverance. Her melodic voice is sure to usher you into the presence of the Almighty.

Pauline is a television host for "Atlanta Live TV57" shown in Atlanta, GA and has appeared as a special guest on numerous television shows. She was chosen to sing for the historical MLK Memorial in Washington, DC. She was also a lead role in the Stageplay "One Sunday Morning" She is the author of Carriers of Vision: Redefining Womanhood.

Rhonda McLemore knew that the stage would be her platform, which was confirmed by her parents as they watched proudly at her first solo performance at the age of 10 in her church choir. Growing up in a Houston, TX, church gave Rhonda the opportunity to sing week after week; nourishing and developing her gift from God. During her journey of song, stage, and Christ, Rhonda was blessed to share the stage with Dr. Bobby Jones, Pastor John P. Kee, Yolanda Adams, Mary Mary and Pastor Donnie McClurkin, to name a few. Rhonda has traveled across the country while performing in gospel stage plays with Mr. Michael Matthews and Marvelous Entertainment. She also had the opportunity to share the stage with her husband, Shawn McLemore.

Staying true to her passion for music, Rhonda and her late friend Rosalyn Brunswick started a gospel group called Lyric, which was nominated for a Stellar Award for "Group Duo". Rhonda's latest accomplishment is her album produced by husband Shawn McLemore and Alex Ward entitled "Heart To Heart". The album will be released early next year.

Shawn McLemore felt that it was his calling to spread the word of God. The Los Angeles native grew up in the church under strong tutelage. Shawn's very first album, Wait on Him by Verity Records, was released in 1997 and placed on the Billboard Magazine Gospel Album. Since then, Shawn has released three more albums, Sunday Morning: The Live Experience, The Shawn Mac Project (2010), and One Percent Miracle: Any Minute Now (2011).

In addition to his music career, Shawn is an accomplished stage actor, starring in productions that have toured across the country such as Come Out of the Rain, I Need A Man, Momma Don't Get God Started, and Friends and Lovers, just to name a few.

Today, Shawn continues to share his life's challenges and triumphs to his listeners through Gospel music. Shawn's latest project includes a collaboration with fellow artist James Fortune on the hit single I Believe, which reached number one on the Gospel Billboard Chart. Shawn is also starring in the upcoming hit stage play Baby Hold On to Me, a musical tribute play to the late great Gerald Levert. Shawn is the proud husband of Rhonda Mclemore.

Apostle Dr. Aaron B. McNair, Sr. is the Senior Pastor of the Mt. Moriah Community Church, Farmville, NC and Mount Calvary Word of Faith, Raleigh, NC. He is Founder of Mt. Moriah Community Church Raleigh, Warsaw and Wilson, NC. He is one who strongly operates in the apostolic anointing to bring about life changing ministry. Exceeding 20 years of ministry, he understands the laborious calling and assignment upon his life yet walks in sincere humility and exorbitant integrity.

In the year of 2012, Pastor McNair, after five years of doing the work of an Apostle was duly affirmed as an Apostle in the Lord's Church. Apostle McNair serves as the Establishmentarian and General Overseer of the Life Changing Ministries International Fellowship which currently consist of over 50 Churches and Ministries, nearly 30 of which are located in South Africa. Apostle McNair, through this ecumenical fellowship, is an effective Father and believes "iron sharpens iron." (Proverbs 27:17) 

He is the author of two books entitled "Preaching with a Problem" and "Releasing the Spirit of Giving." His signature sermon "Preaching with a Problem" is featured in Oxford Sermons Volume III. He has been distinctively proclaimed the "Preacher's Preacher". He is a national and international revivalist & conference host. He has ministered in Brazil, conducted crusades in South Africa, Germany, London, Hong Kong, Virgin Islands, Bermuda, St. Lucia, Barbados and throughout the United States.

About the Writer/Producer

Dr. Mildred Summerville, retired administrator Wilson County Schools and CEO/Founder, J & L Summerville Academy, Summerville Promotion & Production Company and TALL 1 Outreach Ministries recently received The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. She has been honored professionally and consistently by the Heritage Registry for Who's Who in America from 2010-2015 as Writer/Producer for the Award-Winning Gospel Play, Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child, as CEO/ Principal of Summerville Academy, for Spiritual Education Entertainment services, Outstanding Leadership, her commitment at Summerville Promotion and Production Company and as a Distinguished Member of The Heritage Top 100. She was also recognized and distinguished as a Top Professional VIP of North America.

The highly acclaimed gospel play and its author/producer, Dr. Mildred Summerville received two prestigious awards at the Resa Mitchell Awards in Griffin, GA on December 19, 2009. The play was recognized as the best stage Play Production and Dr. Summerville was recognized as the Stage Play Producer of the Year. In 2017, she received an award for the playwright of the year and gospel stage play of the year 2017 during the Wilson Idol Talent Show. The first DVD of this award winning play was released late January 2009. Proceeds from the DVD sales are used to help sustain J&L Summerville Academy's youth programs and Wilson Idol.

Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child Gospel Play is the perfect event for youth groups, date nights, church congregations, and family outings. Make it a family affair..