"Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child" Gospel Stage Play Coming to Ovens Auditorium August 10, 2019

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Feb. 5, 2019) – Ovens Auditorium will host "Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child", an award-winning Gospel stage play, written and produced by Dr. Mildred Summerville, on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, at all Ticketmaster outlets or at the Bojangles' Coliseum Box Office located at 2700 E. Independence Blvd. Tickets start at $49 (plus applicable service charges) and are subject to change. Direct link to purchase tickets here.

A must-see story; "Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child" is alternately a moving drama and a side-splitting comedy that will be talked about in families and generations to come. In this gripping and engaging dramatic piece, a woman 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.

Gracing the stage are Grammy Award-Winning artist Dorinda Clark Cole, Gospel singing sensation, Shawn McLemore, who is known for his hit single "I Believe" featuring James Fortune, Tra’Lesha Willis, Rhonda McLemore, Dr. Trish Harleston, Carolyn Traylor, Will Ellis, and Trenton Lumpkin, Queen of Gospel Comedy,Trina Jeffrie and Apostle Aaron McNair, renown preacher, teacher and author.

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.

The 2019 Charlotte production of "Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child" is being sponsored by The Rock Worship Center in memory of Gabriel Michael Jacobs. Gabriel was the son of Pastor Fank and First Lady Kimberly Jacobs who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 12 years old. Because Gabriel was best known for his Big Heart, his parents founded the Gabe’s Heart Foundation in his honor. The Foundation recognizes individuals who display a giving spirit and a compassionate heart. A portion of each ticket sale for this Charlotte, NC production will be donated to Gabe’s Heart Foundation.

For more information, visit "Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child" Facebook page here.

About Ovens Auditorium
Ovens Auditorium, located adjacent to Bojangles' Coliseum, opened in 1955. With a seating capacity of approximately 2,400, Ovens has hosted more than 7,000 events including Broadway shows, symphony concerts, operas, dance recitals and nationally known speakers. For more information, visit ovensauditorium.com and follow Ovens Auditorium on Facebook and Twitter.