Hit stage play gospel musical comedy DisChord In The Choir Coming to UMES

April 6, 2010 - PRLog -- EASTERN SHORE, MD (APRIL 5,  2010) – The hit gospel musical stage play comedy Ursula V. Battle’s DisChord In The Choir is coming to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s (UMES) Ella Fitzgerald Center for Performing Arts for two shows only. The hilarious and inspirational production will be performed at UMES’ Ella Fitzgerald Center for Performing Arts Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 3:30 p.m. The area is already buzzing about the play, which premiered in 2008 at Coppin State University in Baltimore, MD and received rave reviews.

Director and actress extraordinaire Dr. Della Dameron-Johnson (Mama D) of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES); the Rev. Lewis Watson, Pastor, First Baptist Church of Salisbury and owner of the Lewis N. Watson Funeral Home in Salisbury, MD; and legendary singing group The Sons of Thunder are among the locals who will be making appearances in the hit gospel musical stage play comedy.

Performances will also include special appearances by The UMES Gospel Choir, The UMES Drama Society, UMES students, and Baltimore comedienne “Miss Maybelle.”
Dr. Dameron-Johnson, who is known throughout the Salisbury, MD region for her outstanding Dinner Theatre shows, will be portraying the lovable, yet unforgettable Mother of the Church “Mother Pearl Carter,” whose antics will leave playgoers talking about this show for years to come. Rev. Watson will make appearances in the play as both a pastor and an undertaker, and like Dameron-Johnson, playgoers won’t forget his appearance in this show. The Sons of Thunder and The UMES Gospel Choir will perform during the play, while The UMES Drama Society and several UMES students will be portraying congregation members and other characters.

The play is written by Baltimore native and popular playwright Ursula V. Battle, and is being presented by Write On Productions, LLC. Battle made her debut as a playwright in 2002 with her acclaimed production titled, Ursula V. Battle’s The Teachers’ Lounge, which also drew large audiences in Baltimore and received rave reviews.

Battle’s other productions include Widows In The Hood, FOR BETTER OR WOR$E, and THE CHRISTMAS GIFT. Battle, is a graduate of Coppin State University and the University of Baltimore. Her powerful, soul-stirring, yet comedic pieces has the up and coming playwright being compared to the likes of Tyler Perry.

The hilarious gospel comedy is intertwined with biblical lessons. Directed by Tracey Stephenson, DisChord In The Choir incorporates real-life situations with side-splitting satire, making it hilarious at times, and deeply spiritual and thought-provoking at others. The play also features a talented cadre of singers, musicians, actors, actresses, and other performers from Baltimore and other areas.  

Set in a small church called Pressing Forward in the Name of the Lord Tabernacle on the Hill Hallelujah Baptist Church, “Dr. William Nelson Madison” (Steve Turner) has been the musician for more than 40 years. Dr. Madison’s reputation on the organ and piano keys stretches from the organ pipes of Pressing Forward to the sticks of his native North Carolina. But when Dr. Madison passes away suddenly, his untimely death causes "dischord" in “The Choir”, who can no longer hit the right notes.

Thanks to “The Choir”, who are set in their old-fashioned ways, “Divine Intervention” might be needed to find a successor to fill Dr. Madison’s empty organ stool. The personalities of “The Choir”, combined with each of their desires to always sing lead only intensifies the challenge in finding a new musician.

But while The Choir’s singing is off due to their lack of a musician, their “dischord” is also throwing “The Congregation” and “The Ushers” off. And to make matters worse, the conclusion of the sermons being preached by the church’s pastor, “Rev. Right Just” (Kim Chase) are no longer being accompanied by the deeply moving, spiritual sounds of the organ. And finding a new musician is proving to be much harder than they had ever imagined! And then there’s a shocking church secret that reveals itself in the end.

Will Pressing Forward in the Name of the Lord Tabernacle on the Hill Hallelujah Baptist Church ever find a new musician? Will they ever again sing a joyful noise? Will they ever again sing on one accord? The doors of the church are open! You will have to go see this play to find out.

Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door. A special group rate of $17 is available for groups of 10 or more. Preferred seating tickets are $25.  Tickets can be purchased at UMES, Office of Dr. Della Dameron-Johnson, Ella Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, Room 1105 and at The Gospel Shop, 800 Salisbury Road in Salisbury MD.

To purchase tickets online, additional ticket locations, or more information visit:
www.dischordinthechoir.com or call 443-531-4787. You can also learn more about the production by going to facebook.com/ubattle.

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Ursula V. Battle's DisChord In The Choir is being presented by Write On Productions L.L.C., owned and operated by Ursula V. Battle. The mission of the company, which presents comedic, powerful, and uplifting stageplays, is to glorify God and His Word.