Chart-topping singer/songwriter/actress Shirley Murdock will headline the high-acclaimed stage play, Ursula V. Battle’s “Serenity House: From Addiction to Deliverance.” The show is being presented by Unified Voices (UV) of Johns Hopkins and Battle Stage Plays.
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Director Dr. Gregory Wm. Branch and Playwright Ursula V. Battle.
LaKeisha McClendon is the show’s Executive Producer. The production will be performed March 20, 21, and 22, 2020 in Johns Hopkins’ Turner Auditorium located at
720 Rutland Avenue in Baltimore.
The stage play takes a riveting and thought-provoking look at the opioid epidemic. The production will also feature National Recording Artist Randy “Fruity” Roberts of The Choir Boyz, Mavilyn Statham of the legendary Clara Ward Singers, internationally renown-ed gospel female trio “Serenity” and Baltimore’s own dynamic songstress Charisse Caldwell- Bowen.
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Gospel/R&B recording artist Shirley Murdock will headline “Serenity House: From Addiction to Deliverance.”
Murdock will portray “Sister Claire C. Voyant,” and will also sing in the production.” Murdock’s R&B hits include As We Lay, Go On Without You, Husband, and In Your Eyes. Meeting Bishop T.D. Jakes in the late 1990s, led not only to features on his #1 CD, but the realization of her lifelong dream to sing Gospel. He signed Murdock to his Dexterity Sounds/EMI recording label and her debut Gospel CD entitled, Home was nominated for a Stellar Award.
The following project Soulfood (Tyscot Records), received both Stellar & Dove Award nominations. Her latest project, The Journey is a live CD/DVD recording featuring Regina Belle, Kelly Price, and Beverly Crawford. The songstress’ theatrical credits include Priest Tyaire’s hit stage play, Mrs. Independent.
Roberts portrays “James Franklin” in the production, and will perform Watch Me Work from his hit CD This Is My Story This is My Song featuring “Kingdom.” Serenity will perform several gospel favorites throughout the production. Dr. Gregory Wm. Branch is the Stage Director, while Howard “Buddy” Lakins, Jr. is the Musical Director for the powerful production, which will also include original music composed by the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University student, Allen Branch.
“We are excited to present Ursula V. Battle’s Serenity House,” said Dr. Branch, who serves as Executive
Director of UV. “Serenity House supports UV’s mission which is to spread hope, health, and healing through harmony. We are so honored to bring in the legendary Shirley Murdock. She is headlining a show of extraordinary performers. People can expect to laugh, cry, and most of all, be uplifted.”
The production is written by Baltimore Times writer Ursula V. Battle, who is being honored as a Women In the Arts 2020: “Valiant Women of Freedom” Honoree at Morgan State University on Saturday, March 14, 2020.
“Serenity House: From Addiction to Deliverance” centers around the journey six men and women— three months in recovery— after arriving at the imaginary United in Victory Tabernacle on the Hill Freewill Catholic Baptist and Episcopal Church of God in Christ’s newly opened “Serenity House.”
Through ministry, music, an unforgettable story and dance, the production takes a heart-wrenching, yet heart-warming look at the devastating impact that addiction has on society— particularly on families that in some cases, spans generations.
The production also highlights the supernatural power of God to help us overcome, and the transformative power of forgiveness.
The performances are being dedicated to the late poet Maya Angelou, who penned, And Still I Rise. The show is also dedicated to “Cynthia,” a woman who overdosed in front of the building where auditions for the production were held, but was revived by the NARCAN nasal spray.
Ursula V. Battle’s “Serenity House” is rated PG-13 due to some strong content and profanity. Show times are as follows: Friday, March 20, 2020 (7 p.m.); Saturday, March 21, 2020 (Noon and 7 p.m.) and Sunday, March 22, 2020 (5 p.m.) Seating is General with doors opening 30 minutes before the performance. For additional information or to purchase tickets call 410-955-8888 or 443-531-4787. You may also visit: www.unifiedvoices.com or www.battlestageplays.com.