Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child
A Powerful Story of Family, Faith, Choices, Consequences, and Redemption
Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child is a faith-centered stage production written and produced by Dr. Mildred Summerville.
Through powerful storytelling, gospel music, humor, and emotional performances, the production explores the difficult realities families face when love, discipline, communication, faith, and personal responsibility become disconnected.
The story challenges audiences to examine the consequences of their choices while reminding them that healing, forgiveness, and restoration are still possible.
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About the Stage Play
Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child brings real family and community issues to the stage in a way that is honest, relatable, entertaining, and spiritually meaningful.
The production addresses the struggles that can arise when parents and children stop communicating, guidance is rejected, poor choices go uncorrected, and unresolved pain begins to affect an entire family.
While the story confronts serious issues, it also offers hope. It reminds audiences that faith can sustain a family, truth can begin the healing process, and lives can be restored when people accept responsibility and choose a better path.
Our Purpose
The purpose of Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child is to use theater, music, and faith-centered storytelling to encourage meaningful conversations about parenting, family relationships, discipline, personal responsibility, forgiveness, and healing.
The production gives audiences an opportunity to recognize familiar struggles, examine difficult choices, and consider how faith, accountability, and love can help restore individuals and families.
Our Mission
Our mission is to present powerful theatrical experiences that entertain, educate, inspire, and encourage positive change.
Through authentic characters, compelling storylines, gospel music, humor, and spiritual truth, Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child seeks to strengthen families, encourage responsible decision-making, and remind audiences that no life is beyond redemption.
Our Vision
Our vision is for Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child to become a nationally recognized faith-centered production that reaches audiences through live theater, literature, film, educational programs, and community conversations.
We envision the story traveling to cities across the country, partnering with churches and community organizations, and becoming a valuable tool for family engagement, youth development, healing, and transformation.
The Heart of the Story
At the heart of Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child is a family forced to confront the consequences of choices that have gone unaddressed for too long.
As relationships are tested and difficult truths are revealed, each person must decide whether to remain trapped by anger, pride, fear, and pain—or choose accountability, forgiveness, faith, and restoration.
The production invites audiences to consider important questions:
What happens when correction comes too late?
How can parents balance love, guidance, and accountability?
What responsibility do young people have for their decisions?
How does unresolved pain affect an entire family?
Can damaged relationships be restored?
What role does faith play in healing?
How can families break harmful patterns?
Can painful experiences become a source of strength and purpose?
The story does not pretend that family restoration is easy. It demonstrates that healing begins when people are willing to face the truth, accept responsibility, extend forgiveness, and allow God to work within their lives.
Major Themes
Family
The production examines the love, conflict, sacrifice, disappointment, and hope that exist within families.
Parenting and Guidance
The story encourages parents and caregivers to remain present, communicate clearly, establish appropriate boundaries, and provide consistent guidance.
Choices and Consequences
Every decision has the potential to affect not only the individual making it, but also the people who love and depend upon that person.
Accountability
Healing requires honesty, personal responsibility, and a willingness to acknowledge the impact of one’s actions.
Faith
Faith provides strength during difficult seasons and reminds families that restoration remains possible.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness does not erase what happened, but it can release individuals and families from the power of past pain.
Redemption
Mistakes, hardship, and brokenness do not have to become the final chapter of a person’s life.
Hope
Even when relationships appear beyond repair, hope can open the door to healing and a new beginning.
More Than Entertainment
Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child is more than a stage play. It is a conversation starter and a call to action.
The production can help audiences:
Recognize unhealthy family patterns
Understand the importance of communication
Examine parenting and discipline practices
Encourage young people to consider the consequences of their choices
Address unresolved pain
Promote personal accountability
Discuss forgiveness and reconciliation
Strengthen faith
Connect families with helpful community resources
Believe that healing and restoration are possible
Who Should Experience the Production?
The production is appropriate for:
Families
Parents and caregivers
Teenagers and young adults
Churches and faith communities
Youth ministries
Schools and educational organizations
Mentoring programs
Community organizations
Family-support agencies
Juvenile justice and diversion programs
Counseling and restorative programs
Women’s and men’s ministries
Theater and performing arts audiences
Organizations may choose to combine a performance with a facilitated discussion, family workshop, youth session, resource fair, or community conversation.
Production History
Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child has been presented before audiences in multiple cities, including:
Raleigh, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Wilson, North Carolina
Savannah, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Washington, D.C.
Each production has brought together actors, musicians, gospel artists, churches, community partners, and audiences for an unforgettable theatrical experience.
Featured Gospel Artists and Performers
Throughout its history, Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child has featured respected gospel artists, actors, singers, and entertainers, including:
Pastor Shirley Caesar
Dorinda Clark-Cole
Le’Andria Johnson
Evelyn Turrentine-Agee
Leanne Faine
The late Shawn McLemore
Melvin Williams
Carolyn Traylor
Crissy Collins
Terrell Phillips
Trina Jeffrie, known as “Sister Cantaloupe”
Their participation has helped bring extraordinary music, authenticity, and spiritual power to the production.
Featured performers may vary by city and production.
Meet the Playwright and Producer
Dr. Mildred Summerville
Dr. Mildred Summerville is an educator, administrator, author, playwright, producer, promoter, consultant, and humanitarian whose creative work is rooted in faith, family, education, and community service.
Her experiences as an educator and community leader gave her a firsthand understanding of the challenges facing young people and families. She transformed those observations into a theatrical work that speaks honestly about choices and consequences while offering a message of hope and redemption.
Through Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child, Dr. Summerville uses the stage as a place for entertainment, ministry, education, and healing.
Read About Dr. Summerville
Bring the Production to Your City
Churches, theaters, schools, ministries, nonprofit organizations, colleges, and community groups may inquire about bringing Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child to their city.
A hosting partnership may include:
Live theatrical production
Gospel music performances
Community outreach
Youth and family engagement
Faith-based discussion
Educational workshops
Resource tables
Sponsor recognition
Local artist participation
Community-service opportunities
Post-performance conversations
Production availability, venue requirements, costs, scheduling, casting, technical needs, and partnership responsibilities will be discussed during the planning process.
Request Booking Information
Become a Production Partner
Successful productions are made possible through partnerships with organizations that believe in strengthening families and communities.
Potential partners include:
Churches and ministries
Theaters and performing arts centers
Schools and colleges
Family-service organizations
Youth-development programs
Counseling and mental-health organizations
Juvenile justice programs
Healthcare organizations
Businesses and corporations
Foundations and grantmakers
Media partners
Community leaders
Partners may provide financial sponsorship, venues, promotion, volunteers, professional services, transportation, lodging, meals, technical support, or community resources.
Become a Community Partner
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsorship helps support:
Venue rental
Cast and featured artists
Travel and accommodations
Sound, lighting, and technical production
Set and costume expenses
Marketing and promotion
Youth and family outreach
Complimentary community tickets
Educational materials
Post-performance discussions
Future book and screen development
Sponsor benefits may include recognition on promotional materials, event programs, social media, stage announcements, displays, and other production-related materials.
View Sponsorship Opportunities | Become a Sponsor
From the Stage to the Page
The story of Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child is being developed into a book that will allow readers to experience the characters, relationships, struggles, and spiritual lessons in greater depth.
The book will preserve the play’s faith-centered message while expanding the characters’ backgrounds, motivations, choices, and journeys toward accountability and healing.
Future resources may also include:
Reader discussion questions
Family conversation guides
Church study materials
Youth-development lessons
Character reflections
Educational workshops
Book-signing events
Community reading programs
Receive Book Updates
Future Screen Adaptation
A screen adaptation is also part of the long-term vision for Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child.
Adapting the story for film or television would allow its message of family, faith, consequences, healing, and redemption to reach audiences beyond the live stage.
The production welcomes appropriate conversations with:
Producers
Directors
Screenwriters
Production companies
Film investors
Distributors
Faith-based entertainment partners
Streaming and television representatives
Inquire About Creative Partnerships
Community Conversations
Organizations may request a conversation or educational program based on the themes of the production.
Possible topics include:
Parenting with love and accountability
Communicating with teenagers
Understanding choices and consequences
Healing family relationships
Addressing youth conflict
Restorative practices
Faith and family resilience
Forgiveness and reconciliation
Transforming pain into purpose
Supporting young people after mistakes
These conversations may be presented independently or connected to a live performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the production based on a true story?
The production reflects real-life issues experienced by many families and communities. Specific information concerning the story’s creative inspiration may be shared by the playwright during interviews or audience conversations.
Is the play appropriate for young people?
The production addresses serious family and youth issues. Parents, churches, schools, and organizations should review available content guidance when considering attendance by younger audiences.
Can the play be presented at a church?
Yes. Churches and ministries may inquire about hosting or partnering on a production.
Can schools and youth organizations use the production educationally?
Yes. The production’s themes can support discussions concerning decision-making, family relationships, communication, accountability, conflict resolution, and restoration.
Is the play available for booking?
Booking inquiries are welcomed. Availability depends upon scheduling, venue requirements, production needs, financing, and partnership arrangements.
Is the book available now?
The book version is in development. Updates will be announced as the project progresses.
Can organizations sponsor a performance?
Yes. Sponsorship opportunities may be developed for businesses, churches, foundations, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, and community partners.
Can local performers participate?
Local participation may be considered according to the casting and production requirements for each city.
A Message From the Playwright
“Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child was created to do more than entertain. It was created to reach families, speak to young people, confront difficult truths, and remind us that choices have consequences. Most importantly, it carries a message of faith and hope—that broken relationships can heal, painful experiences can become a source of strength, and no life is beyond God’s power to restore.”
— Dr. Mildred Summerville, Playwright and Producer
Experience the Story
Bring your family, church, school, ministry, or community organization together for a powerful theatrical experience filled with drama, music, laughter, truth, faith, and hope.
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Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child
A Program of Tall One Outreach Ministries
A Powerful Story of Family, Faith, Choices, Consequences, and Redemption