North Charleston Dinner Theatre Series Goes Gullah on November 15

Sharon Cooper-Murray as The Gullah Lady

Another fabulous dinner theatre performance is set to take place in North Charleston on Friday, November 15, with Gullah Roots presented by The Gullah Lady, Sharon Cooper-Murray. The interactive program features a captivating collection of stories and songs that offer a glimpse into Gullah life and culture on the coastal plains and Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia. Dinner for the evening is catered by Embassy Suites and features an entrée of sage buttered and roasted pork tenderloin. Tickets are on sale until Tuesday, November 12.

In Gullah Roots, Cooper-Murray uses her rich singing voice and conversational storytelling approach to take the audience on a journey through her memories, revealing the people, songs, stories and experiences that have shaped her passion and understanding of the Gullah culture.   Although she is known as The Gullah Lady, many are surprised to learn that Sharon Cooper-Murray is not Gullah at all. Born and raised in Lake City, SC, she attended college in Tennessee and moved to the Lowcountry at the age of 22. It was in 1984, when she married Wadmalaw Island native Frank Murray, that she was first introduced to the Gullah culture. She was immediately fascinated with the Gullah way of life and its unique language, oral traditions, music, crafts and food ways. More than two decades later that fascination has turned into a life-long passion to not only learn all she can about the Gullah people and their traditions, but also to preserve and promote the language and culture. She does so by traveling throughout the east coast of the United States to participate in workshops, lectures, storytelling events, special occasions and artist in residency programs. She also performs regularly at Boone Hall Plantation.

Gullah Roots will be presented at the Charleston Area Convention Center Ballroom (adjacent to the North Charleston Performing Arts Center) at 5001 Coliseum Drive in North Charleston. The ballroom doors open at 7:00pm for dinner. Tickets are $40 per person. Group discounts are offered. Ticket price includes dinner, play, and gratuity. Tickets for just the play are available for $15. Parking is free. A cash-only bar will be available. To purchase tickets, contact Pam Smith at 843-740-5847 by Tuesday, November 12. For details on the 2013/14 North Charleston Dinner Theatre Series or information on additional programs and events, contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at 843-740-5854 or visit http://bit.ly/culturalarts.