Untamed Women of the Bible

Rockin’ Rev. Sherry Cothran combines music, storytelling to bring lesserknown biblical females to life

Jezebel, Mary Magdalene, Delilah and Eve are all recognizable names of biblical women. But have you heard of Deborah, Jael or Huldah?

The R e v. Sherry Cothran, a former rock singer turned pastor and author, will introduce her audience to them on Friday night, July 27, when s he presents “Prophets, Warriors, Healers & Heroes: Untamed Women of the Bible” at Barking Legs Theater.

The event f eatures Cothran’s original Ameri cana- style songs and storytelling. The concert combines original music with that of classical composers such as Handel and Gounod, performed by l ocal singers Kristen Wiram, Sara Snider Schone, Kelly Stultz and Harv Wileman. Pianist Sigrid Luther and cellist Suzanne Sims will accompany them.

Cothan says concertgoers will be “treated to a romp through untold history from sacred texts that feature these women’s stories” who were warriors, military strategists, prophets, healers and heroes of the biblical world.

“This event shines new light into the unexplored realms of sacred texts, particularly as it relates to women,” Cothran says.

The Biblical women featured are Deborah, nursemaid to Jacob and Esau; Huldah, a prophetess; Jael, who delivered Israel from King Jabin’s troops; and the Witch of Endor.

Also, the “Woman from the Song of Songs, Jeptha’s daughter, Rahab, strange woman and woman wisdom,” she lists.

Cothran worked with Bible scholars and received a grant f rom the Louisvi l l e Institute/ Lily Endowment to apply her songwriting skills to the stories of these women and bring them to life.

A c hance e ncounter with producer Harv Wileman led to the idea of contrasting Cothran’s 21st-century musical take on t hese women with composers from previous centuries.

Co t h r a n recently became t he associate pastor at Second Presbyterian Church. A rock singer in the late 1990s, she fronted The Evinrudes, and shared stages with bands of the day like Goo Goo Dolls, Spin Doctors and Barenaked Ladies.

For more information about the program: www. barkinglegs.org

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