Meet the Cast

Shanola Hampton

Star of the hit NBC series FOUND, in which she also serves as a producer. Summerville-raised Shanola Hampton plays “Gabi Mosley,” a public relations specialist who once counted herself among the forgotten missing. Prior to her work on FOUND, for 11 seasons Shanola starred alongside William H. Macy in Showtime’s award-winning series “Shameless.”

Constance Zimmer

This maestro has appeared in UnREAL, House of Cards, Newsroom, Boston Legal, Entourage, and can be seen as a pivotal character in The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix. Channeling her talents and passion for advocacy, she will bring to light the untold stories of women’s most profound evolution when The Midlife Monologues takes to the stage as a new, original production under her leadership.

Kate Baer

New York Times bestselling author of three poetry collections, What Kind of Woman, And Yet, and I Hope This Finds You Well whose fierce and compassionate work on marriage, motherhood and the in-between times of life has been published in The New Yorker, Literary Hub, Huffington Post and The New York Times.

Mary Laura Philpott

Mary Laura Philpott, nationally bestselling author of I Miss You When I Blink and the memoir Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives, which won the Southern Book Prize and was named a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice and one of NPR’s Favorite Books of 2022.

Tamsen Fadal

Emmy award-winning journalist, is a powerful storyteller, sharing tales of hope and resiliency. Executive producer of The M Factor, a documentary on Menopause, author of How to Menopause, and health advocate, she is rewriting the narrative for women in midlife.

Tara Stringfellow

Cross-genre artist and two-time Pushcart Prize nominee whose debut novel and national bestseller Memphis was a “Read with Jenna” pick and longlisted for the Women’s Prize in Fiction. Essence called her latest work Magic Enuff “a beautiful tapestry around poignant themes such as Black Southern womanhood, femininity, and the bonds that women within a family share.”

Abi Carter

With a new, debut album and praise from Katy Perry as a voice “unlike anything I’ve heard in pop music,” Abi is a rising star whose dramatic vocals and virtuosic piano skills are unmatched. Her powerful, ethereal vibe flows from her extraordinary talent, personal story and uncanny ability to balance light and dark, never allowing her inner light to dim.

Kelley Jakle

American actress and singer-songwriter, cast member of Anna Kendrick’s Woman of the Hour and the much-loved Pitch Perfect, this Barden Bella won two International Championships of Collegiate A Cappella and has performed live all over the country including at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. She will release her next album titled Metanoia in 2025.

Hayes Warner

Pop star & NYC native brings Big Apple energy, talent, and a vital message about women’s strength and agency to today’s music scene. One of People’s 2023 Emerging Artists to Watch, her performances at Lollapalooza and in the Grammy Reimagined series place her among the industry’s most exciting new artists.

Quiana Parler

Two-time Grammy Award Winning Vocalist, American Idol contestant, and member of the Charleston, SC-based quintet, Ranky Tanky, whose timeless music born from the Gullah culture soared to #1 on Billboard, Amazon, and ITunes Jazz charts, Quiana has appeared everywhere from Saturday Night Live to the Today Show to NPR.

Sharon Graci

Co-founder and artistic director of PURE Theatre, is a noted actress who has helmed more than 100 Southeast Regional and World Premiere productions while building an award winning company dedicated to consequential theater experiences and vibrant community exchange.

Melissa Faliveno

Author of the essay collection Tomboyland, named a Best Book of 2020 by NPR, New York Public Library, Oprah Magazine, and Electric Literature, and recipient of a 2021 Award for Outstanding Literary Achievement from the Wisconsin Library Association. Her debut novel, Hemlock, is forthcoming from Little, Brown.

Carolyn Murray

Beloved anchor of WCBD-TV in Charleston, news legend and women’s health advocate who has interviewed presidents, sports icons and Oprah. Winner of accolades including TV News Anchor of the Year, three Southeast Region Emmys, and Community Impact Award for her special report on the International African American Museum, she returns to Emcee.

Deena Lang

With a long career as a radio personality, appearances on Hoda & Jenna and Tamron Hall, and growing influence on social media, Deena uses wit and insight to help women feel supported as they age, parent, and pivot.

New Castmember

Award-winning studio potter, independent filmmaker, mother and founder of Mugs for Moms, a non-profit whose mission is to raise awareness, build supportive communities and provide valuable and lifesaving resources to women with perinatal mood disorders.

Margaret Anne Florence

Charleston born and based actor, singer and model whose magnetic presence has lit up film, TV and stage. Her versatile career spans Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman; a lead role in CMT’s Sun Records on Elvis; Amazon Prime Video hit tennis comedy First One; family favorite The Mighty Macs; My Super Ex-Girlfriend; world-wide horror movie Terrifier 3; and New York theatre classics.

Tonya Maria Matthews

Multi-hyphenate maven working across social entrepreneurship, strategic equity, creative writing and poetry recently inducted into the HistoryMakers Archives, which now holds the oral history of her life and career. Humbly proud President & CEO of the International African American Museum which hovers above Gadsden’s Wharf.

Kerri Devine

Award-winning essayist and community builder, brings her lifelong talent for purposeful expression to the conversation on midlife. “Kerri will not only charm and entertain you, she will help you discover yourself right alongside her.”

Maria White

Joy Vandervort Cobb

PURE Associate Artistic Director and core ensemble member, has riveted audiences for decades with powerful roles and unmatched range. She is professor emeritus at the College of Charleston, a freelance director, and a celebrated voice actor whose work can be heard in museums across the country.

Stephanie Hunt

Noted essayist, lifestyle and travel journalist, and author of At Home in the South and Simply Chic brings her insight and compassion as a mom and new grandmom and her background in theology to her work as a writer, editor, and community leader.

Emily Wilhoit

With more than 25 years of experience performing locally and nationally, Emily brings versatility and vitality to a diverse range of roles from Shakespeare to contemporary musical theatre, her favorite of which is “mom”.

Tonya Nicole

Tonya Nicole (born Tonya Smalls Williams) is a dynamic R&B/JAZZ recording artist and actress with a passion for storytelling through music and theater. A core ensemble member of the renowned PURE Theatre, she brings powerful performances to the stage while shaping young artists as a Theatre Arts Educator for PURE Theatre and Engaging Creative Minds.

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