Meet Our Cast
Producer of the Little Rock performances of BIRTH, Verda Davenport Booher has a long history in the Little Rock theatre scene both on stage and off. At the Arkansas Rep, she designed costumes for such shows as The Foreigner, West Side Story, From the Mississippi Delta, and Jelly Roll! Voices at the River, Burn This, The Vagina Monologues, Byrd's Boy, and Doubt. She can be seen in TV commercials from Backyard Burger to Baptist Health, and has appeared in the films 21 Grams, The Rainmaker, and Nothing But The Truth. Verda is honored to have this chance to be on stage with so many fabulous women!
Director of the Little Rock performances of BIRTH, Stacy Pendergraft is Assistant Professor of Theatre at UALR specializing in Acting, Voice and Movement, and Directing. Before joining the faculty at UALR, Stacy was the Artistic Associate and Director of Education for the American Stage Theatre in St. Petersburg, Florida. Among her many responsibilities, she created and directed works in children's theatre for the company's School Tour series, developed educational curricula, and implemented an intensive internship program for college students throughout the state. She continues to serve as an adjudicator for the Florida State Thespian Association. As a professional actress, she has appeared in productions at The Cleveland Playhouse, the American Stage, the Actor's Theatre of Phoenix, and Dixon Place. She holds degrees from the University of Tulsa and Arizona State University and is also a member of the Actors' Equity Association.
Angie Gilbert is a voice-over and on-camera talent in commercials across the country. Before starting her family over seven years ago, Angie was a regular on the local stages, having happily returned just last year with the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre. You might also catch a glimpse of her with Kate Beckinsale in the April dvd release of Nothing But the Truth. She is truly honored to be a part of this unique and poignant production.
Monica Clark-Robinson, a local actor and adjunct theatre professor at UALR, received an MFA in Acting from Michigan State University. She has acted and directed regionally in theatres in Arkansas, Missouri, and Michigan and has taught acting, voice, performance studies, and movement at Michigan State and Lansing Community College. Monica was also the Artistic Director for the New Globe Players, a small theatre company in Springfield, Missouri. Locally, she was seen last year in Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre's Romeo and Juliet and Sound of Music. She also performed at the Weekend Theatre in Urinetown, Dancing at Lughnasa, and Vital Signs. Monica is also pleased to teach classes in acting to children and teens locally, and counts Lucas Grabeel, of High School Musical fame, among her former students.
Paige Reynolds [reading only] is delighted to be a part of BIRTH. She began her professional acting career in Dallas, Texas, and has enjoyed performing in many productions and venues locally during her time in Little Rock. She will play Lady Macbeth in the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre's production of Macbeth in June. Other local credits include: Romeo and Juliet (Arkansas Shakespeare), Born Yesterday (The Rep), and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Weekend Theatre). Paige has a featured role in the recent film War Eagle, Arkansas, and has numerous voiceover, commercial, and print credits. She holds a Ph.D. in British Renaissance Drama and is an assistant professor in UCA's Department of English
Stacy Blackburn is a local actor who for the past 20 years has dedicated her time and energy to women's and children's health as a Licensed Midwife in Little Rock, and more recently as a Registered Nurse and Certified Lactation Consultant in the Little Rock area. She is delighted to stretch her acting muscles and return to the stage for the first time in several years for this production of BIRTH. Stacy is the mother of two daughters. This project is especially meaningful to Stacy, as she was one of the midwives who attended our Playwright, Karen Brody's births. She has been privileged to be a part of the very diverse birth experiences of many families over the years, and dedicates this performance to their individual and collective courage and honors their unique and important birth stories. To all of them: YOU did it.
Alanna Hamill Newton just completed her seventh stage production in Little Rock, The Elephant Man for Arkansas Repertory Theatre. Previously, she appeared in The Bottle Tree for Wildwood Park for the Arts and The Rep and It's a Wonderful Life, Barefoot in the Park, My Fair Lady, Moonlight & Magnolias, and Kaufman & Hart Prize readings for The Rep. Alanna received her BFA from the University of Detroit/Marygrove then moved to New York City, where she appeared in numerous Off-Broadway productions. Following a move to Los Angeles, she continued acting and began screenwriting with fellow actor Robert Pucci. Together, they have sold 14 feature screenplays to every major studio and created a CBS television pilot for Diane Keaton and Brad Grey Television. In Order of Appearance, a short in which she co-stars with her husband Gary, screened at the inaugural Little Rock Film Festival and received the "Best Ensemble Cast Award" at the Deep Ellum Film Festival in Dallas. It premiered at the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films, was a finalist for "Best Short" at Method Fest, and was an Official Selection of five others. In 2007, she was nominated for Best Writing and won for Best Actor for her work in Guarded, part of Little Rock's 48 Hour Film Project. In June 2005, she relocated to Little Rock with her husband and now seven-year old twins, Jed and Lilly, and is proud to call herself an Arkansan.
Stephanie Ong is excited to join the cast of BIRTH. Stephanie received her BA in Theatre Arts (and an "unofficial minor" in costuming) from UALR. Some of her favorite productions include Dancing at Lughnasa, Kind Ness, HAIR, Comedie of Errors, The Chekhov Project and Big Love. She has worked at Seaside Music theatre in Florida as a seamstress and wardrobe assistant. Last year, Stephanie worked at Actor's Theatre of Louisville as a teaching artist and in education outreach. Thank you to the beautiful women in this production for letting me give birth with you. Vanessa, I can't say I feel your (butt) pain, but I was, however, a C-section baby.