50 www.CharlestonWomenPodcast.com | www.ReadCW.com | www.Instagram.com/CharlestonWomen well as many more local luminaries. This star-studded cast of nationally renowned artists and Charleston treasures performed a creative blend of words, music and artistic expression that capture the entire arc of a woman’s life — the bright lights of girlhood, the confidence of young women in their 20s and 30s and the complexities of motherhood and midlife’s next chapters that continue to unfold. “Women of all ages are finally being more vulnerable about the emotional and relational challenges they face in their life’s journeys, especially in perimenopause and menopause, which comprise one-third of a woman’s life,” Devine said. “That’s positive for women of the current and the next generations who won’t have to struggle with the physical and emotional challenges that come with change. The arts are a powerful vehicle for bringing these conversations out into the open so that women of After hosting World Menopause Day at the Gibbes Museum in October 2022, essayist and founder of Hot in Charleston, a community for women in the midlife space, Kerri Devine knew she wanted to further examine those in-between times when women tend to struggle. After surveying a group of women ages 35-65 to learn whether they felt prepared for perimenopause or menopause, she learned 99% were not. Further research revealed that 75% of women in that demographic wanted to hear stories from others who were experiencing similar changes to the ones they were going through. Determined to reach across generations to help women in all phases of life feel more seen and supported, Devine decided the best way forward was to take the conversation to the stage. Inspired by memoirist Patricia Hampl’s mantra, “You tell me your story and somehow, I understand mine,” Devine compiled a multi-genre entertainment event called “Midlife Monologues.” From page to stage, the performance first launched at PURE Theatre in 2023 with two sold-out shows featuring an ensemble of awardwinning authors, artists and creatives. Accordingly, “Midlife Monologues” earned acclaim from both the arts and medical communities for the raw honesty, humor and insight with which the program highlighted women’s milestone moments. Building on this success, Devine, in partnership with Sharon Graci, artistic director at PURE Theatre and Polly Buxton of Buxton Books, curated the production of an expanded “Midlife Monologues,” which debuted March 12 at Charleston Music Hall for an audience of nearly 1,000 women spanning multiple generations. Giving voice to these “Midlife Monologues” were bestselling authors Kate Baer, Mary Laura Philpott and Tara Stringfellow; 2024 winner of American Idol, Abi Carter; Woman of the Hour and Pitch Perfect actor and singer, Kelley Jakle; rising pop star, Hayes Warner; two-time Grammy winner, Quiana Parler, PURE Ensemble actor Joy Vandervort Cobb as Midlife Monologues 2.0 Maneuvering through menopause BY SARAH ROSE Charleston Women in the Arts Joy Vandervort Cobb.
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