6 minute read

Living Without Limits

Next Article
Commencement 2023

Commencement 2023

By Amy Charles, MBA '23

William Shakespeare famously said, “all the worldʼs a stage.” Randa Newman ’10 has found her on-stage success after turning to the theatre to help cope with loss and grief, finding a new career in life’s second act.

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Newman was adopted by a loving family and raised in Pikeville. After losing both her mother and brother to suicide during her freshman year at then Pikeville College, she withdrew from classes but returned in the fall with the determination to complete her biology degree in four years. She credits the faculty, especially her academic advisor, former Pikeville College professor Joe Whittaker, Ph.D., for creating a supportive environment for her when tragedy struck her family.

“Losing my mom and brother put a halt in what I perceived as my life at that time. I feel like a lot of my support came from the college,” said Newman. “I remember sitting in the library when the phone rang, and I got the news that my mom and brother had just died in a terrible way. I ended up taking the semester off and wasn’t sure I was going to come back. Somewhere in there, I met with Dr. Whittaker, and I still remember how he looked me in the eye and said, ‘don’t give up,’ and I haven’t since.”

Rather than focusing on grief, Newman stayed busy, representing the university at the Mountain Laurel Festival, cheering all four years and spending time on the Armington Bridge gathering with friends and connecting with new people.

As a first-generation college student, she looked to Whittaker for advice on career paths with a science degree. Being unsure of where her education would take her after graduation, he made her feel comfortable with not knowing what was next.

“Randa was incredibly strong and just needed some reassurance. She was open and willing to share, and I think that made it possible to connect and understand one another,” said Whittaker. “Randa had a lot going for her and I was very nervous for a bit. But she overcame a great deal and really has not had any limits.”

From left: Actor/producer Tony Hale, actors Randa Newman and D’Arcy Carden, and director Seth Worley during filming

Not long after graduating, Newman moved to New York, to take some time for herself. After struggling financially, she decided to apply to graduate school.

“I filled my cup with activities during college, so I didn’t allow myself the chance to grieve properly and felt a little lost after finishing my undergraduate studies,” said Newman. “In New York, I went through a grieving process but wasn’t doing anything meaningful with my time. Then I realized I needed to do more with my life and figure out how to survive and pay my bills.”

After two years of rigorous coursework, rotations and internships, Newman earned her master’s degree in medical genetics from the University of Cincinnati and began working with patients at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

In 2017, she uprooted her life again and headed to Nashville, accepting a genetic counselor position in the field of reproductive health at the prestigious Vanderbilt University. Not long after, she found herself in a local acting studio.

“I joined an acting studio just for fun,” said Newman. “It became a helpful way to express my emotions through art, dealing with loss and trying to find something meaningful from it.”

Newman’s acting coach encouraged her to get an agent, but she was reluctant because she was just acting for therapeutic reasons. Once she finally acquired representation, she quickly became busy with bookings and auditions.

“Growing up in a small town, it was hard to imagine what a life like that would look like and if it is even sustainable. And then I started doing it,” said Newman. “I thought, wow, I get paid for making art!”

She has booked roles in commercials, television shows and movies. Her favorite role to date is a children’s action movie coming out in 2023, where she plays a sassy bus driver.

“This project resonates with me because it has an underlying story where kids lose their mother when they are younger and it deals with how young people might handle grief,” said Newman.

Newman is also proud of her portrayal of Hazel Ying Lee, an American World War II pilot who flew for the Women Aviation Service Pilots, in a proof of concept for the film titled “The W.A.S.P.” You can also find her on network shows such as “Young Rock” and “Walker.”

Together with her husband, Korby Lenker, she operates a production company, Ranch Vovo, which serves as a conduit to tell their own narrative stories. Most recently, they debuted a pilot in Los Angeles and Nashville for a potential new television series titled “Morse Code,” starring and co-written by Lenker, and produced by Newman. Additional producer credits for Newman include music videos for several Nashville artists, most notably country music superstar Garth Brooks.

From left: Executive producers of "Morse Code" Randa Newman, Korby Lenker and Travis Nicholson

Photo by Cedrick Jones

Despite her success, Newman has not completely turned away from her education in genetics. She continued to work at Vanderbilt until 2021 and then transitioned into something more flexible in the biotech industry, but still in the genetics field. Even though the trajectory of her professional life is not what she pictured, her time on “the hill” helped influence her choice to shake up her career.

“I think my college experience played a special part in my journey here. Much of what Dr. Whittaker would tell me applied to more than just my major,” explained Newman. “I never felt like there was a limit for me. He always made me feel like I could do anything I wanted to, and I tried to carry that throughout my whole life.”

Newman is also a partner in Typecast Pictures, whose goal is to help increase diversity on-screen and promote underrepresented voices and stories in entertainment. She believes that Appalachia falls into that category. Her next project is loosely based on her own life, a feature film set in Eastern Kentucky.

From left: Co-Founders of Typecast Pictures Dajanaé Cole, Ali Alsaleh and Randa Newman

Photo by Bobby Donaby

“I don’t think we see enough stories on television or movies that aren’t stereotypical about the community there,” said Newman. “We just filmed a proof of concept for a feature about a Korean adoptee growing up in a small Appalachian town.” She advises anyone who is contemplating taking a career risk to trust themselves and take their shot.

“Acting involves a lot of being okay with who you are regardless of what other people in the industry think about you. The process is slow with a lot of rejection,” said Newman.

I base a lot of my decisions on how I’m feeling in my bones. I ask myself if I want to die without having explored a particular option. If the answer is no, then it's something worth pursuing. We only get one life so go for what you want.

Randa Newman and husband Korby Lenker attending the "Morse Code" premiere at Belcourt Theatre

This article is from: