SAG-AFTRA ✦ AEA
Performance Updates & Press
Sep 17, 2025
Join Ashley with Rumpus Improv Wednesdays at the Midweek Mixer!
Show Info
Dates: Wednesdays September 24, October 22nd, November 19
Time: 7:30 PM
Location:
5216 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Price: $5
Follow Rumpus Improv on Instagram @rumpusimprov to stay informed about more upcoming shows!
Jun 14, 2023
Bloomsyear Centennial Reading of Ulysses: Episode 15, Part 1, Circe
Ashley had the pleasure of joining Thornwillow Press' 100th Anniversary reading of James Joyce' Ulysses in honor of the Bloomsyear Centennial with a diverse cast of 300 readers – actors, writers, scholars and curators performing solo from around the world in over 30 hours, including notable performers such as Kathleen Chalfant, Stephen Frye, David Mamet and Salman Rushdie. Ford appears in Episode 15, Part 1 of Circe, with fellow Owl & Pussycat Theatre Company Artistic Director, Theo Salter, now streaming on YouTube!
Dec 18, 2022
Featured in Fortean Times
The Ecstasy of Victoria Woodhull was highlighted as a production that drew inspiration from history rather than spectacle, reintroducing audiences to the 19th-century feminist pioneer who ran for President of the United States in 1872—48 years before women were granted the right to vote.
“Victoria’s ideas were progressive, even by some of today’s standards,” Ashley Ford told Fortean Times. “She was also a clairvoyant who rose out of the 19th-century Spiritualist movement.”
In the interview, Ashley discussed how the play draws directly from Woodhull’s real life, including her connection to spiritualism – a movement that, at the time, attracted abolitionists, suffragists, and social reformers. Rather than treating this history as novelty, the production uses it as a framework for examining how radical ideas are often dismissed or misunderstood in their own era.
Fernyhough situates the work within Edinburgh itself, opening the article by observing how the world’s largest theatre festival unfolds in what is often described as the world’s most haunted city. Against that backdrop, Ashley reflected on how performing the show in Edinburgh deepened her connection to the material.
“There is a magical undercurrent to Edinburgh,” she said. “Its rich history is palpable as you walk down the street. Wearing my Victorian costume throughout the city, I both stand out and completely fit in.”
For Ashley, the city’s atmosphere didn’t overshadow the story—it amplified it. The setting allowed Woodhull’s ideas, once considered outrageous, to resonate in a place where history and contemporary life visibly coexist.
The full article is not available online, but to read the full feature audiences can buy a copy or subscription directly from the Fortean Times.
Aug 16, 2022
The Scotsman Review: Ford and Salter Shake Up Historical Biography at Edinburgh Fringe
As a first-time production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, attracting attention among thousands of shows can be a challenge. It is a meaningful milestone, then, when a publication such as The Scotsman takes note.
Theatrical reviewer Susan Mansfield reflects on the scope of the production and its inventive approach to historical biography, highlighting the way the piece reimagines Victoria Woodhull’s life through theatrical storytelling.
“Ford and Salter shake up the usual historical biography format” wrote Mansfield in The Scotsman.
Set within the expansive and competitive landscape of the Edinburgh Fringe, the review places The Ecstasy of Victoria Woodhull among works engaging thoughtfully with history, politics, and personal narrative – an environment where ambitious solo performances can resonate with wide-ranging audiences.
To learn more about the production and Ashley Ford’s portrayal of Victoria Woodhull – the first woman to publicly run for President of the United States in 1872 – visit Owl & Pussycat Theatre Company: www.optheatreco.com/victoria-woodhull-play
For additional reviews and selected critical responses to Ashley’s work in this production, visit the Reviews.
Aug 13, 2022
The Wee Review: Ashley Ford as Victoria Woodhull at the Edinburgh Fringe
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ashley Ford’s solo performance in The Ecstasy of Victoria Woodhull received a 4-star review from The Wee Review during the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland.
The review highlights Ford’s portrayal of Victoria Woodhull, the groundbreaking 19th-century suffragette who ran for U.S. President decades before women had the right to vote, praising the clarity and focus of the performance within the intimate solo format.
“Ford skips along, bringing a lyrical quality to even the densest parts of the script.”
— Robert Peacock, The Wee Review
Audiences and critics alike responded strongly to this production, which continued to build momentum throughout its Fringe run.
For additional reviews and critical responses to Ashley’s work, visit the Reviews page.
Aug 10, 2022
Broadway World Review: The Ecstasy of Victoria Woodhull at Edinburgh Fringe
The Ecstasy of Victoria Woodhull kicks off the Edinburgh Fringe with a review from Broadway World, Fiona Scott writes:
Step out of your comfort zone and learn more about this fantastic woman at The Ecstasy of Victoria Woodhull.
Jul 17, 2022
American Scottish Foundation Podcast: Sounds from Scotland - East to Edinburgh Fringe Festival!
A Modern Séance with a Forgotten Feminist Icon
The interview opens with an introduction to the show itself—a solo performance centered on Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for President of the United States in 1872, nearly 50 years before women could legally vote. Woodhull’s life was a tapestry of contradictions: a suffragette, a target of scandal, a spiritualist, an advocate of free love, and a woman both celebrated and shunned by her contemporaries. Ashley describes the show as part history, part magic, part theatrical ritual:
“We do the play as a séance… we invite the audience into the world of a modern budding clairvoyant attempting her first séance to summon Victoria Woodhull herself.”
The result is an immersive, lightly interactive experience that blends fact, spiritualism, and theatricality to reintroduce a woman history tried hard to forget.
Performing Herstory: How the Play Came to Life
When Ashley first approached Theo about writing the piece, she gave him two words to set the tone: “modern” and “magical.” Despite its historical roots, the aim was always to create something timeless—something that speaks as urgently to the present as it does to the past.
The story’s lesser-known aspects also take center stage: Woodhull’s childhood as a clairvoyant peddled by her snake-oil-salesman father, her rise through the spiritualist movement, and her complicated relationship with the suffrage leaders of her day.
As Ashley puts it:
“People don’t know about her because she was too outrageous, too scandalous for the other suffragettes… and they disassociated themselves.”
From New York to Scotland: The Journey to Fringe
Ashley and Theo speak with palpable excitement about bringing the show overseas. After its July run with 59E59 Theater’s East to Edinburgh program—including additional performances in Sag Harbor—the production heads to Scotland for the world’s largest arts festival.
For Ashley, performing at the Edinburgh Fringe has been a dream for years:
“I’m excited to share her story with a larger audience… and I’m so curious how UK audiences will receive it.”
Theo echoes the anticipation from a writer’s perspective. The team reworked aspects of the script to ensure it resonated with an international audience, keeping its emotional core universal while staying true to Woodhull’s uniquely American story.
They’re also looking forward to the whirlwind of Fringe itself—3,000+ shows, a global artistic community, and the creative chaos that defines the festival. One highlight? Their plan to transform flyering into theatre:
The team will be handing out custom-designed Victoria Woodhull tarot cards—part marketing, part performance art.
Bringing Victoria Home
Interestingly, Woodhull spent the final chapter of her life in the United Kingdom, where she became an advocate for education and even ran a school. The idea of performing her story on Scottish soil feels full-circle for Ashley and Theo.
“It feels like bringing her home.”
Their hope is that audiences—American, British, and international—leave inspired not just by Woodhull’s boldness, but by the larger story of forgotten women who shaped history.
See the Show / Learn More
The Ecstasy of Victoria Woodhull
New York Run: 59E59 Theaters, July 17–31, 2022
Sag Harbor Dates: July 23–24, 2022
Edinburgh Fringe Festival: August 2022
More details and ticket information are available on the show’s official website:
Watch the Full Episode
To hear the full discussion—including behind-the-scenes insights, the creative inspiration behind the séance structure, and Ashley and Theo’s excitement for Fringe—listen to the Ashley's full interview in this exciting episode of “Sounds from Scotland.”
Sep 10, 2020
British Theatre Guide Review: Dreaming of...
"Ashley Ford is the closest to a sympathetic character (even if she must be rotten at her job); her expressive face showing a growing awareness she is getting out of her depth and comically struggling to regain control."
"the script and performances are pin-sharp"
"the play is worth watching for a fine script and performances. Besides, any play that concludes by paraphrasing Back to the Future is worth your attention."
- David Cunningham, British Theatre Guide
Sep 9, 2020
Podcast Feature: Ashley Ford on The Fabulous Life
Ashley Ford joins host Tish Tindal to explore the creative leaps, personal growth, and resilience that have shaped her artistic life. Speaking from Bridgehampton, Ashley reflects on her journey from Prince George in Northern British Columbia to Vancouver, New York City, and Los Angeles – each move prompting a new evolution in her craft and sense of self.
“Each time I’ve moved, it has released a sort of growth spurt.”
Listeners are invited into an intimate, honest look at what it really means to pursue a life in the arts, beyond the resumes, reviews, or credits.
Ashley discusses her multidisciplinary career – acting, singing, producing, writing, building theatre companies – and how none of it was ever about chasing labels. Creativity, she explains, has always been her driving force. As a child she remembers being fascinated to learn that “artist” was in fact a 'real job'! She has been following her passion ever since. “I don’t know what makes me do what I do—and I don’t care”, she says, acknowledging that creativity often comes from a place beyond logic or reason. It simply asks to be followed.
Rejection, Resilience, and Growth as a Human Being
The episode dives into the inner life of an artist: the joy of creating something from nothing, the vulnerability of starting new projects, and the challenge of trusting the process even when doubt creeps in. Ashley opens up about early rejections from drama school, the terror of improv, and the unexpected moments of encouragement that shaped her path. Over time, she learned that rejection is simply part of the actor’s daily reality, and not a measure of worth.
“As a working actor, you get rejected every day. Bring on the next rejection!”
A pivotal influence for her was the philosophy at Stella Adler Studio, where she later trained. Their belief that growth as an actor is synonymous with growth as a human being became a guiding idea in her life. Ashley speaks about stamina, kindness, collaboration, and the importance of feeding your soul – not just your bank account. She shares how returning to writing, reading, and nurturing her inner world was just as important as technical training.
“You have to feed your spirit as much as you feed your pocketbook.”
Whether she’s performing, producing, or supporting other artists, she emphasizes presence, self-kindness, and the courage to leap – even when you don’t know what comes next.
“Starting is the hardest part. But once you take that first step, the wave starts to carry you.”
Host Tish Tindal ends by saying, "This has been a masterclass.", describing Ashley as “truly fabulous” – not just for her talent, but for her humility, insight, and warmth.
Listen to the Full Episode
This episode offers an honest, uplifting look at what it really means to create a “fabulous life” – not as something flashy or distant, but as a series of brave, imperfect steps toward the work and the life you love
You can hear the full conversation on The Fabulous Life with Tish Tindal:
Sep 9, 2020
British Theatre Guide Review: Front Window
"Ashley Ford keeps the mood for Front Window light and upbeat. Although many of the young woman’s observations reduce her neighbours to grotesques, with large bellies and peeling skins, Ford delivers the lines with a cheerful lightness to remove any sting."
- David Cunningham
Watch the Trailer!
Now available for streaming on YouTube.
Mar 1, 2020
Harold Clurman Lab presents: Wedding Band by Alice Childress
Wedding Band explores Childress’s timeless examination of love, race, and resilience in early-20th-century America. Presented on Sunday, March 1st, the HC LAB's play reading festival offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience this celebrated American Masterpiece in an intimate, actor-driven setting.
Directed By
Jesse Steccato
Featuring:
Jessica Dahlgren, Max Faugno, Ashley Ford, Judy Louise, Johnson, Fadhia Carmelle Marcelin, Kari Nicolle, Délé Ogundiran, Steven Olson, Chris Ramirez, Sandy K. Rather, Laura Wernette
Sunday March 1st
® 7pm
Free Tix At Tinyurl.com/Oldplayfest2020
