Ashley Love

Ashley (Ash), she/they, is an award-winning director, actor, mental health professional, intimacy choreographer, and consultant that currently resides in Houston, TX with her amazing partner and precious dog. 

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I came into the theatre as a means of finding truth and connection as a young, closeted human in the middle of nowhere America where the closest theatre was hours away. I needed to understand myself, the people around me, and the people I had yet to meet. Ultimately what I found was a delicious and frustrating journey to even more questions. In the rehearsal space and in the audience, I love the challenge of trying to understand what is happening for the characters and why they make the choices that they do. By investigating all the possible ways their worlds impact their choices, I hope to better understand my place and purpose. I hope to figure out how to be a better human.

Though my taste in styles and texts vary, I’m chasing stories that showcase humanity’s inability to fit neatly into categories and the impact that has on us all. For instance, I’m often attracted to queer stories and stories of humans rejecting the rigid identities imposed on them by society. There is a need for inclusive storytelling that challenges societal norms and reflects the complexities of human experiences. Ultimately, I firmly believe that if we can recognize how individual experiences are shaped by the political environments in which we make our choices, we are better equipped to progress as a society. If we can look directly at the ways people are just trying to survive, we can drive cultural change. 

In the works I’m drawn to and the processes I facilitate, I center human connection and reflection. To achieve this, I try to create as immersive experiences as possible, inviting the audience to be part of the world on stage in ways that suit the story and that audience. Sometimes that looks like the stage weaving through the house, engaging viewers physically, and sometimes it may be as simple as thoughtful program content that deepens their understanding. The work is an invitation for audiences to be the final piece of the performance, moving from passive observation into active participation. This can be as simple as reflecting on their own boxes they inhabit, allowing them to connect with the narrative on a personal level. There is something magical about the moment when an audience’s breath and heartbeats sync together in this type of shared experience. 

In my commitment to anti-racist practices and trauma-informed processes, I scaffold the spaces I direct in with the tools to navigate concerns ethically and with care. I’ve also worked as a choreographer, Intimacy Director, and certified Artistic Mental Health Practitioner and Mental Health Coordinator through the Association of Mental Health Coordinators. Establishing clear communication channels, providing tools for self-care and conflict, naming the harmful power dynamics in the space and identifying ways to check that privilege, and trusting the artists around me provides a foundation for experimenting in the rehearsal process. These tools create space for artists to show up with all the magic they possess. More importantly, these staples of my work help to protect the most vulnerable in the room. I appreciate strong team creation, salutogenic practices, consent-based processes, and I believe it is my job to help facilitate the play into existence by providing the right support to my teams. I am passionate about encouraging my fellow artists to work with courage while reducing potential harm in the creative process. I prioritize vulnerability, safety, and courage by adapting to what the actors need to feel seen and brave.