Freddy Ashley

director

Freddie Ashley is Artistic Director of Actor’s Express in Atlanta. He has directed over 45 AE productions, including Prayer for the French Republic, Urinetown, Desire Under the Elms and The Crucible, as well as World Premieres of Serial Black Face, Broadsword, Albatross and Fair Use. He has also directed at Connecticut Repertory Theatre, Dad’s Garage, Aurora Theatre, Theatre Gael and Jewish Theatre of the South.

Prior to joining AE, Freddie was Literary Manager of the Alliance Theatre (recipient of the 2007 Regional Theatre Tony Award), where he served as dramaturg for around 30 productions. He has developed new plays around the country with the Playwrights’ Center, Kennedy Center, New Group, Page 73 and Jewish Theatre of the South, working on new work projects with playwrights including Joshua Harmon, Michael Lew, Kenneth Lin, Lindsey Ferrentino, Marco Ramirez, Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder, Jen Silverman and John Patrick Shanley. 

Freddie served as President of the National New Play Network Board of Directors from 2020 until 2022 and has taught or served as a guest artist with Kennesaw State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Georgia State University, Hendrix College, Austin Peay State University, Oglethorpe University and the University of Georgia.

He is a recipient of the Elliott Hayes Award for Dramaturgy from the Literary Managers of the Americas, as well as the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Medallion of Excellence. He is a four-time Suzi Bass Award winner for acting and directing.

He holds an MFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi.