P.O. Box 691 Sebring Florida USA 33871 Tel: 863-382-2525
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P.O. Box 691 Sebring Florida USA 33871 Tel: 863-382-2525 |
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Ashley Richardson - A Rising Star By: Roy Riedy |
Ashley Richardson received her first credit in an HLT program nine years ago when her name appeared as part of the set construction crew for Neil Simon's The Odd Couple (Female Version) directed by Peter Pollard in January 1994. In August of that year her name appeared in the Cast of Characters of Marian Dunham's production of Meet Me In St. Louis, as a member of the chorus and dancers in that show.
In the November, 1996, program for The Goodbye Girl, directed by Peter Pollard, Ashley was again listed as a member of the set construction crew. Two months later, her name appeared again as part of the set construction crew for Melanie Boulay's directorial debut To Kill a Mockingbird, and again in June for Mac Byron's presentation of George Washington Slept Here, and then in August for Tammie Pollard's reprise of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Her first solo moment arrived at the Twelfth Annual Zenon Awards when she entertained the audience by singing "Castle on A Cloud" from Les Miserables. From that moment on set construction lost its allure, Ashley had heard the roar of the crowd.
In April, 1998, Ashley played Molly, a singing orphan, in Frank Oberhausen's revival of the musical Annie. She excelled in her part and was nominated for a Best Actress in a Supporting Role Zenon at the Award Ceremonies at the end of the season. Two plays later in the Neil Simon comedy Rumors, directed by her mother, Tammie Pollard, Ashley, no doubt remembering the applause she received as Molly in Annie, was once more helping with set construction, but this time she was awaiting her next big break.
She didn't have long to wait. In January, 1999, she was cast in the part of young Helen Keller in Peter Pollard's exceptional production of The Miracle Worker, and as biographers are so fond of saying, "The rest is history." Her acting was truly miraculous and it came as no surprise at the Fourteenth Annual Zenon Ceremonies that she was awarded the highly coveted Best Actress in a Supporting Role Award, one of the five awards that the moving play was presented that evening. While awaiting this honor Ashley once again helped with set construction in June of 1999, when Beverly Brando Gillilan directed a revival of the well known comedy Arsenic and Old Lace.
In August of 2000 Melanie Boulay presented a revival of Lionel Bart's musical Oliver! based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. Ashley was chosen to play one of the members of Fagan's gang. Two months later, at the Fifteenth Zenon Ceremonies, she had another chance to sing a solo "Through My Father's Eyes" from the Quest For Camelot and later in the evening the opportunity to present the Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Ashley was back at set construction in April, 2001, this time for Jim McCollum's musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and in August of that year she was one of the Jet Girls in her mother's intrepid production of West Side Story. In October, 2001, Ashley appeared on the Little Theatre stage as a presenter for the Sixteenth Annual Zenon Awards.
Most recently Ashley has been seen as an Indian in Melanie Boulay's August, 2002 production of James M. Barrie's children's classic Peter Pan. In all Ashley has been involved in 14 plays and 4 Zenon Ceremonies at the Lakeside Playhouse. She has won a Zenon for Best Actress in a supporting Role for her outstanding performance as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker; and received a nomination for another, she has sung in one Christmas program, and has been cited in 24 News Articles and 10 HLT Newsletters for a total of 53 citations, and she is just getting started!
Everyone who has seen you on stage expects great things from you Ashley, and I know they are not going to be disappointed, may your star continue to shine brightly.
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