Freddie Ashley is Artistic Director of Actor's Express in Atlanta. He has directed over 40 AE productions, including The Crucible, Stupid Fucking Bird, Bad Jews, Murder Ballad, Spring Awakening, dark play or stories for boys (Atlanta Journal-Constitution Top Ten of 2007) and I Am My Own Wife (AJC Top Ten of 2007) and World Premieres of Serial Black Face, Broadsword, Albatross and Fair Use. 

 

Other directing credits include Cabaret (University of Georgia), The Last Schwartz (Jewish Theatre of the South); A Man of No Importance (Theatre Gael, AJC Best Musical Revival of 2004); Lawrenceburg (World Premiere - Dad's Garage, AJC Top Ten of 2006); and A Body of Water, A Catered Affair, Glorious, Wait Until Dark, Waving Goodbye, Moon Over Buffalo, As It is In Heaven (Aurora Theatre).

 

Prior to joining AE, Freddie served as 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 with writers including Joshua Harmon, Michael Lew, Kenneth Lin, Lindsey Ferrentino, Marco Ramirez and John Patrick Shanley. He has received the Elliot Hayes Award for Dramaturgy from the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas. 

 

Ashley served as President of the National New Play Network Board of Directors from 2020 until 2022 and is Part Time Assistant Professor of Theatre at Kennesaw State University. He holds an MFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi.