Tag Archives: clark

Music Video & Good News!!

On my Videos page, you may notice a new addition – a super-fun and artful music video shot around LA and Catalina Island!

fj banner
I had soo much fun playing Marilyn around her old stomping grounds, with Marion Belle as my “Jimmy.” The video premiered online at thefader.com where I found this excerpt:

“In an email to The FADER, Belle described the genesis of the “Gigolo” clip. “Catalina Island has always been a sacred place for us. Abby grew up sailing there with her family as a girl. We met Ashley Clark at a Hollywood Forever Cemetery screening of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, where she had been hired as Marilyn. At the time I had a song called ‘Blondes Die Young,’ and I took a picture with her. There is a haunting quality about Ashley as Marilyn that we both felt, and we kept her business card. Over time the idea came about to take a trip to Catalina with her, this kind of gauzy figure who vanishes in the end. The shoot was wild with two tiny motor boats zipping around the harbor, one with the camera and one with the actors and Abby just yelling out directions over the waves.”
Fatal Jamz’s new album Coverboy is out now via Lolipop Records.”

I couldn’t be happier with the results, I’m so grateful to be a part of it! I do hope you enjoy it as well <3

NEWS!!!!!

I have started a YouTube channel called Marilyn Mondays where I’ll be posting brand new (Marilyn-related) videos every week!!
mmmonday
I’ve only just begun, and I’ll keep growing the channel from last Monday on out – I’ll cater to what the fans want – within reason, you guys, haha – so please comment on the videos with your feedback, suggestions, requests, etc!!
I have tonssss of ideas and scripts for upcoming videos, and they’re all very different, but they’re mostly going to be reverently comedic, and vaguely satirical… but careful, you might accidentally learn something about Marilyn that you never knew that you needed to know πŸ˜‰ And you might also UNlearn some things that you THOUGHT you knew!
She was a very complex lady, so my goal is to break down the myths and remind about the surprising secrets in a fun and entertaining way.
(PLUS I’m working on some videos that are taking a little bit longer -between the weekly ones- that may surprise you and shake up some other Hollywood memories, too!)
You can Like my videos there & Subscribe to the channel so you get updates every Monday when a new video is posted (or whenever your YouTube email comes if you get one “digest” email for all of your subscriptions) πŸ™‚

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Transitioning from live performance (which I am still doing more regularly than ever!) to recorded videos is a bit of a system shock, I have to admit; when you’re on stage, you know if a joke is funny or if a moment is touching IMMEDIATELY when the audience responds (or doesn’t, yikes!). With videos, you write something that you feel is fun or important or emotional, you shoot it the best you can with the weather/locations/materials/health you have, you assemble it the best you can, and then you release this vulnerable little private thing into the ether, all exposed and instantly open to judgement all over the globe! It is daunting, especially when the subject matter is particularly important to you (like Marilyn). So aaaaany feedback you have, please leave it inΒ  comment or at least click the thumbs-up so I know if I’m on the right track in creating something that people want to see.

mm me

Marilyn Monday will be a bit of a priority for me (I’ve got a creative vision that absolutely MUST be realized before I can get any rest!!), so do expect it to be updated EVERY Monday without fail…. unlike this blog has been, haha… You can count on me! Rain or shine, get your Ash/Marilyn fix πŸ˜‰
Thank you soooo much, to everyone who has shown me support!!! You really keep me going. I won’t let you down!

Experiencing Life As It Happens

I have a few updates, but none that should be scratched into your calendars just yet. I wanted to share, this time, a few of my private ponderings from my personal facebook page. Two little glimpses into my recent mindset for you to experience with me. I hope you enjoy them!

me'ki

*
Gliding over the deserted deserts of Nevada, the girl at the window seat and I watch the lightning flash outside, the clouds glowing and drifting in their brief illumination. I slide a luggage tag between the pages of my favorite, well-worn book (“A Lotus Grows in the Mud” by Goldie Hawn) and set it on my tray table to take in the glorious show nature is putting on around us.
Turbulence continues to shake the aircraft as the flight attendants remain strapped into their jump seats as the captain instructs. Not everyone has noticed the flickering clouds around us but nine or ten of us in the back, who watch quietly and jostle in our seats with the beat of the sky.
The lights go out.
A moment passes, everyone feeling the fear right away.
Then we look around at the souls occupying seats around us, and the most beautiful thing happens:
As if we all synchronized our emotions, the whole group of us strangers begin to laugh.
We laugh for a long, lifting moment, embracing the company in our experience.
It is so organic and honest, and the relief seems to stretch it’s arms out into the storm itself and the rest of the flight is smooth and relaxed as we had become in that one binding moment. The plane dipped beneath the tumult, and the lights of our desert oasis twinkle across the earth.
We are home.

*
spirit in the sky
*
I love having gigs that are close to home… and by “home” I mean wherever my mom is.
Driving along the California coast is my favorite route in the world. I roll down the windows and let my hair down and shake that fresh, salty sea air into my soul. I try to open all of my pores as I bask in the sun, absorbing as much of this scent and simple luxury of home as I can.
On my return trip yesterday (the gig was just long enough to tease me with memories and wise ocean waves), I did this soul dance all the way from the 1 through Ventura, nodding that beachy fragrance into my hair, feeling it light on my skin like the most expensive perfume. If I could have stopped to sprinkle a proud layer of beach sand in my floorboard and dip my toes in the cold salt water I would have been the happiest girl in the world.
As the freeways turned and wove me inward, away from the cleansing Pacific, I saw a peach cloud hovering in the distance. No matter how long I traversed the flat terrain, this cloud never moved, just lingered in the sky ahead of me. I wondered how a layer of smog could have found itself over a desert devoid of humans.
As I drew closer, after hours of pondering, I began to notice a change. Slowly that beautiful ocean smell I had tried so hard to hold onto was replaced with a sooty one. This was not smog. All along, this little peach cloud in the distance had been evidence of California burning. The air grew thick, and the setting sun turned everything to a beautiful rose gold. My elation from before slid into a helpless feeling of sorrow for the creatures who were losing their homes. As if they heard me, the clouds above the hills beside me began to look more and more ephereal, like ghosts twisting along the peaks, searching for a new place to belong. I sent my respect and condolences into the ashy wind, revering the mightiness of the monumental phantasms they had become, cresting and falling above the world.
By the time I arrived at my place of belonging, it was almost night. I could no longer see the spirits in the sky, but I knew they were still there, hiding under cover of darkness, searching, weaving…
I was grateful to have a home to end this long journey, but until my return I will leave my heart past the flames in the hills.
*

Thank you for reading!

sea urchin

Writing NEWS: I have been keeping an eye out for illustrators for my children’s book (“The Little Girl Who Loved A Sea Urchin,” written to help little girls and single mothers understand their situations and try to ease the comprehensive side of domestic violence, and hopefully to keep them from perpetuating it in their own adult life), and I think I have finally found one! Talya Baldwin draws with her heart in the perfect look and style I was dreaming of, and she really appreciates and cares about the cause this book would lend help to. (You should totally look her up on Instagram @talyabaldwinillustration you’ll be blown away!)
I may be starting a fundraiser soon to cover the artist fee and printing costs and start actually creating copies of this book and making it available to the people whom it may bring peace to. If you’d like to help, please feel free to use the Contact form for more information, and THANK YOU for your beautiful heart <3

Industry:Vegas

mixin' up the 60s and 70s
mixin’ up the 60s and 70s

Las Vegas, you beautiful beast, your welcome has been warm!!!

So I arrived in Vegas about two months ago and let me tell ya, there is SO MUCH work here for entertainers and models!!! The city has been keeping me very busy.

Official TV Business!
Official TV Business!

First off, I got to work for a TV network (cough*NBC*cough) for pilot season. I made some fantastic new friends (!!!) and learned a LOT about how pilots are tested after they are filmed so they can be picked up or rejected by the networks that are considering them. It’s actually really interesting – once a pilot is written and someone decides to produce it, they cast it, shoot and edit it. Then they give it to the Preview Center (that’s where I was!), who grabs a specific number of people off the street (in every demographic the network is targeting) and has them each sit down in front of their own private flat screen and watch the new pilot before it’s released! Then they do a touch-screen survey at the end where they can tell the TV network what they liked and didn’t like about the episode (or double-episode pilot, if that’s the case). The network uses this information to decide if they need to write out a character no one liked, or re-cast an actor who was unpopular in the test group, or go ahead and green light the show as it is. Then, the network then PAYS THE VIEWERS CASH (or a casino buffet and show tickets, if they preferred) for their time and for helping them decide how popular the show would be. This way they lessen the chance that they spend a BUNCH more money to produce a show that will bomb (which, I guess, doesn’t always work out, haha). This season they paid people anywhere form $15 to $50 just to watch a sneak peek of the new shows.
Um, this is how they test TV pilots every year, every season… WHY has no one ever asked ME to do this?! I mean, right? That’s one of those things you WISH someone would walk up and ask you to do. Watch an episode of a brand-new TV show for cash.
This may shock and surprise you… but a ton of people actually said NO to this!! They thought it was a scam or a timeshare, haha! This is what it’s come to, people. This is what it’s come to.

Louise and Tina Belcher make an appearance!!
Louise and Tina Belcher make an appearance!!

So once pilot season ended, my schedule opened back up. I have been able to go out and discover some of the lesser-known facts about how Vegas works. I’m not a pro “local” yet, I still need to figure out where to get cheap show tickets and the like, but I did learn about the organized, efficient system that Fremont Street has come up with for its sidewalk performers. Hollywood Boulevard could learn a thing or two!! It’s actually a LOT like Dublin’s system at the City Centre…
There’s a little booth just off the center of Fremont Street where new and old performers can check in and get/update their badge, which has a QR code and performer number on it. The badge must be displayed while they are performing. Then, they are assigned a poker chip number – All along Fremont Street there are giant, numbered poker chips designs on the concrete, specially-measured to be a reasonable distance from vendors and casino entrances so as not to distract from their business. The performer can stand on any coin/chip they want if it isn’t busy, but during the rush hours they have their assigned spot. Every three hours, they have to rotate to another coin or go home, giving another performer a chance. The booth knows when you check in if any spots are available. It’s really organized, and very cool. The best part? The performers on Fremont are some of the NICEST people I have met here!! They’re a tight community, everyone really supports each other and no one fights over a spot…. except for one (“pirate,” maybe? It’s hard to say what she’s supposed to be) chick, who everyone seems to know is rude, rude, rude. I guess every group has that one person, right?
There’s a guy who wears one of those Borat, over-the-shoulders g-strings. NO ONE walks by this guy without taking a picture of him. You can’t help it! It’s just not something you see every day (if you don’t live here). But this guy? The most CHARMING dude ever. Very cool to talk to, super nice to people. He is charming enough that even uptight-seeming people end up taking the most risque photos with him. It’s really a sight to see.

My biggest fan (for a night), Hannah <3
My beautiful “groupie” (for a night), Hannah <3

I’ve done a few comedy shows since I got here in Vegas, but will hopefully do them more often now that my schedule is more open. I’ll update this blog with my next shows!

I’ve been working behind-the-scenes on creating a traveling variety show I’ll be producing soon, too. It’ll be once a month in four different venues, one show every week, featuring something for everyone – comedy, celebrity impersonators, magic and music! And since it’s my show, you’ll of course be able to meet and take pictures with the performers afterward. And expect some exciting names πŸ˜‰ As SOON as I get the details set in stone I’ll be posting about it here and everywhere else I can think of. If you’re planning a trip to Vegas soon, be sure to keep an eye out for it!!

"Marilyn" gets a kiss from the LV Arts District
“Marilyn” gets a kiss from the LV Arts District

Stay tuned for other updates, too, as you seriously never know what Vegas will send me to next!! And if you’re not following me on Instagram yet, that’s where I update the most often, followed by my facebook Fan Page, and twitter is where I post all my new one-liners as I think them up! And you can always contact me through the website here to hire me for gigs and appearances, princess parties and trade shows!

*NEW FEATURE!!*
Not sure when to check back on this site?
Not getting updates when I post on my facebook Fan Page?
Well, you can always subscribe for updates on facebook, but NOW you can subscribe to get emails from *this site* every time I post a blog! Just use the form below this paragraph. You may have noticed, I only post blogs once every two months or so, so you don’t have to worry about getting tons of emails from me. They’ll likely go straight to your spam folder though, so be sure to add the sender address to your Contact list.

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And as always, your support is what keeps me going <3 Thank you so much for believing in me and helping me stay focused!!

From the City of Angels …to Sin City

First, allow me to explain that headline:

Surprise! I’m moving to Las Vegas!
Yes, I will still be just as readily available for gigs all over the world πŸ˜‰

John and I worked the CES expo in Vegas again (and a few comedy shows while we were in town), and it’s like a light bulb turned on and burned too brightly for us to ignore!
Luckily, everyone ends up in Vegas at some point or another, so when it’s your turn to pass through, don’t forget to check in here for some really great nights! We’ll be producing several comedy and variety shows there!

Since we last left our hero……..
My inspiration and creativity is at an all-time hyper speed and I’m trying to keep up with it! I’ve done a ton of “royal” parties and events and quite a few Marilyn and TV appearances, and I got to do them all from the comfort of my nest – John and I stayed with my parents for the holidays and it’s been amazing to see them and all of my old friends. Once Vegas became a thing, I have also been making it a priority to spend time with my friends in this state before we move away, and that has been incredibly heart-warming and humbling. I am very grateful to have such amazing, supportive, and hilarious friends.
Plus I finally had the inner serenity enough to escape the city chatter and focus, scribbling down a whole bunch of the ideas that had only previously been floating around inside my head. This means soon you’ll get to start seeing those come to fruition pretty steadily!

If you or someone you know is looking for a Marilyn Monroe impersonator, actress, comedian, Lucille Ball or 1960’s Goldie Hawn character appearance, model, emcee, hostess, product demonstrator, live mannequin, brand ambassador, or princess party performer in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, or anywhere in the world, I’d be very appreciative if you’d consider me!

Well, I know you couldn’t be as excited about all of this as I am, but expect the next year or so of this blog to be updated from a place of great joy and passion πŸ™‚ I hope 2016 brings you as much motivation and returns as I hope mine will!

Fall Into Change!

London, UK
London, UK

The stand-up comedy tour of England and Ireland was phenomenally exciting!
I am so grateful for the welcoming spirit of the Irish and English comedy networks. I met some very good people, and I hope to nurture lots of new wonderful friendships! John and I were able to do a bunch of shows that were spread out enough that we could visit some incredible and historic places! I took tons of pictures and got loads of new material as an outsider to the native cultures. There are a few new pins on my map of things yet to do in this life…! You never really know what you’re missing if you don’t take a peek!

Liverpool Sunset
Liverpool Sunset

Looking ahead, I’ve been noticing that everything – not just the season – is in a state of great change. Nearly everyone I know is experiencing some kind of turbulence or turmoil, whether they are adjusting to a sudden launch of success or mourning the loss of a job or a loved one. I asked my dad what he thought of all of these life-altering shifts, and he told me this:
“I go outside and Iook around at the birds and the ground squirrels and the other animals… If they’re not packing up their feathers and booking it out of here, I know I’m good.”
It put things well-enough into perspective for me that I wanted to share this reassuring thought! The world isn’t coming to an end. We just need to accept and embrace these differences and make the best we can of them.
So I’m doing just that!

BBC Me
BBC Me

You may hear my voice on some tutorial videos that will be released regularly very soon! One is already in the can… More on that is yet to come!

Central Park, Dublin
Central Park, Dublin

I have been booking a TON of character work, so that’s on an upswing!
Even in Europe I was photographed in professional Marilyn Monroe replica clothing for Costumes By Christine, and Marilyn also got to come out and play for Dublin’s Culture Night event!
Here at home, I was thrilled to play Lucille Ball at a Ribbon-Cutting celebration in San Diego last weekend, and every upcoming weekend is filling up fast with Ice Queen parties! ‘Tis the season for Frozen-themed events, and with my newfound portability I am available almost anywhere! If you’re looking for an Elsa performer this fall or winter, you’ve found her! I also take requests for any new characters, so if you don’t see the one you’re looking for on my roster yet, just ask!
For any comedy or character appearance, I am willing to travel as far as you need, whether that is New York, Texas, California, you name it! If you’ll cover travel/lodging, I’d even love to appear internationally! I’d love to see new places like Dubai or France or Sweden, or even familiar places like Canada or Hawaii! Have costumes will travel πŸ™‚ Wanderlust or Bust!

Guess which one is me :p
Guess which one is me :p

I’m starting to work out the kinks for a major show I’ll be producing soon, so if you’re a large venue looking for big acts, I might just have what you’re looking for! Depending on what city you’re in, there may even be surprise celebrity appearances and cameos! Stay tuned for updates! I can’t even wait to tell you more! But I will.

The first place The Beatles ever played!
The first place The Beatles ever played!

If you’re a fun, high-energy rockabilly band (or if you know someone who is)… I have a great idea! We should talk!

Thames on a rainy afternoon
Thames on a rainy afternoon

I’m deeming this the Solstice of Reality, where I get all of my best ideas off the paper and into the world. Join me! If you do something creative or have a project I can offer any help on, let’s create!

Until next time, kiddos!

What’s New?

My website has gotten revamped (it needed more pink), so it must be time for an update!

Lots of comedy shows and character events have come and gone since the last update, and I apologize for not keeping you up on those… Every time I logged on to write a new Blog, I would see where I left off and be swept away all over again with mourning the loss of my little soul cat. But this… is not really a blog, right? New site, new start.

MOVING FORWARD!

as “Rooster”

(…Because sometimes a tiny actor gets an audition and you have to step in and play a character named Rooster with a bunch of kids.)

Starting July 13th, kids can take acting-themed summer camps with John and me at Forte Music Studios in Fredericksburg, VA!
Here are the camps available this summer:

*ANNIE Musical Theatre Camp*
July 13th – 17th, with a live performance Saturday, July 18th!
*IMPROV Comedy Camp*
July 27th – 31st, with a showcase at the end of the final day!

(NEW!) Elsa’s Ettiquette and High Tea Party! Saturday, August 15th from 10am – noon, when we’ll invite parents back for the Coronation & Knighting Ceremony!

See The Acting Camps Facebook Page for more info!

If you’re a grown-up and you’re looking to catch a comedy show, you can see me Feature at Liberty Laughs in Fredericksburg, VA on Saturday, August 15th!
I’ll have my bumper stickers with me if you want to save the shipping time!

COMING TO IRELAND & the UK!

This is pretty big news! This month brought me my very first Washington DC experience, and I can’t even believe that Europe is coming up next!

(American friends, don’t worry, we’ll be back in early October… I mean, probably…)

As always, if I’m in a city near you and you’d like to book your OWN engagement, just email ashley@castinga.wwwnl1-sr3.supercp.com to schedule a character appearance, comedy show, speaking event, photo shoot, or film/tv project!