Ashley Strand

Ashley is a resident of Wilmington, NC and a company member at Alchemical Theatre of Wilmington.  Ashley has performed all over the US and the world as an actor and a comedian.  He was a founding member of Folding Chair Classical Theatre in NYC, co-founder of the CoCo Club in Cork, Ireland, and ran the notorious Banished to Siberia comedy room in NYC.  He is the author of Glorified Disasters, a one-man show he has performed at the DC, Hollywood, and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals.  He teaches stand-up and Shakespeare workshops in Wilmington and on request.
Awards:
​2017 Sarasolo Festival -- Maestro Award
​2018 Wilmington Theatre Awards -- Nominee, Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy
​2017 Wilmington Theatre Awards -- Nominee, Best Lead Actor in a Comedy
2016 Wilmington Theatre Awards -- Nominee, Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy
2012 Laughing Devil Comedy Festival -- Quarterfinalist
2009 Hong Kong Comedy Festival -- Winner
​2007 Connecticut Xtreme Comedy Challenge -- Winner

King James Live

Published in 1611, the King James Bible is a contemporary text to Shakespeare’s plays. Developed by Alchemical Theatre (which is dedicated to Shakespeare) the King James Initiative showcases the language and poetry of the King James Version of the Bible.  Through Ashley Strand's dramatic reading of the Gospel According Mark, we hope to bring fresh life to this classic text for a modern audience.

We currently perform at a variety of venues, public and private.  For more information, contact us at booking@kingjameslive.org.

Glorified Disasters

Consumerist excess at a Christmas toilet paper promotion in New York City.

The lengths to which a young actor will go to fit into the cut throat world of Sarasota dinner theatre.  

A fight between brothers at the after-party for a children’s musical in Belgium.  

​Separately, these stories are at turns hilarious, absurd, touching, sad.  Together, they constitute a profound meditation on the sacrifices and sources of a life in the theatre. Ashley has performed these stories in Washington, DC, New York City, Cape Cod, Cork City, and Edinburgh. The show works in comedy club, theatre, and festival settings.

Workshops/Classes

Stand-Up for Anybody is for anyone who’s been thinking about trying comedy, but was too afraid, anybody who likes to laugh and tell jokes, anybody who wants to have some fun after work.

Shakespeare for Everbody can be geared to actors of any level, but is ideal for experienced actors who are new to Shakespeare, or struggling with his text.​