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Full given name:
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Ashley Marie Spencer |
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Where you were born/where you were raised:
| Born and raised in Canton, Ohio
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Zodiac Sign: | Pisces |
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What your parents did/do for a living: | They are both happily retired.
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Siblings: | I have 2 older sisters and a brother. |
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Current audition song/monologue: | "Wonderful Guy” from South Pacific
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Special skills: | Voice impressions, crossing one eye at a time |
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Something you're REALLY bad at:
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Not gorging on sweets. I eat chocolate almost every day. It's bad. |
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First Broadway show you ever saw: |
Chicago |
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If you could go back in time and catch any show, what would it be? |
Show Boat! It was the first movie musical my mom introduced me to when I was little, and I have never seen it performed live. |
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Current show other than your own you have been recommending to friends:
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Newsies : ) |
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Favorite showtune(s) of all time: |
“The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing” from White Christmas and “Make Believe” from Show Boat
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Some favorite modern musicals: |
Bonnie and Clyde, Hairspray, Children of Eden, Les Miserables |
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Some favorite classic musicals: |
West Side Story, Show Boat, Carousel |
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Broadway or screen stars of the past you would most have loved to perform with: |
Danny Kaye, Vera Ellen and Gene Kelly |
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Your personal vocal idols, living or dead: |
Billie Holiday and Whitney Houston |
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The one performance – attended - that you will never forget: |
Seeing Hairspray for the first time. I remember getting goosebumps watching the show and saying, "I'm going to be in this show some day!" :-) |
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Music that makes you cry, any genre: |
Anytime I hear [my fiancé] Jeremy [Jordan] sing... or listening to old-school jazz and torch songs and soulful R&B |
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MAC or PC? |
MAC |
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Most played song on your iPod: |
“Either Soldier” or “Sweeter,” both by Gavin DeGraw |
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Most-visited websites: |
Playbill.com! :-)
And Pinterest |
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Favorite Tweeters: |
I'm not on Twitter. Guess I need to get with the program... |
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Last book you read: |
"The Help" |
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Must-see TV show(s): |
"Parenthood," "Game of Thrones," "The Walking Dead," "The Killing," "Mad Men." I watch almost everything on AMC. |
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Last good movie you saw: |
"The Artist" |
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Some films you consider classics: |
"Gone With the Wind," "Yankee Doodle Dandy," "Goonies," "White Christmas," "It's a Wonderful Life"... to name a few. |
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Performer you would drop everything to go see: |
Jeremy Jordan
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Pop culture guilty pleasure: |
Reality TV |
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Favorite cities: |
NYC, Sarasota, Charleston |
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Favorite sport/team/player:
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Ohio State Football!!
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First CD/Tape/LP you owned: |
Color Me Badd on cassette tape I think |
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First stage kiss: |
My Japheth in Children of Eden, Patrick Clement, at the Canton Players Guild |
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Favorite or most memorable onstage role as a child/teenager: |
Playing Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas. It was my 8th grade Christmas show at school. |
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Moment you knew you wanted to perform for a living: |
When I was as young as 4 years old, watching old movie musicals with my mom. She says singing and dancing is all I have ever wanted to do for as long as she can remember. I can't imagine doing anything else, and I feel so lucky getting to do what I love for a living!! |
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How you got your Equity card:
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Hairspray on Broadway |
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Five Greatest Rock Bands of All Time (excluding the bands represented in Rock of Ages): |
The Beatles
Sly and the Family Stone
Queen
Heart
The Eagles |
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Favorite pre-/post- show meal: |
Spaghetti bolognese at Tre Colori |
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Favorite liquid refreshment: |
Dr. Pepper... and perhaps mixed with a little Captain Morgan |
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Pre-show rituals or warm-ups:
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I have some vocal warm-ups on my iPod from my voice teacher Matt Farnsworth that I do before the show. And I stretch out my limbs backstage before the show starts. |
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Most vocally challenging role you have ever played: |
Sherrie in Rock of Ages. It's definitely the most I have ever sung in a show. |
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Biggest challenge about this current project: |
Making sure I stay true to the character and play the simplicity. It's easy to go over the top. |
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Favorite part of the show for Sherrie: |
This is so hard because I have a lot of favorite moments. I really love the first scene where you see Sherrie following her dreams to be an actress in L.A. It reminds me a lot of myself coming to New York for the first time and wanting to be on Broadway and how exciting it all is!
I also love "I Hate Myself for Loving You." Its a big turning point for Sherrie and an awesome girl power moment! Also one of my favorite songs to sing in the show. |
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Worst flubbed line/missed cue/onstage mishap: |
When I was playing Sandy in Grease, I was onstage by myself singing and completely blanked on the lyrics in the middle of the song. It lasted 2 seconds, but felt like a lifetime.
I just remember looking into the monitors out in the house and seeing my amazing music director Henry Aronson mouthing the words to me. |
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Worst job you ever had: |
Working at Arby’s when I was 15 years old on summer break. |
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If you could trade roles/tracks with anyone in the show for a week, who would it be? |
I would trade with Miss Josephine Roberts. She is our uber talented and very funny Regina! I think it would be a blast to play that role!
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Leading lady role you've been dying to play: | I have always wanted to be a Disney princess and would love to play Belle in Beauty and the Beast. |
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Something about you that surprises people: | How insanely goofy I am |
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Something you are incredibly proud of:
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My fiancé Jeremy Jordan :-) |
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Career you would want if not a performer:
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I have never even thought of doing anything else. |
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Three things you can't live without: |
Aside from the most important being my loving and supportive fiancé, family and friendds...
I would have to say ice cream, being a performer, and pictures of loved ones. I have a picture of my grandma and I on my first birthday and it has been to every dressing room of every show I've been in, so I always have her with me. I'm crying just thinking about it. |
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Words of advice for aspiring performers: |
Don't let anyone tell you that you're not good enough. Follow your heart and pursue your dreams because anything is possible.
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