Ashley Adelman
ivpartistic@gmail.com ⎜908.415.3760 ⎜ 811 Walton Avenue, E25 Bronx, NY
Plays- Full Length
Excavating the Rising Stars – Devised Documentary Oral History Play
Text: I interviewed eight women archaeologists who were part of The Rising Star expedition which led to the discovery of a new hominid fossil. Interviews done throughout 2020 via zoom.
Play Summary: In development
Productions/Workshops:
•The Kraine Theater, NYC. Winter/Spring 2022.
•Sedona Arts Academy, Sedona, Arizona. Fall 2022.
Can We Talk? – Semi-Documentary Oral History Play
Text: Based on oral history of Carla Howard Horowtiz, a WWII pilot. Interview done in 2016 at her apartment. The interviews were framed by a fictional story of current day times during Covid.
Play Summary: Summer 2020. Two roommates, Kaitlyn and Frances, stuck inside their NYC apartment, avoid talking about coronavirus, BLM, unemployment, and Frances’ move by reenacting the story of Carla Howard Horowitz, a WWII women airforce service pilot. Chairs become planes, resistance bands, weapons. Using the whimsy of Hook and Pinter-like pauses, Can We Talk? playfully and tragically examines the inescapable cycle of history. Born out of the shelter-in-place order in New York City in March 2020, Can We Talk? is a story about isolation, imagination, and moving forward into an unknown and uncertain future.
Productions/Workshops:
• Filmed at the Kraine Theater, NYC for an upcoming short, set to premiere Fall 2022. June 2021.
• The Kraine Theater, NYC. December 2021.
Nellie and The Women of Blackwell – Documentary Immersive Play*
Text: Based on the stories and anecdotes from Ten Days in the Madhouse, the expose by journalist Nellie Bly.
Summary: Nellie & the Women of Blackwell is a deep, dark dive into the mental health system of the late 19th century in New York City. Using a cast of just four actors, the audience is led by legendary stunt reporter Nellie Bly through the narrative described in her ground-breaking story, “Ten Days in a Madhouse.” Donning their role as junior reporters, the audience joins Nellie in her reporting- and her attempt to escape- the decrepit conditions and cruel treatment of Blackwell’s Island Lunatic Asylum. Uncover the stories and secrets of the women long-forgotten by history, and learn how far mental health has come- and has to go- in this innovative experience that is redefining immersive theater.
Productions/Workshops:
• Wildrence Immersive, NYC. Winter 2020.
Displeyst – Devised Documentary Play
Text: Displeyst came directly from the diary of Margaret Welisch and the oral histories of her two daughters Susan Ettinger, Brigitta Wachs and grandson Stephen Ettinger.
Summary: Displeyst tells the true story of a well-to-do Jewish family, headed by matriarch Margaret Welisch. Fleeing Nazi persecution, Margaret took her family from Austria to the Philippines, only to have their life ripped apart again by the invasion of Japan.Using Margaret's 1981 diary and oral histories from her daughters, Infinite Variety Productions has created a script showing that power and corruption can break apart an entire community, but love, family, and tradition can build a home anywhere.
Productions/Workshops:
• Workshop production at Under St. Marks, NYC. May 2019.
• Film/Zoom reimagined production for the East Meadow Library. December 2020.
In Their Footsteps – Documentary Oral History Play
Text: Taken directly from my interviews with five American women (3 Civilian Employees, 2 Military) who served in the Vietnam War. Interviews done 2016 -2017 at various locations.
Summary: Over 50 years ago, thousands of young American women went to Vietnam to serve their country during the war. Infinite Variety Productions interviewed five of these women; two military officers, three civilian employees, all volunteers. Hearing their poignant, horrific, funny and endearing memories, IVP set out to tell the often unknown, but extremely timely story of the human side of war. Through a script created directly from the oral histories and an innovative set using five blocks evolving into bunkers, rooftops, military vehicles and more, join IVP as they journey through the lives of these women.
Selected Productions/Workshops (contact for full list):
• Workshopped production at Under St. Marks, NYC. December 2017.
• Premiered and sold out at the Off-Broadway 59E59 Theaters, NYC. July 2018.
• The Edinburgh Theatre Festival, Scotland, UK. August 2018.
• The Borderlight Fringe Festival, Cleveland, OH. July 2019.
• Women Overseas Service League, San Antonio, TX. October 2019.
• Radio play, currently playing on NPR. 2020.
• Zoom production for the NJ Vietnam Veterans Memorial. 2020.
• OnStage Festival, Milan and Rome, Italy. November 2021.
• Theatre Travels, Sydney and Canberra, Australia. 2022.
Beyond the Etchings – Documentary Play (Co-Writer)
Text: Vietnam Veteran Bob Staranowicz donated his collection of poems, songs and letters from various Vietnam Veterans and family members.
Summary: Beyond the Etchings tells the story of women and men whose names are visited on the Vietnam Wall every day and the mothers, wives and sisters who were left behind after the soldiers were gone. Basing the play around oral histories, letters and first hand accounts, Beyond the Etchings reminds us of the power of listening, remembering and connecting.
Productions/Workshops:
• Reading at The Vietnam Women’s Memorial for the Veteran’s Day Storytelling, DC. 2016.
• Premiered at The Vietnam Memorial, NYC. 2017.
• The Kraine Theatre, NYC. 2017.
Additional Experience
Infinite Variety Productions – Founder & Artistic Director. 2011 – present.
A NYS 501(c)3 dedicated to telling untold women’s stories throughout history in non-traditional spaces.
Duties: Researched unknown published plays to produce; Assisted creation of new plays based in women’s history; Produced readings of plays whose subject matter was historically based, specifically from the female perspective; Led workshops for younger audiences in beginning devised documentary theater; Led a team of designers, marketing and artists in each show; Partnered with various museums, historical societies, schools and corporate events.
World Seido Karate – General Manager. 2010 – present.
An international Japanese Karate school with headquarters in New York City.
Duties: Managing the school and the staff; Register students and orders for all domestic branches ; Daily facilities operations; Operates the non-profit wing which offers free classes for the visually impaired, veterans and students from the Young Adult Institute.
Workshop Facilitator. 2018 – present.
Topics: Sense Memory and Interview techniques to create monologues; Translating Oral History Theater; Interview techniques and Documentary Theater
Hired by: Salons for Life (New Jersey), Infinite Variety Productions (New York), Florida Thespians Festival (Florida), Onstage Festival (Italy)
Education
MFA from The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University (2009)
BFA from New York University: TISCH (2006)
Awards and Notable Achievements
Publications: Feminisms and Museums: Volume 2; HerStories: The WASP Exhibit at the American Airpower Museum
Recipient of the Naftali Foundation Grant (2016), The Kuehne Foundation Grant (2014), ART/NYCreative Opportunity Grant (2021 and 2022), and the Leon Levy Grant (2021)
Resident Artist at Frigid New York. 2016 – Present.
*Winner of Broadway World’s Best Immersive/Theatrical Experience Off-Off-Broadway 2021