Somewhere over the Rainbow…
It is my absolute honor to spotlight Wagon Wheel Professional Theatre’s 2018 and 2021 alumna, Ashlyn Maddox! Born and raised in Houston, she got thrown into the world of theatre in fifth grade because her mom thought she was “bad at sports” (Ashlyn’s words, not mine!). Thank goodness she stuck with it, because she’s been unstoppable ever since.
And of course, Ashlyn sent YOU a video! Click here to hear from her. 🧡
You might remember her as our beloved Dorothy Gale in our 2021 production of The Wizard of Oz, among so many other roles. But what’s really amazing is that Ashlyn came back in 2022 to choreograph our Conservatory students for their summer workshop performance of Something Rotten!. She means so much to so many Wagon Wheel patrons and students alike, and I can’t believe I get to brag about her to you.
Ashlyn earned her degree in Musical Theatre from Texas State University, made her Broadway debut in the TONY AWARD-WINNING revival of Parade, and even guest-starred on Law & Order. Most recently, she played Beth on Netflix’s The Four Seasons with fellow Wagon Wheel alumna Erika Henningsen. Right now, she’s playing Millie in Bull Durham at Paper Mill Playhouse and rehearsing Off-Broadway in A Christmas Carol at the PAC. She’s also brought her talents to roles like Kim McAfee in Bye Bye Birdie at the Kennedy Center and Jane Doe in Ride the Cyclone. And that’s only a teeny tiny part of her incredible career.
I just love talking about Ashlyn. She’s talented, driven, and impossible not to admire. Honestly, we couldn’t be prouder to call her one of ours. What really humbles me is how good she has been to us here at Wagon Wheel. She continues to check in, give back, and stay engaged with us. I also happen to know that some of our current actors, both professional and Junior, have reached out to her for advice and support, and she’s poured into them in the way only our alumni do. That’s the Wagon Wheel difference.