Professional Actor
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Kerry Ashton began his professional acting career in Los Angeles, appearing first on television as one of the regular sidekicks to Jack, Chrissy and Janet on the first two seasons of THREE’S COMPANY on ABC, and later with Cesar Romero and Eve Arden in NBC’s WHODUNNIT?
Leaving Hollywood for New York City in 1979, Kerry's New York acting credits include the starring role of Max in PAINT BY NUMBERS at the 78th Street Theatre and later in workshop productions at Broadway’s Circle-In-The-Square Theatre and at the Ensemble Studio Theatre. He also created the leading role of Nick in the Off-Broadway production of Richard Hall's HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY! at The Glines, which was later published, featuring Ashton's leading performance. In film he appeared in FALLING IN LOVE, with Meryl Streep and Robert DeNiro; and in the TV films, RAGE OF ANGELS with Jaclyn Smith and in SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY with Maureen Stapleton. As a professional actor and author, Kerry Ashton has had achieved a good deal, but it is THE WILDE SPIRIT that has had the most enduring success. As regards THE WILDE SPIRIT, Ashton’s success is not merely as the play’s performer but also as its author, composer, lyricist, director, and oftentimes its producer as well. WILD OSCAR, as it was then titled, had its World Premiere in June 1977 at New Playwrights Foundation in Los Angeles. Achieving acclaim for both Ashton’s play and performance, the show ran for the next two years in Los Angeles, moving to the larger Theatre Rapport and then to the largest stage, The Cast Theatre. |
Ashton moved to New York City in 1979, where the play was produced several times: At Jeffries Cabaret in 1979; at Sheridan Square Theatre in 1980; in 1982 for an Off-Off- Broadway run at Theatre-Off-Park East 35th Street, underan Actors’ Equity contract; in engagements at The Actors Playhouse and The Directors Company in 1995; and in more than twenty-five backer’s auditions prior to the play’s major Off-Broadway production at Theatre-Off-Park, Waverly Place in 1996.
In 1990, Ashton presented his play and was Guest Lecturer at the National Convention of Solo Performers at St. Catherine’s College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was also awarded the top prize for Outstanding Solo Performance, and later featured in the book, GOING SOLO.
Acting as his own producer, Kerry brought his play to Provincetown, Massachusetts for three record-breaking years, 1990-1992. In all, THE WILDE SPIRIT ran for over eleven months in Provincetown, making it the longest-running play in Cape Cod's history.
In 1992, Mr. Ashton was featured in the scholarly international publication, WILD ABOUT WILDE, and was subsequently honored by its publisher with a rare copy of the only known audio recording of Oscar Wilde, which Wilde made in 1900 at the Paris Exhibition, only months prior to his death.
Ashton’s dream of over twenty years, of seeing his play in a major Off-Broadway production, was finally fulfilled in May 1996, when THE WILDE SPIRIT opened at New York City's Theatre-Off-Park Waverly Place.
During the intervening thirty-six years since THE WILDE SPIRIT first premiered in 1977, Ashton has performed his play as a Guest Artist in professional engagements at many of America's most prestigious colleges and universities, among them UCLA, George Washington University, Cornell, Emory University, University of Pittsburgh, Marshall University, Boise State College, Fairfield University, Quinnipiac College, as well as in several regional theatres, including the Charleston Heights Arts Center in Las Vegas, and the Munson-Williams- Proctor Institute in Utica, NY.
In one of the most remarkable histories of any solo theatrical performer of our time, it is estimated that during the last thirty-six years, Kerry Ashton has given over 1,000 live performances as Oscar Wilde in professional engagements of THE WILDE SPIRIT throughout the United States.
In 1990, Ashton presented his play and was Guest Lecturer at the National Convention of Solo Performers at St. Catherine’s College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was also awarded the top prize for Outstanding Solo Performance, and later featured in the book, GOING SOLO.
Acting as his own producer, Kerry brought his play to Provincetown, Massachusetts for three record-breaking years, 1990-1992. In all, THE WILDE SPIRIT ran for over eleven months in Provincetown, making it the longest-running play in Cape Cod's history.
In 1992, Mr. Ashton was featured in the scholarly international publication, WILD ABOUT WILDE, and was subsequently honored by its publisher with a rare copy of the only known audio recording of Oscar Wilde, which Wilde made in 1900 at the Paris Exhibition, only months prior to his death.
Ashton’s dream of over twenty years, of seeing his play in a major Off-Broadway production, was finally fulfilled in May 1996, when THE WILDE SPIRIT opened at New York City's Theatre-Off-Park Waverly Place.
During the intervening thirty-six years since THE WILDE SPIRIT first premiered in 1977, Ashton has performed his play as a Guest Artist in professional engagements at many of America's most prestigious colleges and universities, among them UCLA, George Washington University, Cornell, Emory University, University of Pittsburgh, Marshall University, Boise State College, Fairfield University, Quinnipiac College, as well as in several regional theatres, including the Charleston Heights Arts Center in Las Vegas, and the Munson-Williams- Proctor Institute in Utica, NY.
In one of the most remarkable histories of any solo theatrical performer of our time, it is estimated that during the last thirty-six years, Kerry Ashton has given over 1,000 live performances as Oscar Wilde in professional engagements of THE WILDE SPIRIT throughout the United States.
