Ash Hood

 I was fortunate to catch Ash Hood in her DFW debut in NTPA’s In The Heights last year. She was almost unrecognizable playing the part of Abuela, a part she was around fifty years too young to play. However, dressed in a gray wig and housecoat, Ash had the skill to make the part work. Recently, Ash mesmerized me as both the Witch and Jenny in the Firehouse Theatre’s Big Fish. Her remarkable charisma and commitment to character made her performance unforgettable. Take a few moments to learn more about the sensational Ash Hood.

When was your first time on stage? 

I was involved in dance as a child and performed in annual dance recitals all throughout my childhood. I was always an outgoing kid with a larger-than-life personality, so my parents knew early on that they had a blossoming performer on their hands. The first time I was ever in theatrical production was in high school. I auditioned for my school's Musical Theater program on a whim. I'm pretty sure I blacked out and sang "Ireland" from Legally Blonde the Musical, and somehow it worked out in my favor.

When did you know you wanted to be an actor? 

Growing up I should have known earlier that I needed to be on a stage. All my home videos are of me singing along to songs like "Greased Lightning" or dramatically reciting "Sandy" on top of my dining room table with a battery powered microphone. I'm originally from West Palm Beach, Florida which is not known for its bustling theater scene. There were a few opportunities that allowed me to explore this interest. I attended a summer camp in 5th grade at a country club where we wrote, produced, and starred in a musical but also casually played golf for a few hours. I had no business pretending like I knew what I was doing, but I got to act and sing so it was enough for me! My big "aha moment" was the summer before my freshman year of high school. I visited my family in New York and my aunt took me to see Jersey Boys on Broadway. Shortly after that, my mom took me to see In the Heights. That was really the first time I ever saw someone who looked like me on a big stage like that. After that, I was hooked.  

Who is your greatest mentor? 

I have had so many important people who have worked with me throughout my journey so far. But the one person I have always advised on my crazy music ventures is my best friend, CJ. Before I got cast in my first DFW production (which was only a year ago), CJ and I were gigging as a duo just to have an excuse to play music together. From closet demos to live gigs, he's been my best friend for 7 years. He's the one who scored me an audition for In10City Band, which is a party band that I am a vocalist for. If it weren't for his constant push and support, I don't know when I would have landed back on a stage in any capacity.  

What role have you enjoyed the most in your career so far? 

I'm going to throw this one back to when I saw In the Heights. When I saw Isabel Santiago as Daniela the salon owner, I was so drawn to the energy that she introduced to the role. So, it felt like a full circle moment for me when I was offered the opportunity to play Daniela in Firehouse Theater's production of In the Heights. Stepping into a role like that really allowed me the chance to play a part that I felt was tailored for my type of personality.  

Do you have a dream role? 

I love roles that make you feel something when you watch the person portraying them. I would love to be cast in a production of Hadestown. I love The Fates. Their harmonies and blends send shivers down my spine. I honestly would jump at any opportunity to play a track in that show. I would also love to be in Hamilton. I love the choreography that Andy Blankenbuehler created for so many of those numbers. Learning the intricacies of those dances would be a blast. 

What person(s) would you like to be on stage with? 

I would love to be in a show with Cynthia Erivo just so I could listen to her sing 8 times a week. The way in which she can emote while effortlessly dancing around melodies leaves me in awe. I'd be honored to soak up some of her talent and learn from her throughout the production process. There's a performance of her singing "You Will Be Found" from Elsie Fest that is in my frequently watched performances playlist. Right in that same playlist singing the exact same song is Mykal Kilgore. I have followed Mykal Kilgore since 2011 when he performed "I Loved You Too Much" by Drew Gaspirini. It has been so exciting to see him adapt as a performer and play into the theatrical side of the industry as well as the creative music side like performing alongside Post-Modern Jukebox. Getting to talk to him and share a stage with him would be amazing. 

What performances have you seen that impressed you? 

I have seen so many performances that have resonated with me. But getting to perform on the same stage as people who are so passionate about their art is such a powerful thing to me. There are two performers that I can think of whose performances have and will stay with me far after the show closes. The first person is Tomas Moquete. I got to act opposite of Tomas in NTPA's production of In the Heights, which was my DFW debut. I then got the chance to work with Tomas again when we were both cast in Firehouse's production. Tomas played Usnavi with such ease and found ways to add his own personal touch to such an iconic character. I will never forget the day that I discovered that he taped pictures of his abuela on the back of Abuela Claudia's door on the stage so that he could see his own family before delivering heartbreaking performances of “Alabanza” each night. The other performer that I can't NOT mention is Esteban Vilchez. Esteban and I were also in NTPA's production of In the Heights, but we are also currently in the cast of Firehouse Theatre's production of Big Fish the Musical. Esteban can make me cry each night at the end of every performance simply by opening his mouth and singing his truth. It's so difficult to touch an entire crowd when juggling so many elements of a show, but he is so extremely talented, and I am humbled to share a stage with him. His heart is so pure and DFW is really blessed to have such a genuine soul grace its stages.  

What are your career goals? 

To never stop growing as a performer. I don't know what the future holds for me, but as long as I am able to use my passions to make music that's enough for me. I'm currently exploring being a vocalist in a party band, which is never where I thought I would have ended up. But that's the beautiful thing about seasons of change and growth. It can present opportunities for you to step into who you're meant to be. I'm really enjoying the opportunities that I have had to perform so far, and I can only hope to always strive to be better than my last performance.  

What would people be surprised to learn about you? 

I switched schools a lot in elementary school, and because of that I never really learned how to read music. I have attempted to learn, but the majority of what I learn is through repetition and vocal rehearsals. I can harmonize pretty easily though; I can hear harmonies and music chords in my head when I listen to pretty much any song. I just have a hard time vocalizing the music theory side of it all. But I would love to learn.