Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashleigh Shapiro.
Ashleigh, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was conceived in Chico, CA. Born in the Bay and raised in what I affectionately call, cow-town capitol, Sacramento. My parents separated, and I spent my summers in Detroit, MI, since I was four. I can Namaste and slow-cook some pork ribs at the same damn time.
I was a student-athlete since junior high and just generally an insufferable overachiever. Straight A student, in every club on campus, in leadership, the rally commissioner and a sister. I competed in track and field, basketball and volleyball at the varsity level. I was also a thespian at heart. I performed in the play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Had I not been so involved in sports, I would have been able to take the advanced theatre class and just generally been able to pursue all things theatrical. Although sometimes I wish I started earlier, I am happy I was so focused on sports at the time because I wanted to get the hell up out of there like many teenagers at the time. And I did.
I moved and attended college in So-Cal on a track and field scholarship. I competed in Division I track (in the hurdles, mainly). I knew I wanted something creative, but I also wanted something useful. I studied business, with an emphasis on marketing, and afterward, I went on to work at a few places working in my field. I even went back to school for fashion design, after having a career/jobs in fashion blogging, apparel marketing, and costuming, all here in LA.
Me, my husband, and our dog Whiskey had our lives change overnight when I got pregnant. It was such a blessing to us both. Then after giving birth to my only child, I switched gears into comedy. It’s pretty incredible how the birth of your child can open the floodgates for change. My always-present comedic voice decided that it could no longer stand not being heard. And, I now perform stand-up comedy, sketch comedy, and Improv around Los Angeles and sometimes get the pleasure of performing across the country. It’s such a blessing to share laughter, talk about subjects close to me and other observational topics. I am an adventurer at heart. I love doing different things. I’ve even had the chance to act in a few projects as well. My home base, though, has been stand-up. I don’t even recall jumping in, but I was submerged in LA stand-up before I knew it. I remember driving around LA and being thrilled at the chance to do lunchtime open mics. Luckily, things have progressed since then, and I’ve been performing real gigs all around the City like The Sycamore Tavern, and The Comedy Store. I’ve done shows produced by everything from polyamorous psychonauts to badass Soul Sistas.
Comedy has been my creative outlet, a space for me to express myself, get things off my chest, and address what’s happening around me. It’s also granted me access to meet new, talented, and incredible people all while developing as an individual too. I’m so grateful to be a Comedian-Mom in Los Angeles on this roller coaster called life.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has been new and unpaved. I not only dove into uncharted territory, but I had to bring my toddler too. Being a new parent and starting a new career has been a fun, yet could elicit a call from Child Protective Services (joking).
In the beginning, I had no clue the hours were so late and that having an infant (and now, toddler) would be such a daytime love but also 24-hour job. Your kids are always on your mind, and you have to ensure they eat, have diapers, are learning, being social, and the list goes on. It’s a logistical octopus. There is a ton of pressure to be a good mom and manage not to look like a walking couch potato in public. There is always a tentacle trying to bring you down. I started hiding my sweatpants so I wouldn’t keep reaching for them anytime I had somewhere to be. And, for that reason, you’ll typically find me rockin’ my afro hairstyle. It’s an easy, straight-from-birth hair method I tend to wake up and go to.
Not to mention living in LA presents unique parenting obstacles like competing to get into preschool, I think my preschool strategy is to just beg to allow my kids to enroll. Also, kids are dressed so stylishly, so you have to be up on baby-fashion (JK) but whatever the case health is always a big factor in so-cal. When I grew up, we focused on meat and bread and milk even though I’m lactose intolerant. Boy. have the times changed. I eat a lot less cereal and have a lot less gas.
No matter how late my shows go or rehearsals, I have to be “on” when my baby wakes up. I’m a working comedian/stay-at-home mom. I never imagined I’d be a stay-at-home parent while also pursuing my goals. Now, staying at home as a mom is one of my goals. I get a ton of material for my stand-up from my little sweet pea. She is hilarious, a jokester, and she loves making faces in the mirror. I’ve worked for so long. I forgot that we decided that we wanted to have one parent at home, at least in the beginning. So, on top of a new full-time comedian career, I’m also a new full-time mom.
It’s a constant effort of finding balance in being a mom, a wife, a sister, a friend and just me, Ashleigh. Carving out’ me’ time outside of comedy and family obligations is challenging. In my free time, I like bowling, playing basketball, farmers’ markets, reading (starting a book, then not finishing), watching performances around LA, yoga, and meditation, oh and spas. Mama needs to get pampered every once in a while.
Also, it’s challenging with finances with one main income and the other being sporadic. However, I have the most supportive husband, so we make it work.
Please tell us about your work.
I was affectionately named after Ashley Abbott, a fictional character from The Young and the Restless. My mother had high expectations for me. Keeping true to my namesake I’m both young (do not ask for documentation) and restless. There is not much time for rest while shuffling through my various lives as a comedian, actor, mom, and clinically insane person. You can currently probably find me performing with Soul Sista Comedy (a troupe of comedians performing sketch, characters and live shows), practicing and laughing with indie-Improv comedy team, Short Pants Romance, all while performing stand-up around the city.
The Detroit Women in Comedy Festival was a tremendous opportunity for me to perform in the midwest, in front of family and friends as well as meet new comics from all over the US.
I don’t get enough sleep. I have three calendars, the digital one on my phone, a huge wall calendar and a book-binder size calendar because I can’t remember events, appointments, etc. My life is so chaotic and unpredictable. I do my best to create an organization. I will always be a huge fan of Lisa Frank, and every once in awhile, I buy Captain Crunch cereal. I’m a girl from the burbs living’ in the city trying to make my name light up while bringing laughter and smiles to audiences, strangers, and sometimes those closest to me if I’m lucky.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I firmly believe everything in life happens for a reason, and the people you encounter, you are supposed too. With that being said, if I could do anything differently, I would have given myself permission to get started earlier. I would have acknowledged my desire to perform sooner and nurtured that hunger.
A key element is timing, and I wouldn’t change my experience or my road thus far. I am who I am because of the journey I’ve taken thus far. Becoming a parent, relocating to Los Angeles, studying marketing, meeting my husband, and moving to Madrid for a few months were all a part of the process for getting to where I am. Sports played such a major part in my development. I was able to experience competition, disappointment, team camaraderie, winning, traveling, and discipline. All these moments are still with me, and I tap into these whenever necessary. For that, I couldn’t have done much different. I’m so excited about the present and my future.
Pricing:
- 8PM Foreigner Show at La Conxa 8/10
- 7PM Ventura Comedy Festival 8/11
- 3PM Willie Agee Playhouse 8/17
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ashleighshapiro.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialashleigh/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialAshleigh/
- Other: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/AshleighShapiro
Image Credit:
Joha Harrison | Nicholas Shapiro | Amanda Williams
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.
