Ashley August is black, alive and loves a good list! She is a Brooklyn born and raised afro-latina actress, author, playwright, activist, teaching artist, global touring spoken word artist, previously 3rd ranked woman poet in the world, a member of the ABC/Disney Discovers cast, hip-hop junkie, former Youth Poet Laureate of New York City and named one of The New York Times 30 Under 30 Most Influential people. She is a 2023-2024 Geffen Playhouse Residency recipient where she will be writing and performing her one woman show.

Along with multiple stage and screen appearances, her credits include Sundance, Cannes Film Festival, Netflix, Marvel, HBO, The Public Theater and The Lark Play Development Center. She's also written and performed for brands like Adidas, Refinery 29, Under Armour, Nike, MTV, Comedy Central and more. August is the author of three self-exploratory books, “Love Handles”, “Licorice” and "Say I Won't". She is the former curator and Slam Master of the Legendary Bowery Poetry Club (NYC).

Every moment she made permanent wasn't by choice. The “art choosing her” bit is real. She feels that the story always finds a way to birth themselves, resulting in connection, release or understanding. Ashley August creates with freedom in mind; freedom from self-limitations and societal expectations. As a comedy writer, August finds humor as the driving vehicle to unlock the ugly things many won’t touch. As a poet, she clears the blurry sight of things and brings you along for the ride. She puts everything she’s ever felt into words and everything that's tried to destroy her into jokes. Ashley poets, she monologues, she raps, she jokes, she flows. She world builds and sets fire to them too. She has no need to be easily digested, but she will give you something good to chew on. Her goal has always been simple; make her respective marginalized communities, feel seen authentically and without frills, no matter who is watching.

With Belize and Brooklyn embedded into her (he)art, August is motivated to speak the unsaid truth and push the boundaries of the page and performance to realms they've yet to live in.

She currently resides in LA and is figuring it all out!

Featured Image: Dressing Room Shot at HBO for TV Series. Photo Credit: Briannah Hagger (2019).