Friday, July 9 at 9 p.m. on WSRE, “Conversations with Jeff Weeks” welcomes Northwest Florida native and Broadway star Ashley Brown. From the beaches of Florida to the bright lights of Broadway, Northwest Florida’s own Ashley Brown has made quite an impression. Best known for her role as Mary Poppins on Broadway, Brown has wowed audiences and impressed critics with her amazing voice and powerful stage presence. On the next “Conversations with Jeff Weeks”, Ashley talks about how she won the role as Mary Poppins and the demands of starring in a hit Broadway show. Brown also discusses her early training and the discipline and hard work it takes to perform at the highest level. In this interview, you will get to know Ashley on a personal level and see why so many audiences love her.
A native of Gulf Breeze, Florida, Ashley Brown was discovered by Disney Theatricals just after graduating from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and was soon starring as Belle in the Broadway production of ”Beauty and the Beast”. In 2006, she originated the role of Mary Poppins in the Broadway production of the same name, and earned critical acclaim along with several acting nominations. Expanding into the concert arena, Brown has performed with several symphonies across North America including the New York Pops, Cincinnati Pops, Indianapolis Symphony and the Pensacola Symphony. In January 2010, Brown released her debut album Speak Low.
“Conversations with Jeff Weeks” is a half-hour, weekly series that is “personality-driven,” featuring in-depth discussions with unique individuals and leading newsmakers from all walks of life. The program airs every Friday night at 9 p.m. on WSRE, PBS for the Gulf Coast with a repeat the following Sunday morning at 10 a.m. Upcoming guests: Joshilyn Jackson.
