Ashley Pearson Appointed New AD at CCP
May 12, 2025 – In time of transition at Camel City Playhouse, while we are sad to see the departure of Chris Cohen as Artistic Director, we are excited to be evolving with a new person at the creative helm. The Board set out to find someone who was immersed in the theatre world in general and well versed with community theatre in the Triad in particular. This person needed to be well-versed in the theatre community with an excellent reputation, someone with a clear understanding of CCP’s mission, and the ability to build upon the momentum CCP has established over the past four years.
Therefore, we are very excited to announce and welcome Ashley Pearson as our new Artistic Director! Ashley is an actor/singer/director and proud Latina who has been heavily involved in theatre in the Triad since 2009, covering almost every theatre from Yadkinville to Mebane. She served as a founding board member for Studio 1 Community Theatre in Burlington, and in 2019 she began working as the Theatre Teacher/Director at Salem Academy and College.
Take the time to read Ashley’s bio, and please join the Board in extending a warm welcome to her as she finds a new spotlight as the Artistic Director of Camel City Playhouse!
ASHLEY PEARSON BIO
Ashley Pearson (she/her) has been involved in theatre in the Triad since 2009, covering almost every theatre from Yadkinville to Mebane. She is an actor/singer/director originally from Maryland and is a proud Latina. In 2019, she moved from Burlington to Winston-Salem and began working as the Theatre Teacher/Director at Salem Academy and College. Ashley has an extensive background in dance, voice, acting, and piano, and has performed across the East Coast for the past 30 years. She studied music theatre through intensive programs at University of the Arts (Philadelphia), Elon University, and through several DC-area organizations. In 2006, she served as the Director for the drama camps through YMCA, where she ran the program as well as wrote and directed the productions. She was a member of the Montgomery College Summer Dinner Theatre program for several years, including as their Company Manager in 2007. Ashley served as a founding board member for Studio 1 (Community Theatre) in Burlington, serves as the Music Director for the SHINE Theatre Camp for individuals with disabilities, and regularly performs and directs throughout the triad. Selected previous Camel City Playhouse credits include: Spring Awakening (Director), Songs for a New World (Woman 2), and the recent staged reading of the film, Glengarry Glen Ross (Ricky Roma). Ashley is excited to step into this new role with Camel City Playhouse and is so appreciative of all who support the arts!
Chris Cohen Leaving AD Role at CCP
May 9, 2025 – It is with bittersweet emotion that we announce Chris Cohen’s departure from his role as Artistic Director. If you know Camel City Playhouse, then you know Chris Cohen. Chris has been with CCP since the transition from ARTC in 2021. He took the helm as Artistic Director and was instrumental in building (literally) this fledgling community theatre from obscurity in a saturated market to a well-respected and well-known performance space.
CCP had no identity when it began and through his direction, it blossomed and found its footing. Chris had much to do with why audiences trust that whatever CCP is producing will be a quality piece of performance art.
Chris had touched EVERY inch of the theatre space inside and out. The amount of time, energy, and money (probably blood, sweat and tears as well) that he has poured into this space is remarkable. To say that we would not be as successful as we are without him would be an understatement. We can never repay him for all he has done. The best that we can do is to continue to make this a space where audiences want to be and where others can find their spotlight.
We still look forward to seeing Chris grace us with his incredible acting skills and directing skills. It pleases us to know that while we will see less of him, his family will be seeing more.
We love you Chris and wish you all the best! Bravo!
Stay tuned for an announcement coming on Monday about what’s next for Camel City Playhouse!
