Ashli Calvert grew up in North Carolina, Tennessee and Maryland, and has been performing since she was five years old. In high school she was the Vice President of ITS as well as receiving the Best Actress award her senior year. She earned her BFA in Musical Theatre at Emerson College in Boston. Following a year in regional theatre playing Shelby in Steel Magnolias and Meg in Crimes of the Heart, Calvert moved to Los Angeles where she was an actor, casting director and producer, working on Friends, ER, Ally McBeal, Titanic and more. After returning to Charlotte, she began teaching drama while continuing to act and direct. Favorite roles include Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Florence in The Odd Couple (Female Version) and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors.