There is something so special about community theater, and one of my favorite things about covering the arts is getting to know the talented people who bring these incredible stories to life. This week, I had the pleasure of getting to know actress Ashley Duffy, who is taking on the iconic role of Maggie in Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Jewel Box Theatre in Poulsbo. What I loved most about Ashley's story wasn't just her passion for acting, but the woman behind the character, a single mom working full time who decided to take a chance on something she had dreamed about for years.
When Ashley found out she had landed the role, she was actually lying on the floor of the Wizard Room at the Castle Hotel in Legoland, trying to get her daughter to sleep. She looked at her phone and saw the offer. "I was shocked and humbled and so excited, and then absolutely terrified. I don't think I slept at all that night," she shared. I absolutely love that because isn't that motherhood? One minute you're trying to get your child to sleep, and the next you're finding out that one of your biggest dreams is coming true.
Maggie is not an easy character to portray. She is passionate, complicated, vulnerable, determined, and sometimes destructive. She is fighting for her marriage, her place in the family, and her desire to feel loved. Ashley told me that Maggie had always been a bucket list role, but she never imagined she would actually have the opportunity to play her. Between motherhood and working full time, she wasn't sure how she could possibly make it happen. But with support and some determination, she decided to take the leap.
One thing I really appreciated about Ashley was how much she wanted audiences to see beyond the famous image of Maggie portrayed by Elizabeth Taylor. She didn't want Maggie to be defined simply by her beauty or sensuality. She wanted people to understand the complicated woman underneath. "I wanted to get beyond the image of Maggie the Cat and find the woman underneath it, with all her vulnerability, contradictions, humor, and determination," Ashley explained. I think that says so much about how women are often viewed. We are so much more than one part of our lives, and sometimes people forget to look beneath the surface.
Ashley shared that the first act is especially challenging because Maggie spends so much time trying to connect with her emotionally distant husband, Brick. Imagine pouring your heart out to someone who gives you almost nothing in return. Now imagine doing that night after night in front of an audience. Ashley described acting as an emotional workout, and there are evenings when she leaves completely exhausted. But she also loves that every performance is different and that she continues discovering something new about Maggie.
The Jewel Box Theatre is such a wonderful setting for this production because of its intimate stage. The entire play takes place in Maggie and Brick's bedroom, and the audience is practically sitting inside their world. Ashley loves that closeness because every expression and emotion becomes part of the experience. She also spoke so warmly about the cast, including her real life fiancé, who plays Maggie's brother in law, Gooper.
What touched me most was Ashley talking about her daughter and the support that made this opportunity possible. As a single mom myself, I understand how easy it is to put our dreams aside while taking care of everyone else. Ashley said, "I hope my daughter grows up knowing how important it is to pursue the things you love and find joy in what you do." I absolutely love that. Sometimes the greatest lessons we teach our children come from showing them that our dreams matter too.
When I asked Ashley what she would remember most about this experience, she said, "And I'll remember that I gave it everything I had." Isn't that what we should all hope for?
I am so thankful Ashley shared her story with me. These are the women I love highlighting, women who take chances, follow their passions, and remind the rest of us that it is never too late to do something that makes our hearts happy.
You can see Ashley Duffy as Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Jewel Box Theatre in Poulsbo, November 6 through November 22, 2026. Please support our local theaters and the incredible talent we have right here in our community. Stay tuned for my review of the show on Monday!
