Tony award-winner Elizabeth Ashley interviewed tonight

Students will have the chance to listen in on a rare interivew with Tony award-winning actress Elizabeth Ashley tonight when she sits down at Little Theater's intimate atmosphere. Professor of English Linda Dorff, who is organizing the event entitled "An Evening With Elizabeth Ashley," will play the part of intereviewer, centering her talk around various aspects of Ashley's professional life, on the stage and behind the scenes.

Dorff met Ashley three years ago while the former was working on her documentary entitled Tennesse Williams: Dragon Country. Dorff was in search of a narrator for the documentary, and felt it was only natural to ask Ashley - the actress is the leading Tennesee Williams interpreter in the world. Dorff said, "I felt that she would be the best representative of the plays since she knew him personally for the last ten years of his life."

Dorff admired Ashley's relationship with Williams; the actress stood by the playwright even under difficult circumstances, even when her own career was on the line. "I just thought she would be the best person [as narrator], and she graciously agreed," Dorff said. The two women have had a close friendship and working relationship ever since Dragon Country's release.

Over the past 40 years, Ashley has held coveted roles working with such actors as Robert Redford and Rex Harrison. She starred with the former in Barefoot in the Park, the work that Neil Simon wrote specifically wrote for her. She won her Tony at the spry age of 22 for her work in Take Her, She's Mine in 1961. Amongst numerous Williams plays, including The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore and The Red Devil Battery Sign, Ashley has shined in everything from Broadway's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof to television's Evening Shade. She is also the author of the best-seller Actress: Postcards from the Road.

Dorff explained that tonight's interview session will follow a similar format to that of Bravo!'s actor studio sessions; the event will be a conversation in the form of an interview. Topics to be discussed include everything from Ashley's childhood to her studies as a Method actress and direction under Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse.

While Ashley may not be performing tonight, the next best thing is to hear her recollection of experience second-hand in the intimacy of Little Theater.

"An Evening With Elizabeth Ashley" takes place tonight, Nov. 13,at 8 p.m. in Hall's Little Theater. The actress will also give a master class Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Warner Performing Arts Building in Studio 3.