A product of New York and regional theatres, Ashley Gardner earned her bachelor's degree from the North Carolina School of the Arts before heading north to begin her career. Appearances in the Delaware Theatre Company's production of "A Streetcar Named Desire" and the Pioneer Theatre production of "Of Mice and Men" led to Off-Broadway. There, Gardner appeared in "Come, September," "The Prettiest Girl in Lafayette County," "Albert Teaches Zelda" and "Cherokee County," then moved to Broadway for the role of Jackie in "Hay Fever" at the Music Box.