BACKFENCE PRESENTS: Big Feelings Baby
A feral and funny storytelling show about learning to howl it all out, written and performed by Ash Allen

Big Feelings Baby is a one-hour solo (ish) storytelling show about finding your inner howl and the courage to let it out. Set in the Mississippi woods, the story follows a shirtless, barefoot tomboy whose first companions are squirrels and her loud, feral grandmother who lives up the road. Their bond runs deeper than language, rooted in love bigger than the sky, humor, and a refusal to be tamed. 

That world is upended when she is sent away one summer and comes face to face with how different she is from other girls—and how those differences are things to hide and quiet. When she returns home, both her inner and outer worlds are irrevocably changed. Through love, life, and the loss of her beloved grandmother, she learns that big feelings must be released—one howl at a time. Only then can you find not just your pack, but yourself.

Originally from Mississippi, Ash grew up a critter-obsessed, barefoot tomboy running through the woods. Her comedy and immersive storytelling are rooted in the red clay hills, kudzu-lined highways, and squirrel-infested thickets of her childhood. The result is work that is both tender and untamed—blending sharp comedy with emotional honesty and a deep sense of place.

A repeat Moth StorySLAM winner, 2025 Best of Portland Comedy, and one of Willamette Week’s 2026 Funniest Five, Ash shares tall-yet-true stories on stages across the country. She has performed at festivals including Pickathon, Fire and Story, and Hell Yes Fest, bringing humor, heart, and stories that are equal parts soft-bellied and sharp-toothed.

Ash hosts Porch Hang, a weekly storytelling radio show with a killer soundtrack on Shady Pines Radio, and cohosts ROY G BIV, a monthly show spotlighting the best queer comedy Portland—and beyond—has to offer.

In addition to performing, Ash is a storytelling teacher and coach. She teaches classes at BACKFENCE and recently produced the inaugural King Tides Retreat, an immersive, multi-day storytelling workshop on the Washington Coast that culminated in a sold-out story showcase.