Home is where the ART is

Tim Ashby has had several short plays produced at Theatre Artists Studio, as well as two full-length plays, Unretouched and Same Moon. He is the author of a novella, Strawberries and Sand, has written and directed several (deeply underground) movies, and is finishing a novel.

Judith is an actor, screenwriter, playwright and film producer. Her most recent acting role at Theatre Artists Studio was ‘Josephine’ in the production of MadWoman of Chaillot . She is thankful for the collaborative Herculean effort of cast, directors, set designers, producers, stage managers, writers etc. to bring the New Summer Shorts to the stage!!!!

Jay is a playwright and actor last seen as the Stock Broker in Madwoman of Chaillot, who received his initial training in Portland, Maine. He has written a radio-play, The # 42 Bus, which was aired on a cable channel in Portland; a full-length musical, My Destiny Manifesto, which is still in development, and a full-evening dramatic play, Blurred Lives, which is in development. Jay has been an Artistic member with Theatre Artists Studio since September of 2025. Jay is overjoyed to have his play produced along with the 7 other entertaining plays for this year’s New Summer Shorts production.

Nora is a poet, playwright, lyricist, songwriter, translator, and educator. Nora, a child of immigrants, developed her own wanderlust and has spent years teaching, traveling and creating on four different continents. She is a member of the SACD (Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques) and the Dramatists Guild. She studied under poet Brigit P. Kelly and mezzo-soprano Sylvia Stone at the University of Illinois. She feels at home in France and in the USA -- thanks to her involvement with The Studio!

Al first acted on stage five decades ago. He last appeared as the professor in The Studio's production of Uncle Vanya. Al only started writing plays a few years ago. His short, Left to Their Own Devices, marks the ninth play Al has had produced as part of the Studio’s New Summer Shorts. Al is grateful to his director, Tom Koelbel, and his actors, Jeff, Vicki, Dhan and Gabriella for bringing his kooky play to life.

Debra is an award-winning journalist, actor, media coach, and playwright. Her plays have been produced across the county. Her ten-minute plays have been featured in The Seattle Fringe Festival, Jewish Theatre of Oklahoma’s New Plays Competition, New Summer Shorts in Phoenix, and several Dramatists Guild New Works Festivals. Resisting Irrelevancy, a full-length play about smashing into middle age, ran successfully at Theatre Artists Studio in Phoenix. And her holiday farce, Twist of the Magi, has delighted audiences in Phoenix and around the country.

Originally from Texas, Sally Jane Kerschen-Sheppard received a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Long Island University, and an M.A. in Theatre from Oklahoma State University. She is the author of Lunch Date and Last Inning (both published by Heuer Publishing), East Harlem, The Crazy Side of Normal, It’ll Do, Subsistence, Blooming Cactus, Cordelia, and other plays. In addition, she has taught playwriting at Oklahoma State University. Sally Jane is the Phoenix Ambassador for The Dramatists Guild of America, Inc.