Ben Tyler

Ben Tyler

Ben Tyler (Playwright/Actor) writes Arizona-centric plays. The majority of his work is placed in his home state of Arizona. The Wallace & Ladmo Show, a look an irreverent kid’s TV show that aired from 1954 to 1989. Escape From Papago Park, the largest POW escape to take place on US soil. Mr. Conservative, a on man show that examines the life and times of, Barry Goldwater. And stretching way back, Guv: The Musical, a review of the shenanigans of Arizona’s governors and its politics. The Truth About Winnie Ruth Judd is a story that has been part of the Arizona landscape since 1931 when the murders took place. It’s a complex story that covers decades and involves dozens of characters. The trick to bringing it on stage is distilling it to its essence. That took a great deal of research and conversations with people who either know the subject well or lived through it, or both. It has been a fascinating journey for both Ben, and his co-author, Cathy Dresbach. We may never know the truth about Winnie Ruth Judd, but as WRJ says in the play, “The truth? It’s overrated, I’ve always preferred a good story.”