Everyone Has a Story
Ours Started in February 2022
The Eralore Origin Story
After the long isolation of the pandemic and nearly two years away from performance contracts, the dream for Eralore Studios was born from fragmented memories of an old, original script, a hand-drawn character sketch, and a really big “what if.”
What if we could create stories that didn’t need a stage? What if lore could reach all the way around the world and create community, where there once was none?
Calls were made, texts were sent, and within 24 hours, the vision was taking shape. Our first story would be a rewrite of a play I had started writing in 2006, but never finished.
I sent over everything I could remember to long time friend and award-winning playwright, DC Cathro. I emailed character notes and costume details to internationally renowned artist, WhatsHerFace. And within a few months, our first story was born in September 2022.
Johnnie’s Song, a 1920s style Radio Hour Drama, was professionally recorded and produced in Baltimore, MD with seven talented voice actors.
Before all eleven episodes were released, I began writing up the next one: By Way of the Sea, a regency era audio drama, which released in March 2023, complete with an immersive shipwreck audioscape, six professional actors, and ten female artists to create podcast cover art.
By 2024, I had returned to the stage a few more times and got inspired to put the next one “on its feet.”
The Haverton Howler was written in 2024, then workshopped and performed in 2025 at Cumberland Theatre.
It was through the experience of workshopping the Howler’s script with a dedicated cast that opened the pathway to what Eralore will become next:
a theatrical studio for workshopping and performing original works and productions in DC, Virginia, and Maryland
an inclusive community for creative collaboration in the arts
a catalyst for connection and community service
Our Mission
Nurture original, authentic stories
Whether written “in house” or by emerging playwrights, we want to give life to worlds and characters that have never-been-seen before, through live-readings, workshops, and debut performances.
Build an inclusive, creative community
We believe art grows through shared hands. Our collaborative processes invite artists, volunteers, and neighbors to contribute, create, and explore together.
Create Immersive Themed Experiences
We design era-inspired events that welcome non-performers to participate in our storytelling and experience the wonder of creative expression.
Support and serve our community
We are art for people, not for profit. Through service events, charity drives, and strategic partnerships, we invest back into the community that shapes our stories.
Use storytelling as a catalyst for connection
Stories help us understand ourselves and each other. The themes of our productions foster empathy, belonging, and human connection.
Founder & Creative Director
Ashley Snow
With more than thirty years of theatre experience, Ashley’s life has been guided by the belief that stories are one of the most powerful ways to connect people. Her background in education, psychology, and trauma-informed practices adds a compassionate, people-first lens to her directing and an old-soul curiosity to everything she creates.
Ashley’s work is shaped by a deep understanding of how people learn, grow, and feel supported. That perspective is at the heart of Eralore Studios: a community-centered circle dedicated to unique productions, emerging playwrights and artists, and the shared experience of building something together.
Ashley’s vision is rooted in authenticity, connection, and the idea that collaborative projects help us see ourselves, and each other, more clearly.