National Touring
The Griffin is a nationally recognized producer of youth touring theatre in the United States. The Griffin’s national audience exceeds 100,000 young people and adults each year.
Tours have included such prestigious venues as Cleveland Playhouse Square, Tennessee Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, and the Cerritos Center for the Arts in Cerritos, California.
Touring productions include both youth focused plays, Frindle and The Stinky Cheese Man and the Griffin’s hit adult production of Letters Home—a production that pays tribute to the men and women in the US military, In to America, a play that traces America’s 400 year immigrant history and Ghosts of War.
Most recently, the Griffin produced the world premiere production of the Emmy Award-winning children’s television show, Innovation Nation. Overall, Griffin’s touring productions have been performed in 44 of our United States.
ASTRONAUT GROUP I
The story of the original Mercury Seven Astronauts chosen from hundreds of crackerjack pilots for their fitness, intelligence, and courage comes to life in an original theatrical production. Share Alan Shepard’s exhilaration as he breaks the earth’s atmosphere for the first time. Race with John Glenn as he makes the split-second life-or-death maneuvers during re-entry, and feel his relief when he emerges safe but drenched with sweat. Project Mercury was more than the story of individual missions. It defined the manned space flight program to come, from Gemini to Apollo eventually taking mankind from the earth to the moon.
Written & Directed by William Massolia
The story of the original Mercury Seven Astronauts chosen from hundreds of crackerjack pilots for their fitness, intelligence, and courage comes to life in an original theatrical production. Share Alan Shepard’s exhilaration as he breaks the earth’s atmosphere for the first time. Race with John Glenn as he makes the split-second life-or-death maneuvers during re-entry, and feel his relief when he emerges safe but drenched with sweat. Project Mercury was more than the story of individual missions. It defined the manned space flight program to come, from Gemini to Apollo eventually taking mankind from the earth to the moon.
It employs the use of images and video projected behind the actors as they perform. To enhance the theatrical experience of the play all performances are followed by a post-play discussion. Presenters may also request an in-school residency or workshops.
Running time: 65 Minutes (no intermission)
ASTRONAUT GROUP 1 is also available for middle and high school matinee performances as part of your venues educational outreach.
A comprehensive study guide is available to teachers to augment the performance.
Curriculum Connections – World and American History, Social Justice, Science & Math, Storytelling Political Science, English, Creative Writing, Current Events
For United States and Canada Touring inquires or information on workshops or residencies call 773-505-4642. Or email Bill Massolia.
2024/2025 Tour Schedule Dates to be announced.
Downloadable Documents
Technical Rider
Press Kit
Study Guide
Letters Home
Letters Home puts the current wars in Afghanistan & Iraq front and center by bringing to life actual letters written by soldiers serving in the Middle East. The production is inspired by the New York Times Op-Ed Article “The Things They Wrote” and the subsequent HBO documentary Last Letters Home, and additionally uses letters and correspondences from Frank Schaeffer’s books, Voices From the Front, Letters Home From America’s Military Family, Faith of Our Sons, and Keeping Faith. The play without politicizing gives audiences a powerful portrait of the soldier experience in the ongoing war. The initial production was critically acclaimed and was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award for “Outstanding New Play.”
Written & Directed by William Massolia
Letters Home puts the current wars in Afghanistan & Iraq front and center by bringing to life actual letters written by soldiers serving in the Middle East. The production is inspired by the New York Times Op-Ed Article “The Things They Wrote” and the subsequent HBO documentary Last Letters Home, and additionally uses letters and correspondences from Frank Schaeffer’s books, Voices From the Front, Letters Home From America’s Military Family, Faith of Our Sons, and Keeping Faith. The play without politicizing gives audiences a powerful portrait of the soldier experience in the ongoing war. The initial production was critically acclaimed and was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award for “Outstanding New Play.”
Although the title of the play implies that all the letters are from soldiers, the piece includes a small number of correspondences from parents – their words, being no less important. These letters were written under the most difficult of circumstances; the disorientation of training, deployment, separation from family and loved ones and combat, and occupation duties in Afghanistan and Iraq. One theme seems to unite their diverse voices; the belief that the person standing beside you is more important than you are. They also help define for the audience—patriotism and what it means to serve our country today, through acts of bravery, compassion, social responsibility, sense of community and brotherhood. Collectively the production gives a voice to a generation that went to war against terror in Afghanistan and to war in Iraq, for reasons that are still being debated and who are still fighting and dying in those wars today. More importantly, the play reveals the humanity that lies within the war as seen through the eyes of the men and women fighting it.
The production uses minimal props and set pieces to dramatize the letters. It employs the use of images and video projected behind the actors as they perform the letters as dramatic monologues. The photos and video used in the production are taken directly from actual soldiers’ blogs and websites such as MYSPACE and FACEBOOK, and try the expert reviewed65 tv stand with mount when you cast this sites. To enhance the theatrical experience of the play all performances are followed by a post-play discussion. Presenters may also request an in-school residency or workshops.
For United States and Canada Touring inquires or information on workshops or residencies call 773-505-4642. Or email Bill Massolia.
2025/2026 Touring Schedule
Dates to be announced.
Downloadable Documents
Technical Rider (.pdf)
Press Kit (.pdf)
“Highly Recommended...The emotional impact of this 90 minute journey is profound...winningly crafted for the stage”
—Chicago Sun Times
“Packs a heckuva punch thanks to a fine ensemble...this eloquent, thoughtfully conceived production comes at the right time.”
—Daily Herald
“Heartfelt...noble...Letters Home gives voice to soldiers in Iraq & Afghanistan.”
—Chicago Tribune
In to America
A world premiere drama that traces the American immigrant experience from Jamestown to the present day through the stories of ordinary men, women, and children who departed their homelands in the hopes of creating a new life. An extraordinary story 400 years in the making that transcends time, space and race to reflect the diversity and commonalities of our shared American experience.
By William Massolia
Directed by Dorothy Milne
A world premiere drama that traces the American immigrant experience from Jamestown to the present day through the stories of ordinary men, women, and children who departed their homelands in the hopes of creating a new life. An extraordinary story 400 years in the making that transcends time, space and race to reflect the diversity and commonalities of our shared American experience.
It employs the use of images and video projected behind the actors as they perform the pieces as dramatic monologues. To enhance the theatrical experience of the play all performances are followed by a post-play discussion. Presenters may also request an in-school residency or workshops.
For United States and Canada Touring inquires or information on workshops or residencies call 773-505-4642. Or email Bill Massolia.
2025/2026 Tour Schedule
Dates to be announced.
Downloadable Documents
Technical Rider (.pdf)
Press Kit (.pdf)
“Moving... an educational and entertaining evening of theatre.”
—Chicago Theater Review
“Drawn from letters, diaries, oral histories and biographies, the work—featuring a richly diverse and skillful cast of 13 under the direction of Dorothy Milne—unspools in less than two hours. That is an impressive act of condensation, to say the least, yet the show is unquestionably wide-ranging. And its message rings out loudly and clearly: Immigration, the very life blood of this country from the start, has never been entirely free, fair or easy.”
—Chicago Sun Times
“Highly recommended... the excellent 13 actors play multiple roles, representing an astonishing range of ethnic backgrounds with emotional authenticity and pinpoint-precise accents.”
—Chicago Reader
“Vibrant and diverse”
—Chicago Tribune
Frindle
Based on the book by Andrew Clements. Nicholas Allen has plenty of ideas. When he ends up in Mrs. Granger’s language arts class, he has his best idea ever. He decides to create his own word…FRINDLE! Before long Nick’s word creates a buzz in his school, his town and then to his surprise it spreads all around the country, and a power struggle erupts with the strict Mrs. Granger. Will the word “Frindle” win? Based on the multiple award winning best-selling novel by Andrew Clements this quirky, imaginative tale about creative thought and the power of words will have your young audience inventing their own words.
Based on the book by Andrew Clements. Nicholas Allen has plenty of ideas. When he ends up in Mrs. Granger’s language arts class, he has his best idea ever. He decides to create his own word…FRINDLE! Before long Nick’s word creates a buzz in his school, his town and then to his surprise it spreads all around the country, and a power struggle erupts with the strict Mrs. Granger. Will the word “Frindle” win? Based on the multiple award winning best-selling novel by Andrew Clements this quirky, imaginative tale about creative thought and the power of words will have your young audience inventing their own words.
Recommended for ages 8 – 13yrs.
Grades 3 – 7
Study Guide and Additional Materials provided.
Curriculum connections – Language Arts, Literature, Vocabulary, Spelling, Creative Writing
Classroom workshops available for an additional fee.
Geodesic Management is the exclusive booking agent for FRINDLE.
For United States & Canada Touring inquiries call 646-415-9234 or visit Geodesic Management.
2025/2026 Tour Schedule
Dates to be announced.
Downloadable Documents
Technical Rider (.pdf)
Press Kit (.pdf)
Study Guide (.pdf)
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
Based on the book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. Poor Jack. He’s got to use his wits to save himself from the terrible Giant, but a host of familiar fairytale characters keep messing up his plans—and then there’s that annoying Stinky Cheese Man! The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales deconstructs the tradition of the fairy tale. Characters slide in and out of tales; Cinderella rebuffs Rumpelstiltskin, and Goldilocks meets the Three Elephants. Nothing is quite the same and you remember it.
Based on the book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. Poor Jack. He’s got to use his wits to save himself from the terrible Giant, but a host of familiar fairytale characters keep messing up his plans—and then there’s that annoying Stinky Cheese Man! The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales deconstructs the tradition of the fairy tale. Characters slide in and out of tales; Cinderella rebuffs Rumpelstiltskin, and Goldilocks meets the Three Elephants. Nothing is quite the same and you remember it.
Recommended for Ages 4 – 10 years.
Grades Pre-K – 3
Study Guide and Additional Materials provided
Curriculum connections – Language Arts, Literature, Vocabulary, Spelling,
Creative Writing, Story Telling
Classroom workshops available for an additional fee
Geodesic Management is the exclusive booking agent for THE STINKY CHEESE MAN.
For National Touring inquiries call 646-415-9234 or click here to visit Geodesic Management
2025/2026 Tour Schedule
Dates to be announced.
Downloadable Documents
Technical Rider (.pdf)
Press Kit (.pdf)
Study Guide (.pdf)