DINE OUT FOR THE GRIFFIN

A Griffin Theatre Company Benefit
to Benefit the New Griffin Arts Center

Thursday, February 28, 2013 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Brasserie 54 by LM, 5420 N. Clark St. in Chicago

Reservations are recommended. To make your reservation call (773) 334-9463. www.brasserie54.com

The first DINE OUT FOR GRIFFIN THEATRE is fast approaching!

The Griffin Theatre has launched its NEXT STAGE Capital Campaign to fund the renovation of the old 1930’s Foster Police Station in the Bowmanville neighborhood (1940 W. Foster Ave.) and transform it into the Griffin Arts Center which will eventually house two theaters.

You can help just by coming out and having dinner at one of the great local restaurants near the future Arts Center, Brasserie 54 by LM, 5420 N. Clark St.

On Thursday, February 28th they’ll be offering a 3-course Prix Fixe Menu for $25. $5 of every Prix Fixe Menu will be donated to the Griffin Capital Campaign. It’s that simple!

Here’s a great chance to finally try the wonderful French cuisine of Brasserie 54 and support the Griffin Theatre all at the same time!

Reservations are recommended. To make your reservation call (773) 334-9463. www.brasserie54.com

A Griffin Theatre Company Benefit
A Behind the Scenes Look at FLARE PATH

Wednesday, February 6, 2012 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
The Griffin Studio Space, 3711 North Ravenswood Ave. Suite 145, in Chicago

Ticket Price

$20 per person (food & drink included)

Join us for a behind the scenes look at the creation of the Griffin’s hit and critically acclaimed production of FLARE PATH. A play that combines romance, history and unforgettable characters created by one of the world’s most celebrated playwrights. Meet and engage in a lively conversation with director, Robin Witt, the designers and cast members who together bring to life the world of Terence Rattigan’s World War II Britain. The evening includes, food, drink and great company. Don’t miss it. Order your tickets today.

Purchase tickets online by clicking below or call (773) 769-2228, ext. 1 and make your reservation now. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.

Due to the size of the venue, space is limited for this special event, so get your tickets now!

A Griffin Theatre Company Benefit
A Behind the Scenes Look at THE BURNT PART BOYS

Friday, October 19, 2012 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
The Griffin Studio Space, 3711 North Ravenswood Ave. Suite 145, in Chicago

Ticket Price

$30 per person

What does it take to create a production like THE BURNT PART BOYS? And how do you create a rural coal mining town, circa 1962? We would love to share that process with you at a special “Behind the Scenes” event. The evening includes a lively conversation with Director Jonathan Berry, the team of designers, and musical numbers performed by the actors from the production, lead by Music Director Nicholas Davio. Enjoy delicious food and an open bar of beer and wine.

Purchase tickets online by clicking below or call (773) 769-2228, ext. 1 and make your reservation now. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.

Due to the size of the venue, space is limited for this special event, so get your tickets now!

The production adapted by Artistic Director, William Massolia and directed by ensemble member, Kevin Kingston puts the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan front and center by bringing to life actual letters written by troops serving in the Middle East. Since its original run at the Chicago Cultural Center in January 2007 the production has become one of the most sought after national touring shows and has received critical acclaim throughout the United States. The production has been seen by over 75,000 people in 45 major US cities.

The upcoming 2012/2013 tour includes stops in Oklahoma, Arkansas, New York, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Iowa, Florida, Nevada and Arizona. The tour will kick off on October 11, 2012 in Newnan, Georgia just south of Atlanta. On Veteran’s Day, (November 11, 2012) the production will be performed in Fayetteville, Arkansas at the Walton Center for the Performing Arts. The venue, named after Wallmart founder, Sam Walton is located in the city where the major retailer is based.

The current cast includes, Michael Bartz, Liz Cloud, Damian Conrad-Davis, Cameron Harms, Jon Harrison, Curtis Jackson, Tim Martin, Sean McGill, Leah Raidt & Jessica Dean Turner.

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 wars.

Although the title of the play implies that all the letters are from soldiers, the production chooses to include 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 and reveals the humanity that lies within the war as seen through the eyes of the men and women fighting it.

TOURING SCHEDULE

October 10-11, 2012 – Center for the Performing Arts, Newnan, Georgia
October 13, 2012 – Florissant Civic Center, Florissant, Missouri
October 23, 2012 – University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa
October 24 – 25, 2012 – Metropolis Performing Arts Center, Arlington Heights, Illinois
October 26, 2012 – Cottey College, Nevada, Missouri
October 27, 2012 – Blue Springs, Missouri
October 30, 2012 – Higley Center for the Performing Arts, Higley, Arizona
November 1, 2012 – Tabor Academy, Marion Massachusetts
November 2, 2012 – Nazareth College, Rochester, New York
November 3 – 4, 2012 – The Firehouse Theater, Johnson City, New York
November 7, 2012 – The King Center for the Performing Arts, Melbourne, Florida
November 8, 2012 – Morganton Civic Center, Morganton, North Carolina
November 9, 0212 – Madison Cultural Center, Madison, Georgia
November 11- 13, 2012 – The Walton Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas
November 16, 2012 – Robson Performing Arts Center, Claremore, Oklahoma
February 27 – March 3, 2013 – The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, Las Vegas, Nevada
March 20 -21, 2013 – Keene College, Keene, New Hampshire
March 22 – 23, 2013 – St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa
May 7 – 8, 2013 – Gallo Center for the Performing Arts, Modesto, California

The Griffin Theatre Company is partially supported by grants from a CityArts Program II grant through the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs; and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

THE BURNT PART BOYS

The Griffin will kick off its 2012/2013 season with the Midwest Premiere of the acclaimed musical THE BURNT PART BOYS (November 3 – December 22, 2012). The musical last produced at Playwrights Horizon’s with a book by Mariana Elder, music by Chris Miller and Lyrics by Nathan Tysen will be directed by Ensemble member Jonathan Berry with musical direction by Nicholas Davio. Tickets are on sale now by calling the Theater Wit box office at (773) 975-8150.

THE BURNT PART BOYS takes place in Rural West Virginia, 1962. A young boy and his older brother try and come to terms with their past so they can move ahead to the future. With a group of friends, they embark on a life-altering journey to the coalmine that took their father’s life. Nominated for the 2011 Lucille Lortel Award for Best New Musical and a finalist for the 2006 American Theatre Critics New Play Award this bluegrass and pop-inspired musical looks at the power of family bonds and friendship that unite us and the importance and need to understand.

Griffin ensemble member Morgan Maher is joined by Paul Fagen, Jared Fernley, Hannah Kahn, Johnny Moran, Alex Stage & Mike Tepeli. Making their professional debuts in the production are teenagers Charlie Fox and Max Zuppa as the two young boys who make the life-altering journey up the mountain.

FLARE PATH

Following in mid-winter will be the rare revival of Terence Rattigan’s World War II love story, FLARE PATH (January 5 – February 24, 2013). The production directed by ensemble member Robin Witt will be the first known production of Rattigan’s play in Chicago. Based on Rattigan’s own wartime experiences as a member of the RAF (Royal Air Force) FLARE PATH is a deeply moving portrait of people in love and at war in 1942 Briton.
Ensemble members and Jeff Award winners Joey deBettencourt and Vanessa Greenway are joined by Connor Culpepper, Paul Dunckel, Matt Farabee, Gabe Franken, Andy Gwyn, Darci Nalepa, Lauren Pizzi, Mary Poole & Dylan Stuckey.
Both productions are being performed at Theater Wit, 1229 West Belmont Avenue in Chicago and tickets may be purchased by calling the Theater Wit box office at (773) 975-8150.