Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlene Griffith
Hi Carlene, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As a child, I always wanted to be an actress and work in the Entertainment Industry. I was fortunate that I had a parent who let me do everything I could to pursue that dream. Right out of high school, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. I took classes, did extra work in TV and film, got an agent, and even earned my Screen Actors Guild eligibility. I felt successful. However, I wasn’t working enough to pay the bills. So I took a job working at Disney studios, working behind the scenes. Which I fell in love with more so than acting. It was great. But soon my priorities shifted and my desire for a family outweighed my desire for the spotlight. So, I moved, married, and had kids. It was great, but after a while, I needed something more. I needed something to fill my creative thirst because being a stay-at-home mom wasn’t cutting it.
In 2010, with my oldest son about to finish his first year of kindergarten, two other little ones underfoot, and a husband who traveled for work, I foresaw a brutally hot, lonely summer trying to fill the days with low-cost activities to keep the kids busy and me sane. This led to research into home-based businesses. I discovered that if I got a business license and insurance, I could offer theater classes for kids outside of my home. Which is exactly what I did.
I opened Griffith Playhouse, and my children’s theatrical program was born. A program that taught little ones singing, dance, and acting skills with an opportunity to perform. As my kids grew, so did the program. Today, as the owner-operator of Griffith Playhouse, I provide classes, write and produce short plays, and publish playbooks for kids.
My series 10 MINUTE PLAYS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES is sold internationally. The plays included in my compilations are often licensed by schools, community theaters, private organizations, and educational publishers. 10 MINUTE PLAYS FOR KIDS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES has even been translated into Farsi. Recently, it made #1 on Amazon’s Best Sellers list for theater books for teens and young adults. And I’m thrilled Volume #3 of 10 MINUTE PLAYS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES is in the editing stages now and will come out soon.
Besides my theater and playwriting, I’m also pursuing a professional writing career in children’s literature (PB, MG, and YA Novels) and have independently published a fairy tale series called ROSE MAIDELAIDEN, and a few short story fiction for adults. In that pursuit, I’m very involved with SCBWI, the Society of Children’s Books, Writers, and Illustrators. I act as the co-assistant Regional Advisor for the SoCal Chapter and am the Editor of the Newsletter. SCBWI keeps me very busy with assisting with book signing events, conferences, retreats, and critique groups. I can’t say enough about how much I love SCBWI and all the benefits of this organization.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wouldn’t say it’s been an easy road. For me, it’s been more of a long windy road, and I feel more like the tortoise in the Tortoise and the Hare story. Fortunately, I haven’t needed my business for my survival. My primary focus has been raising my children while my husband has supported us, which is what we both wanted. I’ve had the luxury of taking my time to let my business grow and my writing develop over time, as I’ve watched my children grow. My oldest is now in college, my middle child graduates this year, and my youngest is a freshman. They’re all very self-reliant and independent enough that I can give more attention to both my business and my writing career. I’m very lucky that my husband is a constant encouragement to me as well. Throughout these years, I know I wouldn’t have been able to be where I am if it weren’t for him believing in me. He grounds me as I’m easily distracted by having ADHD. He also knows when to leave me alone so I can stay focused on what I’m doing when I’m in my creative zone.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Griffith Playhouse is growing not only in class productions but also in publications. It is slowly becoming a great resource for clean fun short plays that schools, theater groups, and community theaters can produce license-free (except FOR-PROFIT organizations licensing we charge a minimal fee.) for all kinds of audiences. They never have to worry about content or language that’s inappropriate for school-aged children. And now instead of only doing plays for kids, we are adapting some of the short plays into musicals.
In the future, 10-MINUTE PLAYS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES will include SHORT MUSICALS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES. I’m also tinkering with the idea of having a PLAYWRITING CONTEST for ages 8-18. I want to inspire playwriting and play production in children. The arts are slowly changing, with streaming services and online social media platforms encouraging kids to create more. Not to mention the attention span for today’s youth is so much shorter than it used to be. Short plays are ideal for tapping into that creativity. Someday Griffith Playhouse will have its own front doors with thriving ongoing productions and classes, but until then it’s one play at a time, one book at a time, and soon one musical at a time.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love so much about LA. But mostly the bustling rich creativity and diversity. There is so much art to discover here in so many forms from film, theater, books, food, gaming, and decor. I am, however, very sad about how much change is occurring lately with so many studios leaving because of politics and the cost of production.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carlenegriffith.com
- Instagram: @Cmgriffith123
- Facebook: @AuthorCarleneGriffith
- Twitter: @AuthorCGriffith
- Youtube: @carlenegriffith8920
