Tom Griffin News

Pioneer Theatre Company presents Oliver!, the award-winning musical by Lionel Bart inspired by the orphan's tale, Oliver Twist, written by Charles Dickens. Oliver! runs December 2 to December 17, 2016.

Blackfriars Theatre continues its 2016-2017 season with Tom Griffin's The Boys Next Door, a touching play that straddles the line between comedy and drama as it tells a story about young men with intellectual or developmental disabilities living in a community residence.  

Experience the enormously popular animated feature The TRANSFORMERS – THE MOVIE like never before! In celebration of the film's 30th anniversary, The TRANSFORMERS – THE MOVIE has been meticulously restored and remastered

The Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis (A&E) has announced the 2017 St. Louis Arts Awards honorees.

Firehouse Theater Company presents 'The Boys Next Door' May 14 through June 11 at the John Hand Theater/Colorado Free University, 7653 East First Place in Lowry. Performances are on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m.  Tickets are $22 Adult; $20 for Students/Seniors and are available by calling 303-562-3232 or on line at www.firehousetheatercompany.com.

ARLINGTON, VA(Marketwired - Feb 8, 2016) - The Renaissance Arlington Capital View luxury hotel in Virginia is honored to announce its reception of Virginia Green Travel Star's Green Hotel of the Year Award. This award celebrates the hotel's exceptional initiatives and efforts in reducing the environmental impact of its practices and operations. The esteemed award was presented at the third annual Virginia Green Travel Conference and Travel Star Awards Celebration in Arlington, Virginia. During the awards ceremony, 21 tourism businesses were recognized for their significant efforts in eco-friendly practices.

Given the politically correct societal norms of the current day, it is refreshing to see Tom Griffin's THE BOYS NEXT DOOR come to life. Making their directorial debut during The City Theatre's 10th anniversary season, co-directors Lacey Cannon Gonzales and husband Carl Gonzales capture the highs and lows experienced by a collection of lively characters with intellectual disabilities. The love between this group of misfits is unseen by most audiences. With the honesty presented regarding the character's disabilities, one could potentially feel uncomfortable. No such feeling is present during this rendition. The care and love the company took in presenting this piece in a raw and honest way was highly impressive. By allowing us to peek into the lives of Arnold (Heath Thompson), Norman (R. Michael Clinkscales), Lucien (McArthur Moore) and Barry (Tony Salinas), the characters impediments bring a roller coaster of heart-warming laughter and heart-breaking sighs, letting you laugh without guilt, and cry without pity.

Four men, nine boxes of Wheaties, one Spiderman tie, a thousand doughnuts, and a lot of heart! The City Theatre presents the 2016 season kick-off production of Tom Griffin's hilarious, yet heartwarming comedy, THE BOYS NEXT DOOR.

Four men, nine boxes of Wheaties, one Spiderman tie, a thousand doughnuts, and a lot of heart! The City Theatre presents the 2016 season kick-off production of Tom Griffin's hilarious, yet heartwarming comedy, THE BOYS NEXT DOOR.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the premiere musical event It Happened One Christmas, tonight, December 4 through December 19, 2015.   

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the premiere musical event It Happened One Christmas, December 4 through December 19, 2015.   

"We are not old, we're experienced," chuckled Jon H. Prince, third generation owner of the internet's oldest wholesale candy store, "I recently stumbled upon a 58 year old article by the now defunct Welch Candy Company highlighting our early history and it dawned on me that we have offered many candies long before they were considered retro or before they were acquired by major brands such as Hershey, Mars or Tootsie Roll Industries."

Portland Players has mounted a sensitive and thought-provoking production of Tom Griffin's 1988 play, Boys Next Door, about four colorful residents of a group communal home and their social worker. Griffin's work deals perceptively and sympathetically with the limitations and hopes of his characters, their skewed realities and their often hilarious interactions. In the person of Jack, the burned-out, yet compassionate counselor, the playwright is able to help the audience gain insight into the world of these mentally challenged adults and to appreciate their humanity.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the Tony Award-winning play Peter and the Starcatcher tonight, December 5 through December 20, 2014.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the Tony Award-winning play Peter and the Starcatcher, December 5 through December 20, 2014.

Towne Centre Theatre presents The Boys Next Door by Tom Griffin, directed by Leslie Marberry. Opening April 24-May 10, 2014. 8:00 PM on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 2:30 PM on Sundays.

Whether at their best or worst, Erica and Ben are always honest and authentic, and that honesty and authenticity is what The Boys Next Door revolves around. As Tom Griffin's outstanding text requires that 'normal' actors play the four central roles, getting that sense of honesty is tough. The actors must show how quirky and unique these men are but must keep the characters from becoming offensive caricatures.