The Griffin is a one-of-a-kind performance venue with an inherent theatricality and dynamism. Crafted plywood panels frame the proscenium and wrap around the balcony front, creating a ceiling under the lighting bridges above the audience. Each wood panel is stained a deep chocolate brown that fades to black as the lights come down on the audience. The panels are acoustically engineered to fill the house with full, clear, and rich sound.
Modeled after a miniature opera house, The Griffin features boxes so close to the stage audience members can almost reach out and touch the actors. Whether in the orchestra or in the balcony, The Griffin immerses its audience in the world of the play.
The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre was named for Dr. Griffin by her son and daughter-in-law John and Amy Griffin. Dr. Griffin was a prolific scholar and noted educator who was the author of Shakespeare’s Women in Love, among many other books, including one featuring former Signature Playwright-in-Residence Arthur Miller.
