Meet Carlene Griffith | Actress, Author, and Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carlene Griffith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carlene, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
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. I had made enough friends through school, the neighborhood, and church that I could find kids for mine to play with. But I didn’t want to do playdates or trade babysitting as I had done before. I wanted to do something that gave me a sense of purpose, too.

In my research into home-based businesses, I discovered if I got a business license and insurance, I could offer theater classes for kids out of my home. Which is exactly what I did. I opened Griffith Playhouse, and my Kinder theater program was born. A program that taught little ones singing, dance, and acting skills with an opportunity to perform. That summer I taught two sessions of four-week theater classes, giving my mom-friends a three-hour break, my kids’ playmates, me a creative outlet, and a little more cash in my pocket. The kids loved it. Each session had a theme, and all the mini-lessons were geared to the end-of-session performance.

Over the years, the program has evolved. What makes my program so unique from others is that I write original short plays for the kids to perform for their end-of-session recitals. Each play is tailored to participants’ performing skill levels and allows my students to apply what they’ve learned in classes. Today, I contract with my city’s community center, using their space and advertising means to grow classes, as I run classes on and off throughout the year.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As my kids and program have grown, so have my interests in playwriting and children’s book writing. In 2016, when writing my first children’s book, ROSE MAIDELAIDEN, I realized I also had enough written plays to compile into a book of short plays. I called it 10 MINUTE PLAYS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES. So far, I have two volumes published and am currently working on my third, besides writing more children’s books and young adult novels.

With very little effort on my part, these plays are doing very well both domestically and internationally. My plays are being performed in school class productions and throughout local community theaters all over the world. 10 MINUTE PLAYS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES has been translated into Farsi, and one of my plays, TRIP THROUGH TIME, is featured in CJ Fallon’s education publication, MASTER YOUR ENGLISH 6, published in January 2024.

For me, it truly is a source of pride to get calls from teachers, directors, and publishers to want to use my plays, for which I am truly humbled.

As my writing developed and grew, in 2017, I became a member of SCBWI, the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators. Working with this organization has taken my plays and book writing to another level. I have self-published two of the three books in my ROSE MAIDELAIDEN series and have a few short stories and poems published online.

Volunteering with my local SCBWI Southern California chapter, I serve as co-assistant Regional Advisor and Newsletter editor. I get to work with so many talented authors and illustrators all over Southern California. With this organization, I have been able to improve my creativity and use my leadership skills. While attending and taking part in conferences, critique groups, and webinars, I’ve been able to hone my craft as a children’s book author and playwright. The opportunity to help organize conferences and participate in promoting my books through book festivals and in stores has truly improved my quality of life, friendships, and business endeavors. If it weren’t for SCBWI, I never would have had the courage to write a full-length mythology-based Young Adult Novel and a handful of picture books I’m hoping to get representation for and get traditionally published someday.

Performing and writing have always been a way for me to express myself throughout my life, deal with life challenges, and face my fears. I have been blessed by my faith in God and with a family who has helped me to develop my talents throughout my life. However, today my business pursuits and writing dreams would not be possible if it weren’t for my loving husband, Cory Griffith, who encourages and supports me every day.

As my kids leave the nest and my classes continue, I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Griffith Playhouse and for me as an author.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Victorville might be a small town on the outskirts of LA, but it has plenty to do. I could take them shopping at our nice-sized indoor mall, bowling at Victor Bowl, or catch a new movie release at one of our many cinemas nearby. Of course, for dinner, I would take them out to the Inland Empire’s favorite Mexican restaurant, Rosa Maria’s.

If school was in session, I might consider taking them to a dinner theater show at Encore’s High School of the Performing Arts in Hesperia, Victor Valley College, or a theater production at the High Desert Performing Arts Center. Depending on the time of year, I might take them to play in the snow in Wrightwood just 30 minutes up the mountain, or Silverlake to go water skiing, or Lake Arrowhead to hike some trails. The sunsets and night skies are beautiful here for star gazing with cool breezes during the long summer nights.

Of course, we could always brave the traffic and take the quick 3-hour drive to Vegas or a 1-hour drive down the hill to LA to see Broadway shows at the Pantages or Music Center. For a meal, I would stop them at my favorite Jerry’s Famous Deli for some Matza Ball Soup.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Many have contributed to my success over the years. I came from a very performance-oriented family. My grandparents danced for years in USO dance competitions in the 1940s. I have special memories of my grandfather, Dean Davis, playing the piano, writing songs, singing with me, and teaching me dance moves from the time I was little. My grandmother, Jacquline Davis, was a concert violinist and volunteered as a symphony docent instructing children for years. Her influence inspired me to play the flute. My mother, Lynet Field, was a dancer, actress, singer, and director, dragging me along with her rehearsals and concerts. And then, she shuttled me to my classes and auditions from the time I was young until I was an adult and had the privilege of working alongside her. Everything I am, I owe to their influence in my life.

Of course, teachers and instructors from 14 years of dance classes, at the Looking Glass Studios of Drama and Dance, four years of drama and choir at San Bernardino High School, and my two years of acting classes at the Young Actors Space in Van Nuys encouraged me.

Later, as a young single adult, I volunteered as a director and board member for the Fontana Mummers, alongside Billie Williams, a retired theater teacher from Fontana High School, and she was the one who encouraged me to teach acting.

My years of service as Cultural Arts Director for my church organizing large-scale road shows, dance festivals, and holiday programs along with my employment as an education director, singing and acting teacher with CAT of Corona, inspired me to become a playwright and gave me the skills I needed to start my company.

Website: www.carlenegriffith.com or www.griffithplayhouse.com

Instagram: @Cmgriffith123

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlene-griffith-70514b133/

Twitter: @AuthorCGriffith

Facebook: @AuthorCarleneGriffith