Big Broadway Energy with Stephen Riordan and Griffin Spriggs
Season 2, Episode 13, Jun 30, 12:24 PM
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In this episode of Big Broadway Energy with host Stephen Riordan, Griffin Spriggs shares his unique journey from a community theater actor to a professional stage manager. The conversation delves into Griffin’s early acting days, his unexpected introduction to stage management, and his current role as an assistant stage manager on the national tour of Hadestown. Griffin offers insights into the responsibilities and challenges of a stage manager, the dynamics of life on tour, and the importance of community in the arts. The episode concludes with Griffin’s reflections on his career growth and Stephen's encouragement for aspiring artists.
ABOUT GRIFFIN SPRIGGS
Griffin grew up in St Petersburg and started my theatre career in 2010 at St.
Petersburg City Theatre (then St. Petersburg Little Theatre), playing Troy
Bolton in a summer camp production of High School Musical! I quickly
caught the theatre bug and joined every class, education dept. show, and
touring performing group Pizzazz that City Theatre had to offer. I spent
almost every Saturday at the theatre and sometimes weeknights. After
growing out of the education department, Griffin accidently found Stage
Management and after apprenticing at St. Pete City Theatre, he fell in love
with the stage manager role. Griffin attended Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School and majored in
Musical Theatre. After high school. Griffin
decided to attend St Pete College, taking a
break from theatre. I thought I found it in education and transferred to USF St.
Pete to pursue a degree in elementary education; hoping that I could get my
teaching license and go and teach theatre. I transferred back to SPC to finish
my associates after realizing teaching wasn’t for me. I transferred to UF (go
gators) after my completing my AA. Griffin was able to Deck Stage Manage
three productions before graduating in December of 2022. I was
applying for many stage manager jobs on Playbill.com, knowing that I
wouldn’t get any of them, just hoping that I would get my name out there
while continuing to stage manage productions at community theatres like
Eight O’Clock Theatre.
Eventually, a job posting came along for the 2nd National Tour of Hadestown.
This summer I have a 8-week contract in Steamboat Springs at Perry-
Mansfield Summer Camp stage managing for them, before I return to Hadestown to spend another year on the road.
ABOUT GRIFFIN SPRIGGS
Griffin grew up in St Petersburg and started my theatre career in 2010 at St.
Petersburg City Theatre (then St. Petersburg Little Theatre), playing Troy
Bolton in a summer camp production of High School Musical! I quickly
caught the theatre bug and joined every class, education dept. show, and
touring performing group Pizzazz that City Theatre had to offer. I spent
almost every Saturday at the theatre and sometimes weeknights. After
growing out of the education department, Griffin accidently found Stage
Management and after apprenticing at St. Pete City Theatre, he fell in love
with the stage manager role. Griffin attended Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School and majored in
Musical Theatre. After high school. Griffin
decided to attend St Pete College, taking a
break from theatre. I thought I found it in education and transferred to USF St.
Pete to pursue a degree in elementary education; hoping that I could get my
teaching license and go and teach theatre. I transferred back to SPC to finish
my associates after realizing teaching wasn’t for me. I transferred to UF (go
gators) after my completing my AA. Griffin was able to Deck Stage Manage
three productions before graduating in December of 2022. I was
applying for many stage manager jobs on Playbill.com, knowing that I
wouldn’t get any of them, just hoping that I would get my name out there
while continuing to stage manage productions at community theatres like
Eight O’Clock Theatre.
Eventually, a job posting came along for the 2nd National Tour of Hadestown.
This summer I have a 8-week contract in Steamboat Springs at Perry-
Mansfield Summer Camp stage managing for them, before I return to Hadestown to spend another year on the road.