UG Digital Mag: The good thing is that the relevance in the subject matter never goes stale. You can always come back to it and
do it again.
Tisha Griffith: I did get a lot of good feedback in 2014. A lot of
people at that show stayed afterwards, and recommended the
play be done in high schools.
UG Digital Mag: Especially with the subject matter and it being
about HIV, it actually would fit well in high schools.
Tisha Griffith: I agree. A lot of my plays have comedy, but this is
more serious subject matter. “The Death of a Butterfly” is more
serious, so as I grow in my writing, I hit on more serious topics
affecting the community. I’m happy with the growth of that.
UG Digital Mag: Talk a little more about T-Griff Productions, and
what more is to come?
Tisha Griffith: Well, I also launched a film company last year,
called Noir Diamond Films. I wrote two short films. One of those
will be filming in Columbus Ohio this summer. I really want to get
into sending my work to different film festivals. I want to continue
working in the arts, entertainment, and with different actors. It’s
another branch of my company that I am venturing out into.
UG Digital Mag: I think it’s great. Coincidentally, I’ve done a few
things with GCUFF here in Cleveland, and they’re always looking
for new films.
Tisha Griffith: That is awesome. By September, I’ll definitely be
ready to go with my short film. Preparing for that is very exciting.
Film is something I’m excited about, but my first love is theater
because there’s nothing like being in the moment. I remember
we were doing “Inconvenient Truth”, and there was a scene
where someone had to pick up a cellphone and make a call. The
cellphone was not on the set, so my actor used her hand as her
phone. The audience cracked up, and it’s just that thing in the
moment. You can’t yell cut and start over. That’s what I love about
theater; being able to connect with the audience, and they can
be a part of what you’re doing.
UG Digital Mag: What are you most proud of about your journey?
Tisha Griffith: A lot of people will tell me how awesome I am, and
I’m very humbled by that. I’m like I’m alright, I written a couple
plays, but when I think about it, I’ve written three original stage
plays. Every year, I do at least three. I’ve given so many people
opportunities to do what they love to do. I’ve had both successes
and failures, but none of that has deterred me from what I love
and what I’m passionate about. A lot of people give up, but I
admire my tenacity. The things I have come through trying to do
what I love shows because the people who stick by me sew into
that vision. They know I will keep going until we make it. In 2010,
I got really sick and they thought I had cancer. I was rushed to
the hospital and was there for ten days. They couldn’t figure out
what was happening with my white blood cells. The stage play
was a week away. I’m in the hospital room skyping my rehearsals. The first day, they thought my appendix had ruptured. This
was while I was at rehearsal. I looked the doctor in the eye and
said do what you need, but my rehearsal is tomorrow at 3. He
laughed, because I didn’t know the severity. I had a show to do.
The day before the show, I checked myself out of the hospital
against their judgment. They said I needed to come back following the show, and I said that’s fine, but I have a show to do. That
speaks to my passion. It’s life or death to me. There is nothing
other than me doing what I’m doing right now. It needs to have a
God-given purpose. There’s no alternative. People see that and
call me a hustler, or the female Tyler Perry, but by any means
necessary we will be successful and that’s just it. There’s no
alternative.
UG Digital Mag: It shows your love for the craft though.
Tisha Griffith: Yes, and I have to tell my actors all the time. They
don’t get paid their worth, and they are awesome, but they don’t
get paid their worth. There are people in Hollywood that are A
and B list actors who are looking for work. You have to crawl
before you walk. Should we be making lots of money? Yes! But
you have to start somewhere, and your experience gives you
that trustworthiness when people come to the show. You have
the right to speak and say I must be heard, but look at all I’ve
done up until now? I’ve earned it, and that’s why they stick with
me. They do this because they are passionate. They are just as
passionate as I am.
UG Digital Mag: What is that one thing you want to leave readers
with?
Tisha Griffith: When you come to my show, and you spend money, we will give you a show. Just like you get a show with Tyler
Perry, we will give you a show when you see us. You may fall
out of your chair laughing, and you will go through different
emotions. I believe in connecting with the audience. It’s not just
a play, it is an experience. I have my live music, and my band.
I have my set, and I believe in providing that full package. The
economy is not all that great that you just have money to blow.
If you support me, you’ll get the best show you can get as if you
were seeing Tyler Perry, because I am the female Tyler Perry. +