Bringing Stories to Life

For three decades, the student-run Griffin’s Tale theater group has performed original plays, raps, songs and poetry written by students in 20 Chicago-area elementary schools.

Due to the pandemic, Griffin’s Tale canceled its performances — and 30th anniversary celebration plans — last spring. But now the group is ready to go virtual. Junior Kandace Mack, one of the directors, envisions “Sesame Street meets SNL.” The group will adapt stories written by children into skits and create a video that schools can stream. Griffin’s Tale had been interested in expanding its program and now can involve more schools in Chicago and beyond.

Virtual or not, Mack says, the mission remains the same. “The focus is on highlighting creativity.”