writing/acting/directing
Blake’s performance resume includes threatre, musical theatre, performance art, and film. He has written for film and stage, creating works that live between realism and absurd.
Blake’s filmed works include a three-part series, Let’s Look, codirected with Nick Beardslee. His latest short film, Throckadacia, premiered at NewFest and Picture Farm Film Festival in 2023. He appears in Beardslee’s Bird in Hand, which premiered at NewFest 2022 and at Short of the Week.
Live performance works include Blake Griffey Sings ‘Barabara Cook Sings Mostly Sondheim’ or the Four Seasons or Blue Sunset (2019, Ann Arbor) and with a gentleness, which premiered in June 2022 at High Line Nine Galleries and Chelsea and was brought back in June 2023 at Seven House Gallery in Brooklyn. Noted theatre roles include Ernst Ludwig (Cabaret), Monsignor O’Hara (Sister Act), and Tom Watson (Parade). He performed in the debut of Matt Kunkel and Adam Quinn’s Twist at the University of Michigan.
His stage management work includes a reading of Death of Salesman starring Alec Baldwin, the performance piece Untitled at Andy Arts in Detroit, and Juliet at Theatre Y in Chicago.
Throckadacia
Sterling and his roommate begin their variety talk show when an unexpected visitor arrives— their mutual crush who they discover they have both been seeing. But, the show must go on. Blake stars, directed, and wrote the short. Featuring Jo Ellen Pellman and Derek Kastner; DP Nick Beardslee. Official selection: Newfest + Picture Farm Film Festivals
with a gentleness
with a gentleness premiered June 12th at High Line Nine Galleries in New York City, and was brought back June 2023 at Seven House Gallery. Through dance, poetry, song, and audience discussion, the production explored feelings of longing, learning to cope with what feels impossible, and navigating conflicting feelings; how can one stay gentle through difficulties. This was Blake’s New York debut.
Let’s Look
Let’s Look with Blake Griffey premiered December 10th, 2021. A three-part mini series, the show is a collage of design, dance, poetry, and song. In all its flippancy, it is a thoughtful expression of joy.
Blake Griffey Sings…
In an effort to combine high and low and performed and visual art, Blake created Blake Griffey Sings Barbara Cooks Sings Mostly Sondheim or The Four Seasons or Blue Sunset. The piece debuted at the University of Michigan in March of 2019. What happens when Carrie Mae Weems, Dolly Parton, internet memes, and humorous poetry are put in conversation?
