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Jean Grillo, a Tribeca resident for the last few decades, has been a neighborhood activist, a member of the Community Board, a founder of the post-911 Tribeca CERT. She also served as the elected Democratic District Leader from 2005-2015. She’s active with the Tribeca Alliance Partnership, a group supporting small local businesses, and she writes.
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Jean Bergantini Grillo
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In 2004, Jean received an HB Studio Theatre Virginia Woods playwriting scholarship, which launched her playwriting career.
Over the years, her plays have included
That Afternoon at Frank Campbell’s,
Drive by Duet, The Office, Blow by Blow, and more recently, Off to the Races, The Waiting Room Plays, and By the Book .
Her latest work, CRADLE, is the playwright’s first presentation at The Strawberry Festival.
CRADLE is about a 16-year-old young Muslim girl living in London in 2017 who becomes infatuated with ISIS and is determined to run away and join them. Her immigrant mother, determined to assimilate, is stunned by her daughter ‘s actions and will do anything to stop her.
Ms. Grillo explains, “CRADLE is a work of fiction based on real people and real lives that captured my heart over a two-year period, both as a mother and a playwright. When I read about the three young British girls who ran away and did join ISIS, I knew I had to research their story. As always, there are never black and white answers.”
There will be three performances: Friday, March 22; Saturday, March 23; and Sunday, March 24; as part of the Strawberry Theatre Festival at Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th St. Click here for more info and tickets.