Ashley Griffin
"If this show were on Broadway it would win the Pulitzer."
A young woman waiting for her own judgment in the bureaucratic system of the afterlife finds herself in the role of judge and jury to determine the eternal fate of the man responsible for her death. Inspired by a true story.
Trial had its premier workshop at The American Theater of Actors, directed by Lori Petty and produced by the THML theater company. It has been developed at Broadway's Manhattan Theater Club and presented at the Tilles Center. Actors who have been a part of the show include Finn Wittrock (American Horror Story,) Tony winner Oona Laurence (Matilda,) Tony nominees Geneva Carr (Hand to God,) and Xanthe Elbrick (Coram Boy,) Steve Hauck (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,) and more.
In 2019 creator Ashley Griffin and director Lori Petty received the WellLife Network Award for their work on the show and its advocacy impact.
Trial had a developmental reading at Broadway's Manhattan Theater Club Thursday in 2016 directed by Lori Petty (Orange is the New Black, A League of Their Own, Poker House) and featuring Geneva Carr (Tony Nomination - Hand to God,) Oona Laurence (Tony Award - Matilda, Southpaw,) Xanthe Elbrick (Tony Nomination - Coram Boy,) Steve Hauck (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,) Jillian Louis (It Shoulda Been You,) Ryan McCurdy (Once,) Ray Virta (Therese Raquin,) and Ryan Clardy (One Life To Live.)
 TRIAL at the Tilles CenterMalcolm Stephenson (Richard,) Ashley Griffin (Arcadia) and Ryan Clardy (Valentine.) Photo by Micah Joel |
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 TRIAL at the Tilles CenterMalcolm Stephenson (Richard) and Ashley Griffin (Arcadia.) Photo by Micah Joel |
 TRIAL at the Tilles CenterRyan Clardy (Valentine,) Ashley Griffin (Arcadia) and Steve Hauck (Mr. Olin.) Photo by Micah Joel |
 TRIAL at the Tilles CenterAshley Griffin (Arcadia.) Photo by Micah Joel |
 TRIAL at the Tilles CenterAshley Griffin (Arcadia.) Photo by Micah Joel |
 TRIAL at the Tilles CenterJete Laurence (Young Arcadia/Young Richard,) Ashley Griffin (Arcadia) and Ryan Clardy (Valentine.) Photo by Micah Joel |
 TRIAL at the Tilles CenterAshley Griffin (Arcadia,) and Steve Hauck (Mr. Olin.) Photo by Micah Joel |
 TRIAL at the Tilles CenterShereen Hickman (Margaret,) and Ashley Griffin (Arcadia.) Photo by Micah Joel |
 TRIAL at the Tilles CenterShereen Hickman (Margaret,) Malcolm Stephenson (Richard) and Ashley Griffin (Arcadia.) Photo by Micah Joel |
 TRIAL at the Tilles CenterAshley Griffin (Arcadia,) Steve Hauck (Mr. Olin) and Ryan Clardy (Valentine.) Photo by Micah Joel |
 TRIAL at the Tilles CenterAshley Griffin (Arcadia) and Steve Hauck (Mr. Lewis/Mr. Olin.) Photo by Micah Joel |
 TRIAL at the Tilles CenterMalcolm Stephenson (Richard.) Photo by Micah Joel |
 TRIAL at the Tilles CenterShereen Hickman (Margaret,) and Ashley Griffin (Arcadia.) Photo by Micah Joel |
 TRIAL at the Tilles CenterJennifer Regan (Lucy) and Ashley Griffin (Arcadia.) Photo by Micah Joel |
 TRIAL Production Photos - ATAAshley Griffin as Arcadia, George Drance as Mr. Olin, and Ryan Clardy as Valentine. Directed by Lori Petty. Photo by Brian Long. |
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 TRIAL Production Photos - ATARyan Clardy as Valentine and Ashley Griffin as Arcadia. Directed by Lori Petty. Photo by Brian Long. |
 TRIAL Production Photos - ATAGisela Adisa as Lucy and Ashley Griffin as Arcadia. Directed by Lori Petty. Photo by Brian Long. |
 TRIAL Production Photos - ATARyan Clardy as Valentine and Ashley Griffin as Arcadia. Directed by Lori Petty. Photos by Brian Long. |
 TRIAL Production Photos - ATAAshley Griffin as Arcadia. Directed by Lori Petty. Photo by Brian Long. |
 TRIAL Production Photos - ATARyan Clardy as Valentine and Ashley Griffin as Arcadia. Directed by Lori Petty. Photo by Brian Long. |
 TRIAL Production Photos - ATAMalcolm Stephenson as Richard and Jennifer Bareilles as Margaret. Directed by Lori Petty. Photo by Brian Long. |
 TRIAL Production Photos - ATAMalcolm Stephenson as Richard and Gisela Adisa as Lucy. Directed by Lori Petty. Photo by Brian Long. |
 TRIAL Production Photos - ATAJennifer Bareilles as Margaret and Ashley Griffin as Arcadia. Directed by Lori Petty. Photo by Brian Long. |
 TRIAL Production Photos - ATAAshley Griffin as Arcadia. "Chair" as "Wiiiilllllsssooon!" Directed by Lori Petty, Assistant Director Madeline O'Hara (Pictured.) Photo by Brian Long. |
 TRIAL Production Photos - ATAAshley Griffin as Arcadia and George Drance as Mr. Olin. Directed by Lori Petty. Photo by Brian Long. |
 TRIAL Production Photos - ATAGeorge Drance as Mr. Olin. Directed by Lori Petty. Photo by Brian Long. |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - Tilles CenterCreator Ashley Griffin and Director Lori Petty |
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 TRIAL Rehearsal - Tilles CenterCreator Ashley Griffin, Director Lori Petty and Assistant Director Madeline O'Hara. Photo by Micah Joel |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - Tilles CenterShereen Hickman (Margaret,) Jennifer Regan (Lucy,) Ashley Griffin (Arcadia,) Malcolm Stephenson (Richard) and Steve Hauck (Mr. Olin.) Photo by Micah Joel |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - ATAValentine (Ryan Clardy) and Arcadia (Ashley Griffin,) Directed by Lori Petty, Photo by Dave Mack |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - ATAValentine (Ryan Clardy) and Arcadia (Ashley Griffin,) Directed by Lori Petty, Photo by Dave Mack |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - ATALori Petty directs George Drance (Mr. Olin) and Ashley Griffin (Arcadia,) Photo by Dave Mack |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - ATAArcadia (Ashley Griffin,) Richard (Malcolm Stephenson,) Lucy (Gisela Adisa,) and Valentine (Ryan Clardy) with Director Lori Petty, Photo by Dave Mack |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - ATARichard (Malcolm Stephenson) and Valentine (Ryan Clardy,) Directed by Lori Petty, Photo by Dave Mack |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - ATALori Petty directs Ryan Clardy (Valentine) and Ashley Griffin (Arcadia,) Photo by Dave Mack |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - ATALori Petty directs Gisela Adisa (Lucy,) Ashley Griffin (Arcadia,) Ryan Clardy (Valentine) and George Drance (Mr. Olin,) Photo by Dave Mack |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - ATARichard (Malcolm Stephenson) and Young Arcadia (Jete Laurence,) Directed by Lori Petty, Photo by Dave Mack |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - ATAArcadia (Ashley Griffin,) Richard (Malcolm Stephenson,) Lucy (Gisela Adisa) and Valentine (Ryan Clardy,) Directed by Lori Petty Photo by Dave Mack |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - ATAMargaret (Jenny Bareilles,) Mr. Olin (George Drance,) Arcadia (Ashley Griffin,) Lucy (Gisela Adisa) and Valentine (Ryan Clardy,) Directed by Lori Petty, Photo by Dave Mack |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - ATAValentine (Ryan Clardy) and Arcadia (Ashley Griffin,) Directed by Lori Petty, Photo by Dave Mack |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - ATAArcadia (Ashley Griffin,) and Valentine (Ryan Clardy,) Directed by Lori Petty, Photo by Dave Mack |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - ATALori Petty directs Gisela Adisa (Lucy,) Photo by Dave Mack |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - ATALucy (Gisela Adisa,) Valentine (Ryan Clardy,) Richard (Malcolm Stephenson) and Arcadia (Ashley Griffin,) Directed by Lori Petty, Photo by Dave Mack |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - ATALori Petty directs Ashley Griffin (Arcadia,) Malcolm Stephenson (Richard,) Gisela Adisa (Lucy) and Ryan Clardy (Valentine,) Photo by Dave Mack |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - ATALori Petty directs Malcolm Stephenson (Richard,) Gisela Adisa (Lucy,) Jete Laurence (Young Arcadia,) Ryan Clardy (Valentine,) and Ashley Griffin (Young Arcadia,) Photo by Dave Mack |
 TRIAL Rehearsal - ATALori Petty directs Jenny Bareilles (Woman,) Gisela Adisa (Lucy,) Ryan Clardy (Valentine,) and Ashley Griffin (Arcadia,) Photo by Dave Mack |
Trial reading at Manhattan Theater Club, directed by Lori Petty.
TRIAL was featured in Megan Besler's best selling book, "I Will Not Be Silenced"
"Last night was one of the purest, most freeing moments of my life. I've never felt so empowered...than I did last night watching (TRIAL.)...When this play opened...I wanted to make it to New York so bad because of the story behind it...I knew I had to go no matter what...Last night was that play. I got so moved by these situations that by the end of the play I was in tears...because it truly was SO heavy to hear. It touched me so deeply and (Ashley Griffin's) speech afterward...it felt like she was speaking right to me...I needed this night more than I can ever explain." - Megan Besler, "I Will Not Be Silenced"
TRIAL was featured with Common Ground Theatre Company in 2021. Check out the video of the talkback about the show.