Venice Theatre Youth & Education Programs
Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice, FL 34285
About
Venice Theatre Youth & Education Programs includes activities such as the Teen Improv Troupe, The Teenyboppers, Venice Theatre’s Youth Production Company, and Venice Theatre’s Youth Company. Participants take part in theatre productions like Harriet the Spy, Four Old Broadas, and The Grown-Ups, as well as summer student programs. The programs also connect with the Troupe in A Trunk Community Engagement Program and the international theatre festival actWORLDFEST.
• Ages: 14–18 years old
Venice Theatre’s Youth Company creates opportunities for high school age students to develop exceptional and unique portfolio material for college applications. VT’s Youth Company engages students in projects that impact Venice Theatre, with members working as a group to propose the parameters of the project they are interested in doing. VT’s Youth Company focuses on developing collaboration, communication, problem solving, and creativity as 21st century workplace skills. Venice Theatre offers class offerings for ages 5–105 and is recovering and rebuilding the mainstage Jervey Theatre following devastation from Hurricane Ian.
The program’s leadership team includes Sandy Davisson (Director of Education & Community Engagement), Kelly Duyn (Assistant Director of Education & Community Engagement), Brad Wages (Lead Instructor), Tarah Hart (Arts Integration Specialist), Kristofer Geddie (Executive Director), Murray Chase (Interim Artistic Director/Restoration Supervisor), and Michelle Kasanofsky (Resident Music Director). Staff credentials include advanced degrees in theatre, directing, arts administration, and music education, as well as extensive professional performance, directing, teaching, and music directing experience in the United States and internationally. Brad Wages is described as an award-winning actor, director, and choreographer, and Michelle Kasanofsky was selected as Charlotte County’s Teacher of the Year in 2014.
Community involvement includes the Troupe in A Trunk Community Engagement Program, theatre workshops with local schools, clubs, and organizations, and reading to classrooms, sometimes via Zoom, through Embracing Our Differences. Venice Theatre collaborates with other arts education programmers in the area, works with the local Chamber of Commerce, and has hosted the international theatre festival actWORLDFEST four consecutive times. Members of the leadership team serve on committees and boards such as the Ambassador Circle for Embracing Our Differences, the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Access+ committee for Southeastern Theatre Conference, the Florida Theatre Conference, Friends of the Venice Public Library, Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative, Squeaky Wheel Theatre Group, Sarasota County Arts Council, and Venice MainStreet.
On the Teen Improv Troupe event page, the program includes the Charles Dickens quote, “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” Waves Magazine described Four Old Broadas as “laugh-out-loud hysterical, with a whole lot of heart.”
Last updated August 16, 2026.
• Ages: 14–18 years old
Venice Theatre’s Youth Company creates opportunities for high school age students to develop exceptional and unique portfolio material for college applications. VT’s Youth Company engages students in projects that impact Venice Theatre, with members working as a group to propose the parameters of the project they are interested in doing. VT’s Youth Company focuses on developing collaboration, communication, problem solving, and creativity as 21st century workplace skills. Venice Theatre offers class offerings for ages 5–105 and is recovering and rebuilding the mainstage Jervey Theatre following devastation from Hurricane Ian.
The program’s leadership team includes Sandy Davisson (Director of Education & Community Engagement), Kelly Duyn (Assistant Director of Education & Community Engagement), Brad Wages (Lead Instructor), Tarah Hart (Arts Integration Specialist), Kristofer Geddie (Executive Director), Murray Chase (Interim Artistic Director/Restoration Supervisor), and Michelle Kasanofsky (Resident Music Director). Staff credentials include advanced degrees in theatre, directing, arts administration, and music education, as well as extensive professional performance, directing, teaching, and music directing experience in the United States and internationally. Brad Wages is described as an award-winning actor, director, and choreographer, and Michelle Kasanofsky was selected as Charlotte County’s Teacher of the Year in 2014.
Community involvement includes the Troupe in A Trunk Community Engagement Program, theatre workshops with local schools, clubs, and organizations, and reading to classrooms, sometimes via Zoom, through Embracing Our Differences. Venice Theatre collaborates with other arts education programmers in the area, works with the local Chamber of Commerce, and has hosted the international theatre festival actWORLDFEST four consecutive times. Members of the leadership team serve on committees and boards such as the Ambassador Circle for Embracing Our Differences, the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Access+ committee for Southeastern Theatre Conference, the Florida Theatre Conference, Friends of the Venice Public Library, Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative, Squeaky Wheel Theatre Group, Sarasota County Arts Council, and Venice MainStreet.
On the Teen Improv Troupe event page, the program includes the Charles Dickens quote, “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” Waves Magazine described Four Old Broadas as “laugh-out-loud hysterical, with a whole lot of heart.”
Last updated August 16, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.