Venice Theatre Youth Education & Community Engagement Programs
140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice, FL 34285
About
Venice Theatre Youth Education & Community Engagement Programs include theatre workshops, summer student programs, a youth production company, directing shows, and onstage performance. The program also offers reading to classrooms, sometimes via Zoom, and classes for students ages 5-105. VT’s Youth Company projects include work on productions such as The Grown-Ups and other projects that impact Venice Theatre.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
The Education & Community Engagement Department includes programs such as Troupe in A Trunk Community Engagement Program, Venice Theatre’s Youth Production Company, VT’s Youth Company for high school age students, and Pinky's Players: Movies from the Heart. VT’s Youth Company for high school age students creates opportunities to develop exceptional and unique portfolio material for college applications, creates a supportive environment for students to engage in projects that impact Venice Theatre, and develops 21st century workplace skills including collaboration, communication, problem solving, and creativity.
The 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. Sandy Davisson received an M.A. in Theatre History and Criticism from the State University of New York and an MFA in Directing at Florida Atlantic University. Kelly Duyn holds a B.A. in Theatre from the University of Central Florida, has teaching certifications in multiple disciplines, and has a 20-year teaching resume. Brad Wages holds a B.F.A. from the University of Oklahoma and is an award-winning actor, director, and choreographer. Kristofer Geddie holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and an MA in Arts Administration. Michelle Kasanofsky received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston and studied jazz piano there as well as classical piano at Boston University, holds a B.A. cum laude from Dowling College, a Master of Science in Music Education from C. W. Post Long Island University, and an Education Leadership Specialist degree from Nova Southeastern University, and was selected as Charlotte County’s Teacher of the Year in 2014.
Venice Theatre facilitates theatre workshops with local schools, clubs, and organizations and reads to classrooms through Embracing Our Differences. It collaborates with other arts education programmers in the area to bring new arts education opportunities to the community. Staff work with the local Chamber of Commerce and Venice Area Young Professionals. The Executive Director serves on the Ambassador Circle for Embracing Our Differences; the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Access+ committee for Southeastern Theatre Conference; is the treasurer of the Florida Theatre Conference; the Florida State community theatre representative; and is a Board Member of the Friends of the Venice Public Library, Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative, Squeaky Wheel Theatre Group, and President of the American Association of Community Theatre. Venice Theatre has hosted the international theatre festivals aactWorldFest and actWORLDFEST. Venice Theatre Inc. is registered with the state of Florida under registration number CH-4124.
Last updated May 14, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
The Education & Community Engagement Department includes programs such as Troupe in A Trunk Community Engagement Program, Venice Theatre’s Youth Production Company, VT’s Youth Company for high school age students, and Pinky's Players: Movies from the Heart. VT’s Youth Company for high school age students creates opportunities to develop exceptional and unique portfolio material for college applications, creates a supportive environment for students to engage in projects that impact Venice Theatre, and develops 21st century workplace skills including collaboration, communication, problem solving, and creativity.
The 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. Sandy Davisson received an M.A. in Theatre History and Criticism from the State University of New York and an MFA in Directing at Florida Atlantic University. Kelly Duyn holds a B.A. in Theatre from the University of Central Florida, has teaching certifications in multiple disciplines, and has a 20-year teaching resume. Brad Wages holds a B.F.A. from the University of Oklahoma and is an award-winning actor, director, and choreographer. Kristofer Geddie holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and an MA in Arts Administration. Michelle Kasanofsky received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston and studied jazz piano there as well as classical piano at Boston University, holds a B.A. cum laude from Dowling College, a Master of Science in Music Education from C. W. Post Long Island University, and an Education Leadership Specialist degree from Nova Southeastern University, and was selected as Charlotte County’s Teacher of the Year in 2014.
Venice Theatre facilitates theatre workshops with local schools, clubs, and organizations and reads to classrooms through Embracing Our Differences. It collaborates with other arts education programmers in the area to bring new arts education opportunities to the community. Staff work with the local Chamber of Commerce and Venice Area Young Professionals. The Executive Director serves on the Ambassador Circle for Embracing Our Differences; the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Access+ committee for Southeastern Theatre Conference; is the treasurer of the Florida Theatre Conference; the Florida State community theatre representative; and is a Board Member of the Friends of the Venice Public Library, Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative, Squeaky Wheel Theatre Group, and President of the American Association of Community Theatre. Venice Theatre has hosted the international theatre festivals aactWorldFest and actWORLDFEST. Venice Theatre Inc. is registered with the state of Florida under registration number CH-4124.
Last updated May 14, 2026.
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