For the Love of the Theatre

By Michelle and Neil Kasanofsky, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Sponsors

“That is very impressive—especially the piano.”
—Rona Lisa Peretti, 3rd Annual Putnam County Spelling Champion

Venice Theatre’s significance to our area is immeasurable. Many of our participants are theatre professionals or become them. Volunteers join us to interact with others and/or bolster their confidence and connection. And many patrons come as an escape from, or a way to better understand their own or other people’s reality. To quote Oscar Wilde: “Life imitates art far more than art imitates Life.”

We connected with Venice (Little) Theatre when Neil met Lori Chase. He was performing in Fiddler on the Roof at The Charlotte Players and she recommended that he audition for Venice Theatre’s 1996 production of Death and the Maiden. Neil recommended Michelle to Murray Chase, Lori’s husband and VT’s Executive Director at the time, and Murray suggested that she start by playing second keys for our friend Rick Bogner, who recently passed away. Rick was so kind and recommended Michelle to Murray for future Music Director gigs.

Michelle participated in nearly 50 shows and a variety of education classes until coming on board as VT’s Resident Music Director in 2021. Neil has performed in more than 35 shows, and that number could be as high as 50. In 2013, he received the Charles Finley Award honoring an actor who exemplifies the spirit of community theater on and off the stage. You may recognize him as the Ghost of Christmas Present in the theatre’s annual production of A Christmas Carol. He’s played that role 21 times!

A Christmas Carol has been a joint venture for us. For 23 years, Michelle has been Music Director – teaching music, leading the band, and accompanying Neil and the rest of the cast on stage. More recently, in 2022, 2023 and 2024, we also performed in the show together as the Fezziwigs.

We recall doing Summer Stock with our older/college performers in Cabaret one year. We felt it was important for them to visit the Holocaust Museum in St. Pete to better understand what was going on in early 1930s Berlin. The experience was impactful, to say the least. And Neil shared his understanding with our young performers to augment the guides’ information. 

Venice Theatre is such an important part of our community, and, without Sponsorships, we would not be able to put on the shows at the level we’ve grown to expect. SummerStock is one of the most important programs that Michelle has been involved with for years. It is an important transitional program for many of the students who grew up in our Education and Community Engagement programs and camps, as many go into the professional and academic worlds. We felt our Sponsorship of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee would help secure its return.

We believe deeply that all our patrons should sponsor productions, concerts, and programs at Venice Theatre and we hope our story inspires them to do so. Whatever your passion is—whether technical pursuits or outreach programs, performance opportunities or as audience members—support for VT supports the entire community.

As Music Director, Michelle is so excited about Venice Theatre’s future as the beams continue to rise and the Jervey Theatre is enclosed. It will contain a completely reimagined, state-of-the-art Orchestra Room that will enhance the audience’s experience and provide Michelle and the musicians with a wonderful space to deliver a superior show. Naming the Orchestra Room not only offsets construction costs on the space, but it also invests in the future of music in Venice.

As cooler weather returns, Venice Theatre will too, in the form of seats, lighting, sound, curtains, and the $1,000,000 Orchestra Room in the restored Jervey Theatre. Help us “Fill the Theatre” and reach $5,000,000 to close the gap and open on time in mid-2026.

As a reminder, here are some ways you may help us “Fill the Theatre”:

  • Recurring monthly gift online at venicetheatre.org/donate.
  • Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs at 73 years old) and Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs at 70.5 years old) from your retirement account(s)
  • Gift of appreciated stock
  • A check and drop it in the mail to Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave W., 34285

Questions? Contact Camille@VeniceTheatre.net.