The Lizzie Borden Podcast

In this episode we interview Kristofer Geddie, the Executive Director of Venice Theatre in Venice, Florida, the oldest community theatre in Florida, which is celebrating its 76th year in operation. Kris is also the director of Blood Relations by Sharon Pollock, a unique play about the Lizzie Borden case, which runs from October 9 to November 1 of this year. Kristofer Geddie is Venice Theatre’s Executive Director after serving as Director of Diversity and General Manager. He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and an MA in Arts Administration and has been seen performing on stages worldwide. In addition to Venice Theatre, Kris serves on the Ambassador Circle for Embracing our Differences, the personnel and Equity/Inclusion committees for Southeastern Theatre Conference, is the treasurer of the Florida Theatre Conference, the Florida State community theatre representative, a mentor for Take Stock in Children, and is thrilled to serve as a Board Member for Squeaky Wheel Theatre Group, Sarasota Arts and Cultural Alliance, Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative, and President for the American Association of Community Theatre.

In this episode we interview Steven Cheslik-deMeyer, who along with Alan Stevens Hewett and Tim Maner, created the rock opera Lizzie, which is enjoying a world-wide production life, from its humble beginnings as a 45 minute, 4-song experimental musical, created for the tiny mythic theatre company in the 1990s. LIZZIE has grown to be a nearly two-hour, four-woman show, with a six-piece rock band, that has quite the cult following. Steven is a lyricist, musician, author, and artist who is currently writing a book that combines memoir, family lore, and twentieth century queer history. He lives in New York City with his husband. You can read his blog at stevencheslikdemeyer.com