Denis Michael  Griesmer is a writer and performer of semi-autobiographical monologues and is the creator and performer of The Poetry Psychic Project, a suite of inter-active performances that have made reoccurring appearances in the following events and festivals since 2016: Jackson Square, New Orleans; BorderLight Fringe Festival; Ohio City Street Festival; 78th Street Studio’s Third Friday Art Walk; PolarFest; and Cleveland Public Theatre’s (CPT) Pandemonium. For five years, Denis directed and co-wrote original performances of CPT’s Y-Haven Theatre Project, created with men in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction and mental health challenges. He has been CPT’s Chief Financial Officer and General Manager since 2012 and has been on staff for eighteen years. He is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Theatre Program.

Chris Szajbert is a director, writer, filmmaker, and multimedia performer based in Cleveland, Ohio. Over the last two decades, Chris’ body of work has explored sexuality, redemption, and the tension between inner and outer reality through the creation of over 15 original collaborative and solo works, including plays, short films, contemporary dance, percussion, and street theatre. Chris’ work has garnered recognition and support from the New York-based Center for Performance and Civic Practice, Ohio Arts Council, Chicago’s Community Artists Assistance Program (C.A.A.P.), DirectorsLabChicago, and the Cuyahoga Arts and Culture’s Creative Workforce Fellowship. Recent projects include Love’s Lost Raree Box, an interactive performance and short film developed with the support of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and SPACES Satellite Fund; and The Frances Films, a collection of experimental shorts which were streamed as an official selection of the KeyBank Rochester Fringe (2020), Minnesota Fringe Festival (2020), and the BorderLight Festival (2021). Since 2017, Chris has served as director in the development of The Poetry Psychic Project, a suite of interactive performances by longtime friend and collaborator Denis Michael Griesmer.

Acknowledgements — Illustration by Courtney Klesta — Photos by Steve Wagner — Website by Tenseg LLC — Video Editing by Chris Szajbert — 78th Street Studios — Set and properties on loan from Cleveland Public Theatre .