The Art of the "No": How Janice Creneti Turned a Pandemic Pivot into a Powerhouse Play

From "Sacrificial Lamb" to Stage Star: An Interview with Janice Creneti

In the latest episode of the Arts Passport Podcast, host Avery Anderson sits down with performer and coach Janice Creneti to discuss the origins of her upcoming one-woman show, My Year of Saying No.

What started as a grinding halt to life as she knew it during the 2020 pandemic became a profound journey of self-discovery. Diagnosed as immunocompromised and facing the pressures of a demanding career in the school system, Janice was forced to ask herself a terrifying question: "Am I really willing to die for this job?"

The answer was a resounding "No."

Retraining the World In this deep-dive conversation, Janice discusses the "slippery slope" of setting boundaries. "You teach people how to treat you," Janice explains. "I realized I wasn’t going to be the sacrificial lamb anymore." This shift wasn't just professional; it was spiritual and creative.

More Than a One-Woman Show Janice reveals that My Year of Saying No is far from a 60-minute monologue. It is a fully realized theatrical experience featuring over 20 characters—including abstract concepts like "Patriarchy," "Guilt," and "Zoom."

Developed through fringe festivals across the country and refined in partnership with Off-Central Players’ "Think Inside the Box" series, this show serves as a "homecoming" for the Pinellas County artist. It is a portal for the audience to acknowledge their own collective trauma from the pandemic and find the agency to say "No" to what no longer serves them.

Don’t Miss the Premiere Experience the evolution of this story live. Featuring expanded multimedia projections and raw, vulnerable storytelling, Janice Creneti brings her "Year of Saying No" to the stage for a limited engagement.

Watch the Full Episode

Listen to the Conversation

See the Show: 📅 Dates: April 25th – May 3rd

📍 Location: Off-Central Players, St. Petersburg, FL

🎟️ Tickets: Get tickets here