Jobsite notes 1/25

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported both our mainstage production of Eleemosynary and our Job-side Project Bondage. Both shows enjoyed great runs, and as always – we have you to thank for that.

I was particularly happy to see our Job-side Projects come back in full force, it’s been a while since we’ve had one. I hope other ensemble members get proposals on the table soon for the next available slot.

Next up we have David Mamet’s Boston Marriage. You may know Mamet from work like Speed the Plow, Oleanna or Glengarry Glen Ross. If you’ve been a Jobsite devotee for a few years, you likely remember our gritty production of his American Buffalo.

Those familiar with Mamet’s work should really delight in this play, as it’s such a departure from his typical style (set in the Victorian era) while still containing that essence of sharp dialogue and rhythms that mark the Mamet style. The title Boston Marriage refers to a Victorian euphemism for a long-term lesbian relationship. In this play, we discover one that’s on the verge of collapse. Add intrigue, machinations and several scheming plots to the tart dialogue and this is certainly a must-see show that will keep you on edge with laughter and excitement.

The production features a heavy arsenal of talent. Karla Hartley returns to direct for Jobsite, previously directing the 2006 Creative Loafing Best Play The Goat (which also won Steven Clark Pachosa Best Actor) . The cast is comprised of Jobsite stalwart Katrina Stevenson as Anna, Emilia Sargent (who’s appeared on just about every stage in the region) as Claire and Alison Burns (a staple on the Jaeb Theater stage for years now) as the Irish maid. This show marks the Jobsite premier for the latter two actresses. The show will feature a set design by Scott Cooper (Bay area audiences have seen his work at TBPAC and American Stage), lighting design by Karla Hartley and costumes by two-time Best of the Bay Award winning designer Katrina Stevenson.

In other news, I wanted to pass along a few acknowledgments we’ve recently gotten:

duPont Registry‘s Jan/Feb issue lists Jobsite Theater as one of the 50 Secrets from around the bay:

“How often has the weekend come upon you and it boils down to dinner and a movie, maybe a concert? It needn’t be so. One of the best alternatives to local humdrum is our home-grown theater scene, which features several troupes, the most renowned of which is Jobsite Theater, the resident company at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center’s Shimberg Playhouse. The intimate black box guarantees an up-close, visceral experience … they are often extremely funny and pack a high entertainment quotient.”

To read more, pick up a copy of the current issue!

In February’s Florida Travel + Life magazine, check out the article “A Night at the Arts” (pgs. 78-87), which prominently features Jobsite as part of TBPAC in their recognition of major arts and cultural offerings across the state. The crew from the magazine was here during our run of Gorey Stories, so they talk a bit about the show and our company at the start of the article, and feature a rather large photo of the show on page 86. Also featured in that article is our own gorgeous Tampa Theater.