I can’t believe it’s already the end of the year, wow, where does the time go?
Jobsite has had a fantastic year, and we have you to thank for it. We’ve had a lot of success in 2012, both critically and at the box office, like our productions of The 39 Steps, RACE, and Closetland. We’ve given voice to local playwrights through our productions of Chris Buehlman’s Hot Nights for the War Wives of Ithaka and Christen Petitt-Hailey’s Chapel Perilous. We’ve helped solo artists such as Ned Averill-Snell (Little Tunes) and Giles Davies (POE) get their work up and in front of audiences. Be it through our mainstage season or our Job-side program, we are building a stronger artistic ensemble by the day, and doing everything we can to provide an artistic home.
2012 also saw the beginning of a school-time matinee program. The performances we offered during Fahrenheit 451 were sold out to appreciative students who we’ve hopefully inspired to love both literature and the performing arts. We can’t wait to do it again with our production of Much Ado About Nothing in March!
We also undertook a pretty significant restructuring as an organization this year, more clearly delineating the roles of our board of directors and our core artists, which should allow both groups to become stronger and better serve the organization. The board will be a more aggressive fundraising and development body, leaving our artistic associates and ensemble to focus on creation.
We still have two things we could truly use your help with before this year is over. Can you pitch in?
On Sat., Dec. 1 at New World Brewery we once again host our popular fundraiser and end of the year wrap party, Jobsite Rocks! Jobsite Rocks! is a night of music, friends, raffles, craft beer, and specialty pizzas where 100% of the proceeds go directly to support our annual operating budget. We started the year in a bit of a deficit due to state funding cuts, and we are still trying to make those dollars up before the end of the year so that we do not have to cut our remaining budgets for the 2012-13 season.
Admission is a minimum donation of $8 at the door. Raffle tickets are $2 each, 6 for $10, or 13 for $20. We already have confirmed prizes from amazing local businesses like The Refinery, The Independent and Mr. Dunderbak’s, and of course the coveted gift basket courtesy of The Hub. In addition to purveyors of food and drink we’ve even got original artwork, jewelry, personal training and more! We expect to have a complete list of all of our raffle prizes available on our website in the next few days.
We will have music from TYPES (Scott Harrell and friends), the Best of the Bay award-winning Poetry ‘n Lotion, and a special karaoke set featuring performances from Jobsite ensemble members that’s sure to entertain. Doors are at 8pm with the program getting under way at 9.
Can’t make it? You can still help us meet our goals by giving directly at our website or by sending a check to P.O. Box 7975, Tampa, FL, 33673-7975. Remember, all gifts made to Jobsite are fully TAX DEDUCTIBLE to the extent provided by law.
The other way you can significantly help Jobsite by the end of the year is by becoming a season ticket holder to the remaining four shows of the season (Noel Coward’s Hay Fever, Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Wendy Graf’s Behind the Gates, and Martin McDonagh’s The Lonesome West). Season tickets are 20% off, plus you save a LOT of money by paying a one-time $10 handling fee per order instead of per-ticket service charges. That works out to a savings of over $12 per ticket, per person. You can call the Straz Center at 813.229.7827 between noon and 8p to make your purchase. Tickets make great gifts, and are a great way to support locally this holiday season!
Thanks again for a great year, I look forward to even bigger and better things in 2013!
-dj
