Jobsite Theater
Jobsite Theater is an American professional theater company founded in 1998 located in Tampa, Florida, USA, and is the resident theater company of the Straz Center for the Performing Arts (formerly Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center). Co-founder David M. Jenkins serves as Producing Artistic Director.
History
Founded in 1998 by David M. Jenkins, Michael Caban, Alan Fessenden, John Lott and Jason Vaughan Evans using the 54-seat Silver Meteor Gallery in Ybor City as their first home, the company moved into the 130-seat Off Center Theater (now the Shimberg Playhouse) as resident theater company in 2003.
In 2002 the company produced a rock musical by Tampa punk icon Joe Popp, Maxwell, which would travel to the Galapagos Arts Space. In 2010, Jobsite and Popp teamed up to create Pericles: Prince of Tires, a modern punk-rock musical based on Shakespeare's Pericles - Prince of Tyre, which would then tour to the Off-Broadway theater HERE Arts Space. Jobsite has toured productions to Largo and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Focus
Jobsite produces a broad range of theater, focusing primarily on under-served audiences of 20- and 30-year olds but attracting audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Jobsite has modeled their company, their work and approach primarily off the work of two other companies - the San Francisco Mime Troupe and Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre. Jobsite produces at least one brand-new or unpublished work per season
Jobsite Theater is dedicated to the creation of socially and politically relevant theater and the pursuit of performing it to the broadest possible audience. Jobsite has established a collective of like-minded artists, creating a supportive environment where artists of all disciplines may experiment, hone, and apply their skills in a professional laboratory environment.
Jobsite works exclusively with local talent. They have assembled an ensemble that in their 2008–09 season was over 30 artists strong who assist Jobsite in all elements of theatrical production. Ensemble members are also afforded opportunities to produce second stage work in late night slots or at times the theater might normally be dark.