Jobsite Theater to peek out from behind the Covid curtain

Friday’s David A. Straz Center announcement that live shows will resume Oct. 2, on a limited, spaced-out and safe basis, brought with it a bit of welcome news that nearly flew under the radar: The return of cutting-edge Jobsite Theater.

Jobsite, which has operated out of the Straz complex since the beginning, isn’t coming back full-tilt; the realities of Covid have made sure the intimate Shimberg Theater, where up to 100 theater aficionados sit shoulder-to-shoulder, is still off-limits.

Instead, Jobsite is hosting a pair of innovative one-person shows in the 330-seat Jaeb Theater, reconfigured for a capacity of 100, with tables and chairs set at the proper distance.

“While emphasizing health and safety, we are thrilled to announce our first steps toward trying to get back to ‘normal,’ even if our new normal doesn’t exactly look like our old one,” Jobsite artistic director David Jenkins says.

Jobsite is also behind The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised], produced Oct. 2, 3, 9 and 10 on the Straz Center’s Riverwalk Stage (Jenkins himself is in the three-man cast). There will be approximately 100 seats available for Riverwalk shows.

In the Jaeb, Giles Davies returns Oct. 29-31, Nov. 1 and Nov. 10 in Jim Helsinger’s Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus – just in time for Halloween.

Andresia Moseley

The equally amazing Andresia Moseley performs the powerful Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, by Anna Devere Smith, Nov. 11, 17-18 and Dec 1-2 in the Shimberg.

Showtimes and ticket prices are varied; all tickets go on sale Sept. 18. Additional details are available here.

“Our plan,” explains Jenkins, “is still to return to the Shimberg as soon as we’re able with Doubt: A Parable.

“We’re considering that phase 3 of our re-opening plan, and are working on a way to offer the production digitally in addition to the 26 distanced seats available inside the theater.”

The other just-announced Straz productions, also going on sale Sept. 18:

Opera Tampa’s The Witching Hour, two performances Oct. 30, Riverwalk Stage.

Always … Patsy Cline, the delightful musical play about the country music legend, Nov. 5-22 and Dec. 3-6 Jaeb Theater.

Opera Tampa’s Home For the Holidays, Dec. 18-20, Jaeb Theater.