The Guys
By Anne Nelson
Directed by Shawn Paonessa
Sep. 8 – 25, 2011
Thu. – Sat. 8pm, Sun. 4pm
Tickets: $24.50
Shimberg Playhouse, Straz Center for the Performing Arts
Days after 9/11, Joan (Roz Potenza), a New York City editor, is asking the same question Americans are asking everywhere: “what can I possibly do?” Then, she meets Nick (Paul Potenza), an FDNY captain who lost most of his men in the attack. He needs someone with the tools to help him craft the eulogies.
Stark and simple, potent and poignant, brimming with edgy humanity. It’s a generous, sad, touching play about the braveries of grief.
Production History
Anne Nelson’s The Guys was written in just nine days. It almost immediately opened at Tribeca’s off-off-Broadway’s The Flea and starred Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver. Since then, stars of stage and screen have taken turns in this piece across the country, as well as a film version starring Weaver and Anthony LaPaglia.
The Jobsite production began when Jobsite Artistic Associate Paul Potenza traveled to New York City shortly after September 11th and was given a tour of Ground Zero by his brother-in-law Tommy DaParma, a fireman and Queens Trustee for the FDNY. It forever changed Paul’s life. The following January, Paul saw the original production of The Guys, and he knew he had to bring this important work to Tampa. DaParma put Paul in contact with Anne Nelson to get the project moving.
Jobsite originally produced The Guys, directed by Brian Shea on Sep. 3 and 10, 2003, in the Jaeb Theater, TBPAC, and toured the production to Tampa Preparatory School and Blake High School.
Jobsite produced an encore memorial performance of The Guys directed by Brian Shea and associate directed by Shawn Paonessa on Sep. 9 and 11, 2006 at Clearwater Central Catholic High School and the Jaeb Theater respectively.
Proceeds from the productions benefitted the widows and children of the FDNY, the Hillsborough County Firefighters and the Tampa Firefighters Museum.
Jobsite produced The Guys, directed by Shawn Paonessa, as part of its mainstage season, Sep. 8 – 25, 2011 in the Shimberg Playhouse at The Straz Center.
Media
At Home with the Potenzas
Read about two of Jobsite’s favorite artists, Paul & Roz Potenza, on Creative Pinellas.
CreLo Talks 20 Years with Jobsite
CreLo’s 3-part series on 20 years of Jobsite.
Artistic Associate Paul Potenza is “Uncomfortable.”
Paul Potenza was the first performer on the Off-Center Theater stage, which is now our Shimberg Playhouse. He’s been with us since 2001 when he
Weekly round-up 9/17
It’s been a hell of a week and a half, y’all. I hope everyone has recovered. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel
Thanks for the support
In one dress rehearsal and two public performances of The Guys, we had around 350 people that chose to join us as we remembered on
Previews
The Guys focuses on firefighters’ lives and the post-9/11 world – St. Petersburg Times
Spend the weekend with The Guys – USF Oracle
3 theaters make mark on Bay area – Tampa Tribune
9/11: We will not forget – Creative Loafing
Cast & Crew
- Shawn Paonessa – Director
- Miriam Rochford – Stage Manager
Cast
- Paul J. Potenza – Nick
- Roz Potenza – Joan
Crew
- Greg Newcomb – Poster Artist
- Shawn Paonessa – Sound Designer
- Roz Potenza – Costume Designer
- Brian M. Smallheer – Scenic and Lighting Designer
- Kyle White – Choreographer
Patron Reviews
- Loved it! Congrats to Roz and Paul, and all the folks behind the scenes, for a moving, funny, touching piece of entertainment. – Paige Gilley
- Loved the show! The acting was superb as always. – Kelly Lamb Feinerman
- Went and saw The Guys tonight. Amazing work by Roz Potenza and Paul Potenza, fabulously directed by Shawn Paonessa and a beautiful set and lights byBrian Smallheer. Please see this beautiful and poignant show. – Kari Goetz
- Amazing play. Go see it!!!!! – Rebecca Becnel Heimstead
- Don't miss @jobsitetheater 's production of The Guys. You'll laugh and learn a little about who we lost that day. – Sam Wills
- Saw The Guys at Jobsite Theater last night. Stunning performances, beautiful production, we've seen this before but never with such emotional power. Don't miss this very important play. – Susan Oliver
- I thoroughly enjoyed Jobsite's production of The Guys last night. It's a heart-wrenching show about the after effects of 9/11 that made me laugh and even tear up a little. Paul and Roz were amazing and Brian did another great job with the set. I can't say enough good things about this show. You need to go see this and it runs until 09/25. – Kim Smallheer
- Saw the last showing of Jobsite Theater's production of The Guys - a truly great show! Looking forward to the rest of the 2011-12 season. – Vinny Tafuro
- Just saw The Guys at @jobsitetheater in #Tampa. Serious at times, light-hearted at others. Really is worth seeing. – SkajaW
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