By William Shakespeare
Directed by David M. Jenkins
Jan. 7 – Feb. 1, 2015
Thu. – Sat. 8pm, Sun. 4pm
Tickets: $28
Shimberg Playhouse, Straz Center for the Performing Arts
Creative Loafing Best of the Bay
- Best Costume Designer – Bailee Booser
Jobsite kicks off the new year with one of the Bard’s best-loved comedies, a hilarious tale of mistaken identities, lovesickness and ribald revelry.
A laugh-out-loud funny tale of gender confusion in which after being shipwrecked in a storm and losing her brother, a girl disguises herself as a man to be near the count she adores only to be pursued by the woman he loves. Meanwhile, one household cranks up the mischief-making by tricking the stuffy steward into believing his mistress has fallen for him. This treasured comedy brims with wild infatuations, swooning serenades, drunken high-jinks, and beloved characters.
This production is set against the backdrop of Ybor City in 1926. This choice makes a lot of sense for director Jenkins. “The late-night carousing, excessive wealth and stunning beauty all occurring under the scrutiny of a puritanical figure works so well here for a number of reasons. 1926 was not only during Prohibition, but Ybor was booming in that time. Ybor, like Shakespeare’s imaginary locale Illyria, was (and still is, really) a world unto itself.
“Also, this play begins with Viola being shipwrecked in an unknown land. In Sep. 1926, Florida was pounded by one of the most devastating hurricanes in the state’s history. This choice will flavor the look of the set and costumes most obviously, but it’s also allowing us to construct some really interesting back stories meshing Shakespeare’s words against this rich historical period.”
Jobsite is using a newly edited version of the text commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2007 developed by Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen from the first folio. This edition of the text has been referred to as remarkable and superb by Shakespeare scholars and theater professionals, and Jobsite is presenting this version of the text as-is.
“We just want to be clear that we’re not adapting this play into modern or updated language in any way or abridging it for a zippier runtime. We’ve done Shakespeare in a variety of ways over the years and we just want to be direct with what we are doing,” adds Jenkins.
Talkback
Join us immediately after the show on Sun., Jan. 25 to meet the director, cast and Tampa Bay History Center Rodney Kite-Powell to discuss the play and Ybor City in the 1920s. Have old stories from the period or just want to listen? We’d love to have you!
“Twelfth Night delivers laughs, quality … [Jobsite] decided to kick reverence in the butt and have some dirty, rollicking, snickering, drunken fun. Friday night’s audience did, much in the way Elizabethan crowds must have roared with laughter … Shakespeare did more than toast the aristocrats of his day. He had to play to the pit, the rowdy everyday folks who paid pennies to stand in the theater to watch the play. Directed with split-second precision and excellent timing [this production] keeps the carousing but does not lose the poetry and melancholy.” – Tampa Tribune
“[Jobsite’s] Twelfth Night at the Shimberg Playhouse succeeds … There is much gamboling, capering and stumbling about. There are pantomimed puns, often of the vulgar variety. And there is the colorful spectacle of a self-important man making an absolute fool of himself. Any of this would amuse the most casual observer … [the] decision to set the play in Ybor during the Roaring ’20s gives nice flavor.” – Tampa Bay Times
“Twelfth Night delights … I believe that it’s very easy to screw up Shakespeare … I’m prepared to lose friends as I type this, but I’m actually not a huge of Will S. … in the past I’d spend so much time sifting through and interpreting the language, that the overall impact of the story was lost. However, this production seemed covertly aimed at changing my mind. The 13 member cast had a sense of comfort with the words that allowed me to lose myself story. To my surprise, I was understanding the plot without having read to synopsis … Friday night I had greatness thrust upon me.” – BroadwayWorld
“… do not miss this astounding performance. If you still don’t understand the treasure that we have with Mr. Davies, then it’s time to find out … Davies gives his all as Malvolio and creates one of the area’s most memorable star turns of recent years. This is an eye-popping, slam dunk of a performance … It has so many different levels and is a perfect starting point in your bard adventures if you’ve never had the pleasure of seeing a Shakespeare play. The production at Jobsite Theater is first rate. Aside from the untouchable Davies, you have several of our area’s best performers at the top of their game … [it] needs to quickly be added to the top of your calendar of things to do in the Bay Area.” – BroadwayWorld
“There are no weak links in Jobsite Theater’s Twelfth Night. This extraordinary production features one terrific performance after the next, and shines a clear light on Shakespeare’s classic … Outstanding work … I suggest you see it while you can.” – Creative Loafing
“The lick of local Tampa flavor, the cast’s convincing character acting, and the obvious love and attention put into making the classic into Jobsite’s own production combine in a tour de force of theater you would be loath to miss….” – The Sunlit Tome
Media
Previews
Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’ gets Ybor City atmosphere – Tampa Tribune
Related Posts
Cast & Crew
- David M. Jenkins – Director
- Jordan Foote – Assistant Director
Cast
- Ned Averill-Snell – Sir Toby
- Giles Davies – Malvolio
- Jason Evans – Captain / Fabian
- Roxanne Fay – Feste
- Eddie Gomez – Valentine
- Chris Holcom – Duke Orsino
- Nick Hoop – Sebastian
- Jamie Jones – Sir Andrew
- Michael McGreevy – Antonio
- Spencer Meyers – Curio / Priest
- Maggie Mularz – Viola
- Ami Sallee – Mariah
- Katrina Stevenson – Olivia
- Matthew Ray – Stage Manager
- Tiffany Daiber – Asst. Stage Manager
Crew
- Bailee Booser – Costume Designer
- David M. Jenkins – Sound Designer
- Jana Jones – Music Composer
- Kaylin Gess – Lighting Designer
- Brian Smallheer – Scenic Designer
Special Thanks
Adopt-an-Actor
Thanks to all of our awesome adopters of our Twelfth Night cast.
Cigar City Superstars
Duke Orsino’s Krewe
Sir Toby’s Troubadours
Malvolio’s Mob
Friends of Feste
Scenic units provided by
Support Us
We’re always looking for an extra hand. See how you can support Jobsite now!
Patron Reviews
I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your production of Twelfth Night. Aside from my deepest admiration for Katrina, Roxanne and Giles – it was just a wonderfully well done show. In the past, I’ve been familiar with the play, this time however, I only knew the basic plot points (having not read this piece of Shakespeare) and I must say, I was most impressed by how easy it was to become completely immersed in the story. I credit not only the unique change of time and place but also the talent of your cast to take the Bard’s prose and turn it into a something I believe any one could understand and easily follow. Thank you for not only continuing to present high quality works of theatre but for taking such a fresh approach to Shakespeare. Bravo to the entire cast and crew!!! – A Jobsite fan
Via Facebook
Oh My God it is Fantastic Theatre!!! Please go see Twelfth Night At Jobsite! A better cast or production you will not find in the Bay Area! SEE IT!!!!!!! – Kay Pearson
Cannot remember when I last laughed so hard in the theater! – Susan Oliver
As a birthday gift I was lucky enough to be asked to join & treated to Jobsite’s performance of Twelfth Night opening performance last night by a long time friend & one of the areas great actors & director’s Vinnie Natale & his family. The show was in my opinion one of the areas best performed shows I’ve seen in years in Tampa Bay … that wasn’t flown in! Practically flawless performances by All Actors. When asked by someone what did I think of the “lead’s” performance I replied which one? This acting troupe All became One to provide some of the best theater I’ve seen in this area in years. Don’t miss your chance to enjoy a night out with Shakespeare & Jobsite’s performance of Twelfth Night – Gail Pierce, Village Players
What an amazing show… Props to the cast and crew. Congratulations! You should all be so proud. – Vinnie Natale
Saw Jobsite’s production of Twelfth Night last night and all I can say is wow! The cast is amazing, the set is fantastic and it is laugh out loud funny. Go see this. – Kim Smallheer
Went to see Jobsite’s production of Twelfth Night last evening. It was hilariously entertaining. Giles Davies’ self-loving Malvolio was played to perfection. His physical transformation from the stiff and proper puritanical servant to a delusional raving maniac was brilliant. Equally impressive was Roxanne Fay’s Feste. Superbly playing the fool who is conspicuously wiser than the rest of Illyria. A wonderful evening of laughs await those who attend. – Robert Colwell
Don’t even think about not going to see Giles Davies in Jobsite theater’s production of Twelfth Night. It hilarious! Great cast great direction! Must see! – Melissa Misener
It is a fabulous show! Go see it before it’s gone. – Stewart Hansell
I went to see Twelfth Night on Sunday – great show and everybody was awesome – great show! – Katerina Czech
Was fantastic! We had a blast! – Brittany Hickman
Wonderful production!! The entire experience was fabulous!! Kudos – Angel Borths
It is a wonderfully entertaining production with a superb cast! – Mary Ann Keller
If you are looking for something [to] do, checkout the Jobsite Theater’s Twelfth Night starring Dogma adopter Katrina Stevenson (Tink’s mom) and directed by Dogma adopter David Jenkins (Scout & Arya’s dad)! It is SO MUCH FUN!!! We are so lucky to have such talented local theater group in Tampa and have them be apart of our Dogma family! – Dogma Pet Rescue
A whole lotta moving parts, handled deftly by director and cast, with plenty of delightful bits of business for every character. Kudos, one and all! Additional fun for me was hearing some of the bits that were lifted for use in the Return To The Forbidden Planet script in their original context. – Mark Warren
Fell in love with Jobsite Theater’s Twelfth Night. Flawless production. Congratulations to the absolutely marvelous cast and crew. What a gem. – Lauren Field
Thank you for the wonderful evening at Home Resource in Sarasota. Fantastic production. We loved it. – Patti O’Berg
Finally got to see Jobsite Theater’s Twelfth Night last night! Congrats to all involved – I loved every minute! (Also really cool to see tons of youths in the audience eating up Shakespeare!) What a wonderful production! – Zachary Hines
I’m so glad I got to see Jobsite’s Twelfth Night last night! Shakespeare done right by a fabulously talented team! Tonight/tomorrow are sold out so catch the final performance Sunday! – Colleen Cherry
What a delightful show! You guys were all so amazing! I really loved it so much, and I would love to see it again! Thank you for a wonderful evening of theatre. – Jade Ashlee Rivera
Was fantastic! We had a blast! – Brittany Hickman
Wonderful production!! The entire experience was fabulous!! Kudos – Angel Borths
Via Twitter
Saw Twelfth Night @jobsitetheater last night and laughed my face off. If you’re in the Tampa area, do NOT miss this show, it ends 2/1. Go! – @lisah
@jobsitetheater did a great job with Twelfth Night – super funny, well set, & great casting. Many literal lol’s were had. #downtowntampa – @ladriaan
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