Jobsite Theater Presents Steve Martin's THE UNDERPANTS

Jobsite begins their 2016-17 season with comedian-writer-actor-director-playwright-banjo master Steve Martin's adaptation of the classic German farce originally Die Hose. The Underpants plays Sep. 9 - Oct. 2, 2016, in the Shimberg Playhouse at the Straz Center where Jobsite is resident theater company.

The Underpants is a wild satire wherein Louise and Theo Maskes' conservative existence is completely shattered when Louise's bloomers fall down in public during a parade. Though she pulls them up quickly, he is sure the incident will cost him his job as a government clerk. Louise's momentary display doesn't result in a vicious public scandal but it does attract the attention of two creepy infatuated men, each of whom now want to rent the spare room in the Maskes' home. Oblivious of their amorous objectives, Theo splits the room between them, happy to collect rent from both the foppish poet and the whiny hypochondriac.

Bursting with Steve Martin's signature zaniness, wordplay, and whimsy The Underpants is a farcical burlesque set in a nostalgic time-gone-by that sends-up bourgeois snobbery and conformity and also hits on issues of fame, feminism, and the nature of respectability. Steve Martin is currently enjoying success on the West Coast with his new play Meteor Shower starring Jenna Fischer (The Office) and Greg Germann (Ally McBeal). Jobsite's 2009 production of Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile broke sales and attendance records and still ranks in the Top 10 of both categories in the Shimberg Playhouse.

Jobsite's production of The Underpants is directed by Stageworks' Producing Artistic Director Karla Hartley (Jobsite Producing Artistic Director David M. Jenkins will direct their production of The Aliens later this season) and stars the ensemble of Nicole Jeannine Smith, Derrick Phillips, Jonelle Meyer, Jamie Jones, Greg Thompson, and Hugh Timoney. There is a special surprise guest cameo at the end of the play, with that actor rotating out weekly. The Underpants is designed by Brian Smallheer (set), Matthew Ray (lights), and Katrina Stevenson (costumes).

The Underpants opens on Fri., Sep. 9, and runs through Oct. 2, 2016. All tickets are priced at $28. If seats are available, rush tickets for students, persons 65+, military/veterans and their dependents, and Theatre Tampa Bay members are 50% off as of 30 minutes to curtain with cash and ID at the Straz Box Office window. Special preview performances will be held on Sep. 7-8 at 8p with all tickets priced at $14. There is also an opening night party after the Oct. 14 opening performance at Fodder & Shine in Seminole Heights. Write to info@jobsitetheater.org to enquire about attending. Jobsite season passes are still on sale for over 20% off, visit JobsiteTheater.org for more details.

Jobsite is funded in part by The State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, The Arts Council of Hillsborough County, The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, The Gobioff Foundation, Fodder & Shine, Rollin' Oats Tampa, Creative Loafing, and Illumination Advertising. Jobsite is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization and all gifts made to Jobsite are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.

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