Best Artistic Direction

With tireless willpower, vision and good humor, David Jenkins has turned Jobsite Theater, once a dark horse in Ybor City, into the resident theater company at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and one of the most important producing organizations on either side of the Bay. While some artistic directors search for balance by scheduling mindless fluff next to serious drama, Jenkins’ form of balance never compromises on quality. So last season he gave us an Off-Broadway drama (Frankie and Johnny), love among the 30-somethings (Phyro-Giants!), a Pulitzer Prize-winner about two African-American brothers (Topdog/Underdog), a Tony award-winning shocker (The Goat), an Italian economic comedy (We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay!) and a homegrown riff on Grimm’s Faery Tales. The 2006-2007 season looks even better.