TribLIVE: Rob Jessup of Murrysville knows his way around a stage. He's a co-founder of Split Stage Productions, a local theater company committed to bringing edgy and innovative plays to the area. The New Jersey native was a theater performance major at Plymouth State College in New Hampshire and spent time on the New York City acting scene. A former corporate relations manager for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, he now works in sales, which itself is a kind of performance.
2 comments:
I really enjoyed this Q and A. The founder of Split Stages is truly a smart man. He found a gap in the system and filled it. I'm sure that is the biggest reason why it is such a success. I believe "edgy" shows are the backbone of contemporary theatre. More people in society are asking the hard questions, or the questions that everyone is a bit too shy to ask. I think it is great that theatrical companies are producing those kinds of works that push boundaries, and say yes you are uncomfortable- but that's because we have MAJOR issues to work out. I think that's why shows such as Avenue Q, Rent, Hair etc have better responses with younger audiences because we are used to the idea of breaking boundaries. We are the generation to start severing social norms. That why shows that were banned before now make for a riveting topic, for example Spring Awakening. I'm glad this theatre is getting a good response to what they are producing because think it is important discussions they are starting.
The reason I decided to read this article was because the first few lines visible before you open the article described Rob Jessup’s theater company — Split Stage Productions — as being “edgy.” The word, edgy, in today’s world usually has a negative connotation as something which is trying to be more than it actually is in order to seem special, usually in a progressive way. I greatly disagree with the idea that shows like Rent, Avenue Q, Hair, etc. are actually edgy, but actually socially important shows which should be brought out of cities and into less populated areas. I think the idea of the company is a really good one which is exactly my aforementioned statement about bringing shows which are not typically done outside of major cities. Without companies like this, it will become more difficult to sustain and grow an accurate representation and impact of theater across America, no matter where you live.
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