Staged: Asolo Repertory Theatre — Front of the House

A member of the Asolo Repertory Theatre’s staff who compartmentalizes is Jay Poindexter, house services manager and volunteer coordinator.

A performer with 14 years of experience in off-Broadway, regional and national tours, Poindexter spent the majority of his time in Sarasota as a dresser and wardrobe supervisor backstage at the Sarasota Opera and Sarasota Ballet. In October, he took on the task of managing the quality and experience that patrons have from the minute they park their car, to when they leave the theater.

“This is an opportunity for me to use all my skills over the years from being onstage, from doing stage management, from costuming and wardrobe; all those things are culminating right now into the things I do in front of house,” Poindexter says.

Each interaction Poindexter has with a patron is a performance in its own right. He and his small army of more than 200 volunteer ushers divided into 15 teams answer every conceivable question and handle every hiccup that may arise. From questions of what the show is about to arguments over seat placement, the Poindexter Platoon assists everyone who walks into the Asolo Repertory Theatre’s lobby.  

“Not only do we open the lobby doors, but we set the lighting, we create music; there’s different music for each show,” says Poindexter. “Any displays happening here, I have to make sure all those are all ready for patrons to see.”

On days at the theater where there are two different shows, Poindexter works 14- to 15-hour days. He arrives at the theater around 8:30 a.m. and leaves only after every guest of the evening performance has departed, around 11 p.m.Asked how working at a true repertory house compared with other places he has worked, the same smile that appeared on the faces of Edwards, Meyrich, Ferguson, Covach and Breitbarth appeared.

Poindexter responded with a simple but telling, “I like the change.”