Now this is a therapy session to remember, friends.
Courtesy Kutumba Theatre Project
So, a therapy session, a viral workplace meltdown and a generational showdown walk into a Fort Lauderdale theater. What in the world could possibly go wrong?
JOB, the acclaimed psychological thriller that conquered Off-Broadway before making the jump to Broadway, makes its South Florida debut Thursday, Nov. 12, courtesy of Kutumba Theatre Project. The limited engagement runs through Nov. 29 at Empire Stage, bringing one of New York theater's buzziest recent productions to a super-intimate venue at 1140 North Flagler Drive.
Written by Max Wolf Friedlich when he was just 25, JOB unfolds in January 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic upended everything. Following a viral workplace incident, Jane, a young technology professional, finds herself in a therapy session with Loyd, an older therapist. What begins as a seemingly straightforward appointment escalates into a psychological confrontation involving generational divides, corporate power and the darker corners of internet culture.
And, apparently, nobody should expect a relaxing 80 minutes, y’all.
"It's a play that grabs you from the very first moment,” Kutumba founder and artistic director K Ehly told Browardist. “It's also the kind of play where the less you know going in, the better. The play puts super-relevant topics on display and challenges us to think about generational divides, what it means to live on the internet today, the things we see and experience as citizens of the internet, and the biases we walk into the theatre with."
The production arrives in the 954 with some serious theatrical swagger. Following two sold-out Off-Broadway runs, JOB transferred to Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre, starring Peter Friedman of Succession and Sydney Lemmon of Tár. The play won the inaugural SoHo Playhouse Lighthouse Series and earned nominations from the Outer Critics Circle Awards and Off-Broadway Alliance.
The New York Times called it "A chic, relentless Broadway thriller," while TheaterScene suggested it might be the best new American play in at least five years.
For its Fort Lauderdale debut, Kutumba has cast Kimmie Pineda as Jane and Geoff Freitag as Loyd. Ehly, who saw the production on Broadway, believes Empire Stage's intimate setting could give the material an entirely different dimension.
"I remember thinking, not realizing at the time that it had been performed in much smaller theatres Off-Broadway, that this thriller would benefit from a theatre like Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale,” Ehly said. “Little did I know that was exactly what the playwright had intended. Our aim is to make the audience feel like they're eavesdropping on a therapy session like no other...a therapy session gone wrong! It's a bit gritty and, at the same time, intelligent and grabs you."
Kutumba itself has deep South Florida roots. Ehly earned a BFA in Acting and Directing from Florida Atlantic University and holds a Master of Social Work. Beyond theater, they are a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist whose work focuses on the LGBTQ+ community. The company champions LGBTQ+ voices and other underserved communities, with accolades including a BroadwayWorld Award, two Silver Palm Awards, a Carbonell Award nomination and recognition as Best Debut Theatre Company by Florida Theatre on Stage.
Its recent productions include the sold-out Velvet Green Summer at Empire Stage and Spy for Spy, which helped relaunch the company and subsequently sold out performances in Asheville, North Carolina.
As for JOB, Ehly anticipates plenty of post-show debate, especially considering its provocative subject matter and unexpected humor.
"Without giving away any spoilers, the playwright leaves us asking some big questions about the internet and its impact on our lives, how we interact with one another, and how much of ourselves we put out there," Ehly said. "In addition to being a thriller, JOB is also full of sharp wit and some unexpected sparring about Facetune and old shampoo commercials and psychedelics. There's more humor in this play than audiences might imagine."
The production runs Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m., with opening performances Nov. 13 and 14. For tickets, the Nov. 12 preview costs $30, with regular admission at $40. The show runs 80 minutes without intermission and is recommended for audiences ages 18 and older. Free parking is available behind and alongside the theater.
Looking ahead, Kutumba will present the world premiere of Earl Crittenden's The Kitchen in April 2027, a comedy about a New York City apartment renovation that uncovers family secrets.
For now, Fort Lauderdale audiences have a therapy appointment to keep.
