An actual, living, breathing farm boy from Ohio, 
Jeffery Kin came to Sarasota in 1991 after receiving his 
BFA in Performing Arts and enjoying some years as a performer in NYC. Quickly establishing himself as a 
go-to talent for the region’s theatre organizations, he 
would eventually go on to lead The Players Theatre as 
their Producing Artistic Director. For 15 years, Kin led 
the organization through acclaimed seasons, coordinated and implemented year-round programming, helped boost its donor and patron base, and altogether
 served as the smiling, enthusiastic face of the 
organization to the arts-loving Sarasota region. As a well-loved, energetic collaborator with a limitless 
can-do attitude, he was a natural choice to lead 
Sarasota Rising’s formation, stewarding it from 
conception to the launch of its marquee festival in 2024.

Jeffery says: “Everyone always tells me that I have ‘expectant father’ energy when they see me work. I think it’s because I really give everything I have to make sure me and my team are prepared for anything. I think it’s also because I’m as comfortable swinging a hammer as I am engaging with donors.”