Roz Parks does most of her work behind the scenes at The Straz.
As an employee of National Building Maintenance, a commercial cleaning and maintenance company, she has worked as a subcontractor at the performing arts center for 15 years maintaining the restrooms and common areas in Morsani Hall. She also manages a staff of four who have similar duties.
Ten years ago, Roz took on a responsibility of her own creation that put her centerstage, of sorts, during the intermission of Straz Broadway shows.
“One day, during a show, I saw that the ladies’ room line was backed up all the way up to the top of the stairs,” Roz said. “So, I thought, they’re not going to make it (back to their seats) in time.”
That’s when she made herself the restroom traffic cop. It’s not an official title, and short of wearing an orange vest, she puts herself in the middle of a traffic jam of more than 100 women, who at intermission rush down the stairs to get their business done before the curtain rises on Act 2 of that evening’s Broadway performance.
“I took it upon myself to go into the restroom … and fix the problem,” she said. The downstairs ladies’ restroom in the main lobby has one entrance with stalls on either side. Roz has women and children form two lines while she stands at the apex directing them to either side as stalls open up.
“C’mon, c’mon, c’mon,” she says repeatedly for about 20 minutes or more, while gesturing to the direction where open stalls await. And she says she’s never not gotten the lines through the restroom in time, earning praise from showgoers.
“I’ve had patrons come in and tell me I’m a star and I’m an MVP,” she says while smiling.
Joyce Cotton, longtime Straz season ticket holder and director of marketing and community partnerships at WEDU-PBS, is a Roz super fan.
“I and many of the women in the audience usually dread and anticipate the restroom’s long lines during intermission,” she said. “Thankfully, Roz Parks is there greeting us with a smile and a courteous commander-in-charge attitude.”
Most don’t question Roz’s self-acquired authority, but she admits, she’s had some push back.
“On the way in, sometimes someone says, ‘Why do they have somebody directing us into the bathroom?’” Roz said. “But going out it’s ‘Oh, ma’am, thank you so much. We really need this.’”
She said several Straz patrons know her by name and if she sees them in the lobby before showtime and they ask “Roz, you going to be in the bathroom? And I say ‘Yes, I am!’ … And some give me hugs … it’s enjoyable.”
She isn’t always working while she’s at The Straz, she’s also seen several shows. Her favorites – The Lion King and Motown the Musical. “How they did the costumes in The Lion King was so amazing,” Roz said.
She also enjoyed last season’s Ain’t Too Proud. “It was good. I really liked the guy who played Mr. Ruffin. I thought he was really, really talented.”
The 67-year-old is originally from Tampa, but spent 23 years in Ohio, working several years as a government secretary. She came “back home” in 2007 but finding a job was difficult.
Her grown son was working for National Building Maintenance at The Straz and he asked if she would do housekeeping work. “I told him I just came home. I’ve got to do what I can do,” she said. “And that’s how I got to The Straz.”
Tom Wright, senior director of facilities at The Straz, is happy she chose to work at the performing arts center. “I can’t say enough about Roz and what she does for The Straz and our guests,” said Wright. “She created this part of the job for herself, she works hard and is just wonderful.”
Roz says she is just doing her job. Does she plan on retiring anytime soon? “I’m having too much fun,” she said.