NATE JACOBS,
FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
By David Bottrell and Jessie Jones
April 19 – May 27, 2017
You’ll “die laughing” in this delightful and heartwarming comedy about the dysfunctional Turpins who gather in their rural Southern home for the patriarch’s funeral. The family’s laugh-out-loud, zany antics may remind you of people you know who are, hopefully, not your relatives. As replicated in the 2001 film version, Kingdom Come, starring Whoopi Goldberg and LL Cool J, family situations are seldom tidy, but often extremely funny.
Some adult language and themes
| VIDEO: See excerpts from Dearly Departed! |
CAST AND CREATIVE
LONNETTA GAINES (Veda/Juanita)
NATE JACOBS (Marguerite/Founder/Artistic Director)
MICHAEL KINSEY (Reverend Hooker)
KOURTNEY PAIGE (Delightful/Nadine)
PATRIC ROBINSON (Norval/Clyde)
DAMETRIA "DEE" SELMORE (Raynelle)
DAVID DEAN BOTTRELL (Co-Author)
Book by Marsha Norman
Music & Lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray
BASED UPON THE NOVEL WRITTEN BY ALICE WALKER
AND THE WARNER BROS./AMBLIN ENTERTAINMENT MOTION PICTURE
October 14 – November 21, 2015
This inspiring musical tells the story of an unforgettable woman who triumphs over adversity and discovers her unique voice in the world. Based on the Pulitzer-Prize winning novel (and the popular 1985 Steven Spielberg film), the play chronicles Celie’s 40-year evolution from near-enslavement to enlightenment through heartfelt letters to God and her long-lost missionary sister. With a jubilant score of roof-raising gospel, jazz, and throaty blues, The Color Purple is the tale of an everywoman triumphing over adversity, and a testament to the power of hope.
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"I found the message of this musical to be uplifting: Despite what others may say about you or do to you, you can find love, hope, and happiness if you listen to your own voice and believe that you are important, that you matter!" -Nate Jacobs |
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"When I was approached with the opportunity to direct this production of The Color Purple, I was both overjoyed and overwhelmed. What a responsibility! This story is beloved by so many people, the worry of delivering it faithfully was staring me in the face. Also having been a part of both the world premiere in Atlanta and the original Broadway cast, carrying that legacy is daunting. But there was no way I was going to say no to such a wonderfully challenging opportunity! I am so happy that this story is still being told, still touching and changing people’s lives, which is what we want art, literature and theater to do. It is an important story of hope, self-discovery, love and the need of it, and family. The importance of these things is what we all face daily, sometimes successfully and many times not. I feel we can all find parts of ourselves mirrored in each of these characters, and in watching their struggles and triumphs, and hopefully find some insight or at least a moment of joy. Getting to share this story at WBTT is quite wonderful because I feel that like Celie, WBTT has had tumultuous, yet rewarding, journey to eventually standing on its own feet. Now it faces an incredible and bright future of growth and discovery. I am honored and humbled to be involved in this presentation and I hope you enjoy the piece." -James Harkness, Director |
Director’s Note| VIDEO: See excerpts from The Color Purple! |
CAST AND CREATIVE
KAYLA ROSE AIMABLE (Glodene/Olivia/ Female Dance Ensemble)
PROMISE BEACHEM (Young Nettie/Girl/Olinka Child)
DEVON BUCHANAN (Buster/Young Man/Dance Captain)
JEFFERY CASON, JR. (Pa/Guard/Adam/Male Dance Ensemble)
LADARIUS DRAYTON (Young Harpo/Young Adam)
DEIDRA GRACE (Church Lady-Jarene/Royal Wife/African Wife)
JANIAH GREGORY (Young Celie/Girl/Young Olivia/Olinka Child)
TARRA CONNER JONES (Church Soloist/Darlene/Royal Wife/African Wife)
CHAKARA ROSA (Daisy/Odessa/Female Dance Ensemble)
DAMETRIA "DEE" SELMORE (Sofia)
TIERRA A. WALKER (Church Lady-Doris/ Royal Wife/African Wife)
CECIL E. WASHINGTON, JR. (Mister)
JOHN BRONSTON (Music Director)
Created and adapted by Nate Jacobs
World Premiere
July 13- August 14, 2016
WBTT will raise the roof in song as we celebrate the magnificent Queen of Gospel and other gospel greats in this new musical revue. Award-winning songs like “Move On Up a Little Higher” and “His Eye Is On the Sparrow” are sung from the heart with the traditional WBTT soul. Experience the joy and hope of gospel music at this high-energy, exciting summer show.
| VIDEO: See excerpts from How I Got Over: A Tribute to Mahalia Jackson! |
CAST AND CREATIVE
ARIEL BLUE (Maxine Robinson, Ensemble)
BRIAN L. BOYD (Narrator, Ensemble)
VICTORIA BYRD (Dancer, Ensemble)
JEFFERY CASON, JR. (Dancer, Ensemble)
EARLEY DEAN* (Preacher, Ensemble)
TARRA CONNER JONES* (Clara Jones, Ensemble)
ELAINE MAYO (Mother Brown, Ensemble)
NEYCE PIERRE (Frances Green, Ensemble)
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
WORLD PREMIERE
Created and Directed by Nate Jacobs
December 2 -31, 2015
Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with this exciting, family-fun Christmas musical. All your holiday favorites from such celebrities as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and The Jackson 5 will be performed with that dazzling Westcoast signature style coupled with a soulful Motown flair. In keeping with our long tradition of presenting electrifying musicals and world premieres, this holiday celebration promises to the most memorable Christmas treat of the season!
Join us for a Westcoast first. Enjoy the last performance of 2015 and stay for an up-beat after-party that will ring in the new year with sensational music, dance, food, and fun. (Special rate for the evening)
A Motown Christmas is not included as part of our subscription series.
Nate's Notes
"The holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year. We celebrate it with family and friends, give fanciful, fun or frivolous gifts, and listen to music that expresses the joy of these special holidays.
A Motown Christmas is WBTT’s gift to you, our family of friends. In this world premiere, I’ve incorporated some of your favorite traditional carols as well as many original Christmas songs recorded by Motown's celebrated artists like The Supremes, The Temptations, and The Jackson 5. To add to the excitement, I’ve uncovered some seldom-heard Motown Christmas treasures written by the incomparable Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye.
As you may know, Motown played an important role in the racial integration of popular music as an African American-owned record label that achieved significant crossover success! Its library of Christmas songs is extensive and our performers will sing the spirit of these tunes from their hearts into yours.
When the music presented moves you, I hope you will get into the holiday spirit and let it move you up out of your seats as you sing and dance along with us.
Merry Christmas, happy Chanukah and a joyful Kwanzaa to you." -Nate Jacobs
| VIDEO: See excerpts from A Motown Christmas! |
| VIDEO: Listen to a new and exciting song Nate Jacobs' wrote for A Motown Christmas |
CAST AND CREATIVE
CHRISTOPHER EISENBERG (Singer)
NATE JACOBS* (Director/Singer/Founder & Artistic Director)
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
Theatre Location
1012 N. Orange Ave.
Sarasota, FL 34236
Mailing Address
1012 N. Orange Ave.
Sarasota, FL 34236
All Rights Reserved.