Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe bringing two shows to this summer’s festival and collaborating on a third; will present ‘Soul Crooners Solid Gold Edition’ send-off performance on July 25

SARASOTA, FL – Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (WBTT) has been recognized with its sixth invitation to perform during the prestigious International Black Theatre Festival (formerly the National Black Theatre Festival), which takes place July 29 through August 3 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This year, WBTT will be bringing two shows to the festival - the original musical “Soul Crooners Solid Gold Edition” and one-act play “Float Like a Butterfly” - and collaborating on a third, the one-act play, "From Birmingham to Broadway."

Prior to its departure, WBTT will present a one-act IBTF send-off performance of “Soul Crooners Solid Gold Edition,” a celebration of the music that ushered in a new era of soul in the 1960s-70s. The special event takes place on Thursday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m. in The Donelly Theatre at WBTT (1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota). Patrons will enjoy a dessert and Prosecco reception. Proceeds from the preview will directly defray the expense of WBTT’s attendance at the festival. Tickets are $50; visit westcoastblacktheatre.org or call the Box Office at 941-366-1505.

“Soul Crooners” is a celebration of the most renowned soul and R&B artists and hottest hit songs of the late 1960s and through the 1970s. Numbers audiences will hear include “Let’s Groove,” “Lady (You Bring Me Up),” “Easy,” “Superfly,” “Joy & Pain,” “Used to Be My Girl,” “Get Up Offa That Thing” and many, many more. The show is a signature original for the company and has a history of being an integral part of holding the theatre together during its most challenging years.

Cast members include: WBTT Founder/Artistic Director and show director Nate Jacobs, Earley Dean, Christopher Eisenberg, Michael Mendez, Raleigh Mosely II, Leon S. Pitts and Sheldon Rhoden. Choreographer is Donald Frison. The singers will be backed by WBTT’s sizzling live band, including Etienne “EJ” Porter, Music Director/drums; Alan Robinson II, main keys; Jamar Camp, auxiliary keys; Brandon McCrae, guitar; and Julian Roberts, bass.

One-act play “Float Like A Butterfly” premiered during WBTT’s 2021-2022 season. Original star Darius Autry returns to star in the play that pays tribute to the greatest-of-all-time heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali. In addition to his success in the boxing ring, Ali famously took a stand against the Vietnam war and injustice in America; he continues to inspire activist athletes to speak up for their beliefs. He was much more than a boxer: he was and remains an icon who showed the world he could “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” – far beyond the boxing ring. The play was written by Nate Jacobs and his brother, Michael Jacobs, and features musical compositions by frequent WBTT performers Derric Gobourne Jr. and Henry Washington.

Written and performed by frequent WBTT artist Tarra Conner Jones, "From Birmingham to Broadway" - which also premiered during WBTT’s 2021-2022 season, presented in tandem with "Float" - is a tour-de-force tribute to Broadway singer and TV actress Nell Carter. The play portrays Carter’s determination to excel in entertainment despite her non-traditional appearance. Through a powerful combination of music, comedy and drama, Conner Jones embodies the indomitable spirit of this shining star of stage and screen. The play is directed by WBTT Founder and Artistic Director, Nate Jacobs; WBTT and Conner Jones are collaborating on this presentation at the festival.

“We could not be more thrilled to return to the International Black Theatre Festival and bring two original productions that showcase the very best of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe,” said Jacobs. “Our goal this year – as it has been each time we attend – is to show the whole world what our small but mighty ‘miracle theater’ can do. We aim to do our community very proud!”

“It is a tremendous honor for our organization to enjoy six consecutive invitations to this renowned international event,” added WBTT Executive Director Julie Leach. “Not only does the festival offer our organization the opportunity to share our work with theatre fans from around the world, it also gives us a chance to bring a group of our most passionate WBTT leaders and supporters so that they  can experience first-hand this joyful celebration of Black theatre and see what other groups are doing.”

The International Black Theatre Festival is a renowned outreach program of the North Carolina Black Repertory Co., founded in 1979. Except for the pandemic interruption, the festival has been held biennially since 1989 and attracts tens of thousands of national and international patrons, theater professionals, and scholars. For more information and tickets, visit ncblackrep.org/international-black-theatre-festival.