Press Releases

Popular WBTT artist Michael Mendez to sing, dance and offer special surprises in ‘My Paradigm Shift’

SARASOTA, FL – Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (WBTT) is pleased to continue its fourth annual Young Artist Program, through which Troupe members are able to showcase their talents with one-night, one-person shows. The third and final Young Artist performances of this season, “My Paradigm Shift,” feature popular WBTT artist Michael Mendez and take place Monday, March 20 and Monday, April 3 at 7:30pm. Join Mendez for an entertaining evening celebrating his discovery of purpose and vision for his life and career. The show features music, dance, and special surprises showcasing this multi-talented artist who local audiences have grown to love.

World-premiere production honors girl-powered groups that scored numerous hits, broke new ground for female artists

SARASOTA, FL - Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe continues its 2016-2017 season with Girl Groups: The ‘60s Explosion, which runs March 1 - April 9, 2017. In this world-premiere production, created and directed by WBTT founder and artistic director Nate Jacobs, the girl groups of the 1960s take center stage in celebration of a time when hit songs came fast and furious and glass ceilings were shattered..

Features Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights, The Mountaintop,
Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, and new musical revue Soul Man,
plus 2017 summer show Broadway in Black and holiday offering A Motown Christmas

SARASOTA, FL – Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (WBTT) has announced its 2017-2018 season, with the theme “A Change is Gonna’ Come.” In addition to four regular-season shows, which are included in the season subscription, the schedule includes a summer production and a special holiday show, both being offered outside of the subscription. Running from October 2017 through the end of May 2018, the regular season shows are In the Heights, The Mountaintop, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, starring Broadway legend and Grammy Award-winning recording artist Melba Moore, and Soul Man. The 2017 summer show is Broadway in Black and the holiday show is A Motown Christmas.

WBTT hosts vocalist Brenda Watty, who will discuss ‘Life as a Marvelette’ February 5-6

SARASOTA, FL – The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (WBTT) is pleased to continue the 2016-2017 WBTT Voices program with its second program of the season. On Sunday, February 5 at 7:30 p.m. and again on Monday, February 6 at 7:30 p.m., WBTT hosts talented vocalist Brenda Watty, a girl group veteran and former member of The Marvelettes, who will present “Life as a Marvelette.” 

Production continues WBTT’s commitment to produce every play by August Wilson; renowned director Chuck Smith returns to take the reins for the show

SARASOTA, FL – Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe continues its 2016-2017 season with The Piano Lesson, which runs January 11 – February 18, 2017. With this production, WBTT continues its commitment to produce every play by Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning playwright August Wilson. The Piano Lesson is one of the 10 plays in Wilson’s “American Century Cycle,” which examines 20th century African American life.

Second offering of the season will feature Victoria Byrd paying tribute to her early influences

SARASOTA, FL – Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (WBTT) is proud to present the second installment of its fourth annual Young Artist Program, through which Troupe members are able to showcase their talents with one-night, one-person shows. The second show of this season, “When I Think of Home …” features WBTT artist Victoria Byrd and takes place Monday, January 2, 2017 at 7:30pm. Byrd will take the audience along on her journey through the different music genres that have influenced her as a performing artist, from her early days studying opera, to songs from The Great American Songbook, to musical theatre favorites.

WBTT founding member Apphia Campbell to present ‘Nina Simone: Soul Sessions’ on December 19

SARASOTA, FL – Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is proud to welcome back to its stage founding member Apphia Campbell, who invites audiences on a musical journey honoring soul icon Nina Simone. Nina Simone: Soul Sessions follows Campbell's life from New York to Shanghai in pursuit of artistic transformation; the show – which is currently on tour in Europe – features renditions of the very best of Simone's catalog of classic songs, in a soul-searching and intimate musical performance.

Archived Press Releases

2024

2009

 

BUY SINGLE TICKETS
Donate Now
Clips From Shows
 
JOIN MAILING LIST