Evening cabaret-style performances will feature the music of female soul and R&B artists of the 1970s

SARASOTA, FL –Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is thrilled to continue its “Light Up the Night!” open-air concert series with “Sistas in the Name of Soul.” This celebration of the female soul and R&B artists of the ‘70s (and some from the late ‘60s) will run from Saturday, May 8 through Sunday, June 6.

Free community event, ‘Telling Our Stories in the Black Theatre,’ features renowned Black playwright, Dominique Morisseau

SARASOTA, FL – Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (WBTT) is pleased to reinvigorate its WBTT Voices program with a special offering, “Telling Our Stories in the Black Theatre,” on May 4. In conjunction with WBTT’s new production of Dominique Morisseau’s play, “Pipeline,” renowned journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault will facilitate a panel discussion via Zoom with Morisseau, WBTT Founder and Artistic Director Nate Jacobs, and “Pipeline” director L. Peter Callender.

Virtual offering to explore renowned playwright’s works and legacy

SARASOTA, FL – Many people are familiar with August Wilson, the renowned playwright, but what about the man and his legacy? In a one-hour, one-session class presented by Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe on April 27, participants will explore August Wilson’s background, his ten-play cycle, known as “The American Century Cycle,” and his 4 B’s (the Blues, Jorge Luis Borges, Amiri Baraka and Romare Bearden). This class is being offered in celebration of Wilson’s birthday – the late playwright would have turned 76 on April 27.

New production of Dominique Morisseau work will be filmed and presented via outdoor screenings, streaming video

SARASOTA, FL – Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is thrilled to be back onstage – albeit with a limited cast and for the purpose of filming rather than presenting live – for the pandemic-delayed production of Dominique Morisseau’s noted work, “Pipeline.” WBTT is currently rehearsing the show, which it will film, present during one week of outdoor screenings at its Theatre Arts Center in late April, and then make available via streaming video in May.

Hybrid live/livestream event to feature most popular WBTT artists and Stage of Discovery students performing soul hits of the 1960s

SARASOTA, FL – For more than a decade, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe has offered the lively and music-filled fundraiser, the April Fools Fête, to support its education programs. This year, with social events cautiously returning to the scene, WBTT has moved the event outdoors to its theatre arts center for a socially-distanced live audience on April 5. It will also offer a livestream option so the rest of the community can join the party virtually while supporting the Troupe.

‘Aunt Rudele's Family Reunion’ promises side-splitting laughs in portrayal of outspoken, busybody relative

SARASOTA, FL – There have been few times in recent memory when people were as in need of a laugh as they are right now. To help lift the spirits of community members as well as theater fans wherever they may be, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is pleased to offer streaming video of “Aunt Rudele’s Family Reunion.”

Evening, outdoor cabaret-style performances will feature a live band and popular WBTT artists

SARASOTA, FL – In October 2020, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe reemerged from behind closed curtains to present an open-air concert series, titled “Light Up the Night!” After just a few weeks onstage, though, the production was forced to close due to an outbreak of COVID-19 among cast and crew. Rising virus numbers caused WBTT to be cautious with regard to any further performances; however, with the holiday surge in COVID-19 receding, WBTT will take to its outdoor performance area once more, starting Friday, February 12 and running through Sunday, March 14.