Press Releases

: July 23, 2020

Students involved with WBTT programs earn funds toward artistic education and training

SARASOTA, FL – Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is proud to announce it has awarded scholarships to six deserving students. Last year – the first for WBTT’s scholarship program – six up-and-coming artists were presented with $1,000 scholarships for studies in a college or conservatory program in the performing arts or arts management for the 2019-2020 academic year; this year, WBTT provided six young artists with scholarships of $2,000 each.

: July 17, 2020

Funding of $10,000 will support WBTT’s 2020-2021 performance season

SARASOTA, FL – Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, the only professional Black theater company on Florida's West Coast and one of only three in Florida, was thrilled to recently receive its first-ever grant from the Shubert Foundation. The funding in the amount of $10,000 will support WBTT’s 2020-2021 performance season.

: July 10, 2020

Arts Appreciation Grant of $30,000 will support Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s operations and 2020-2021 season of shows

SARASOTA, FL - Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe recently received an Arts Appreciation Grant of $30,000 from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The grant will support WBTT's operations as well as the costs associated with its 2020-2021 season, which includes “The Soul Crooners,” “Ruby,” “Pipeline,” “Smokey Joe’s Café” and holiday production “Black Nativity.”

: July 6, 2020

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe will receive $50,000, with the National Endowment for the Arts recommendation, to counteract COVID-19 impacts

SARASOTA, FL - Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to receive $50,000 in direct funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The NEA recommended 855 arts organizations – in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico – to receive a total of $44.5 million in non-matching funds to support staff salaries, fees for artists or contractual personnel, and facilities costs. WBTT was one of 33 grantees in Florida.

: June 23, 2020

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe has announced a change to its 2020-2021 season lineup. WBTT has replaced "Broadway in Black" with "The Soul Crooners" to open the season; this decision was made with respect to budgetary and logistical considerations due to the coronavirus. One of Nate Jacobs' most popular original shows, "The Soul Crooners" showcases R&B classics from the 1960s and 70s, including "Reach Out, I'll Be There," "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)," "Love Train" and many more. The last time the Soul Crooners performed was during WBTT's 2019 "Arts in the Ballpark" event, the sold-out '70s Soul Party concert at Ed Smith Stadium.

While WBTT continues to monitor public health recommendations, which may further impact its schedule and live audience capacity, the 2020-2021 season currently includes the following shows: “The Soul Crooners” (Oct. 7-Nov. 22, 2020); “Black Nativity” (Dec. 2-27, 2020); “Ruby” (Jan. 6-Feb. 21, 2021); “Pipeline” (March 3-April 11, 2021); and “Smokey Joe’s Café” (April 21-June 6, 2021).

: June 18, 2020

Doris Johnson ascends to chair, Mona Rankin and Dona Scott newest board additions

SARASOTA, FL – Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is proud to announce its 2020-2021 Board of Trustees, with a new board chair and two new trustees to guide the well-loved arts organization into the future. Longtime supporter and leader Doris Johnson is the new chair, succeeding Marian Moss; new trustees are Mona Rankin and Dona Scott.

: May 27, 2020

Students involved with WBTT programs can earn funds toward artistic education and training

SARASOTA, FL – Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is proud to announce the expansion of its scholarship program for deserving students. Last year – the first for WBTT’s scholarship program – six up-and-coming artists were presented with $1,000 scholarships for studies in a college or conservatory program in the performing arts or arts management for the 2019-2020 academic year. This year, WBTT will have enough funding to provide six young artists with scholarships of $2,000 each.