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Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe

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A non-profit Black Theater
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe
Founded1999
FounderNate Jacobs
HeadquartersSarasota, Florida, United States
WebsiteOfficial website

The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (WBTT) is a nonprofit theater, located in Sarasota, Florida. In 2022, the WBTT gained national attention for "inclusion" while concurrently representing African-American history and the greater Black community. WBTT productions have been highlighted and reviewed in national publications including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

The theater company was founded by actor/producer/director Nate Jacobs who continues to serve as artistic director and received the Larry Leon Hamlin award in August 2022 for his contribution to Black Theater Julie Leach has been the company's executive director since her 2015 appointment.

After spending much of its first fifteen years in temporary, rental spaces, in 2017, WBTT began work on a new, larger space on their campus which opened in 2020 with a production of Caroline or Change. Among their most well-known productions is Black Nativity, which they first performed in 2003.

The WBTT has been a longstanding community member within a predominately white demographic and thus enjoys a diverse audience and patronage. WBTT promotes theater to youngsters through local scholarships.

References

  1. "Sarasota's Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe gains national attention for entertainment, enlightenment". ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS). 2022-03-30. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  2. Teachout, Terry. "'The Piano Lesson' Review: The Year of August Wilson". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  3. Handelman, Jay. "Sarasota's WBTT rides a soul wave back to National Black Theatre Festival". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  4. Morris, Bob (2021-12-15). "For This Theater Leader, a Mission That Goes Beyond the Stage". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  5. "Nate Jacobs to receive producing award at National Black Theatre Festival | Arts and Entertainment". Your Observer. 2015-06-08. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  6. Reichert, Nick (2015-09-04). "Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe names Julie Leach as new executive director". Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  7. Lowry, Klint (2020-01-08). "WBTT is the little theater that could – and did". Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  8. Kipling, Kay (2020-01-12). "Westcoast Black Theatre Faces the Past—and Its Own Future—with 'Caroline, or Change'". Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  9. Kipling, Kay (2017-07-13). "Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe Raises the Roof". Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  10. Handelman, Jay (2022-11-27). "Westcoast Black Theatre celebrates 'Black Nativity' with gospel and spirituals". Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  11. "A New Wave of Prominent African-American Retirees is Enriching and Changing Our City". Sarasota Magazine. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
  12. "Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe Awards Scholarships". Sarasota Magazine. Retrieved 2022-11-07.

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