A Dream Come True |
Thanks to everyone who helped make our dream come true by contributing to our Heart & Soul Capital Campaign! Because of your generosity, we exceeded our $8 million goal and raised over $8.7 million! Your dollars allowed us to transform our campus into a cutting-edge theatre arts center and to begin to build an endowment that will ensure the long-term funding of our facilities, programs and mission. Selected naming opportunities remain, including personalized theatre seats and courtyard pavers. You may also contribute to the funding of our endowment. For more information about WBTT gifts and naming opportunities, contact Development Director Debra Flynt-Garrett at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 941-366-1505, X 106. HOW THE DREAM BEGAN The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe was founded in 1999, as not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and for many years performed in a variety of spaces available. We dreamed of having a theatre of our own. In 2010 we rented a large warehouse building that was temporarily transformed into our theatre. Three years later, WBTT’s original dream of a permanent home came true when we were able to buy that warehouse building as well as the entire surrounding 2½-acre site, including the historic 1926 Binz Fireproof Warehouse and parking areas. Our nomadic days were over! Since then, we grew exponentially — more shows, more sold-out performances, and many more education outreach programs. We were rapidly reaching the limitations of our current facilities. So we dreamed even bigger—of turning the site into a cohesive, state-of-the-art theatre arts center that would support first-class artistic productions and education programs. To realize that goal we launched the Heart & Soul Capital Campaign in November 2016. Many generous donors stepped forward to help keep the dream alive. In Phase One, completed in 2018, we renovated the historic 1926 Binz Fireproof Warehouse. In May 2019, at the end of our 2018-2019 season, we began renovating the theatre. It reopened in January 2020 as the Gerri Aaron and the Aaron Family Foundation Theatre Building. The facility features the Donelly Theatre; the Howard J. Millman Theatre, our second stage and rehearsal space; as well as improved sound and lighting systems, dressing rooms and other backstage facilities for performing artists; and expanded lobby area with dedicated will-call area and upgraded patron restrooms. Click through the gallery below for photos of our theatre before and after the renovation!
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A DREAM COME TRUE | BUILDING THE DREAM | HEARTFELT THANKS |