Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe founder and artistic director Nate Jacobs is a driving force in Florida’s theater scene. For over 30 years, this graduate of Florida A&M University has worked extensively in the community training and mentoring youth in the performing arts. He founded WBTT in 1999.
An actor, singer, comedian, playwright, composer and director, he has written, adapted, directed and acted in many shows. Jacobs has created both original and adapted works such as Ruby, Syncopated Avenue, Soul Man, Marvin Gaye: Prince of Soul, Love Sung in the Key of Aretha, A Motown Christmas, The Sam Cooke Story, Jazz Hot Mamas, Cotton Club Cabaret, and How I Got Over: A Gospel Musical, to name a few.His shows have won acclaim from critics and the public, resulting in sold-out performances throughout the run of the shows.
Nurturing the next generation of artists has always been at the heart of Jacobs’ plans for WBTT. He has been instrumental in bringing the following training/mentorship programs to life for WBTT: the “Young Artists Program” and “Independent Artists Program,” through which Troupe members are able to showcase their talents with one-person shows; the “New Playwrights Series,” for emerging minority playwrights; and “Stage of Discovery,” a free summer musical theatre camp serving minority students – Stage of Discovery just celebrated its tenth anniversary in the summer of 2025.
As a result of Jacobs’ outstanding contributions to young people, the Sarasota County Branch NAACP Youth Council recognized him as one of its 2012 Men of Valor. In the spring of 2013, he was inducted into the Community Video Archives Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to the arts and
education. In 2015, Jacobs was recognized as a “Champion of Diversity” for the arts during the Biz(941) and La Guia magazines’ Unity Awards Luncheon.
Jacobs was honored with the prestigious Larry Leon Hamlin Producer Award during the 2015 National (now International) Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., “due to his contributions to Black theatre specifically and American theatre in general.” In 2017, he was named a Goodwill Manasota Ambassador of the Year. The award honors “those who help change lives.” In October 2018, Jacobs received the Arts Leadership Award for Artistic Achievement from the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County.
In 2021 Key Chorale honored Jacobs with the Perfect Pitch Award, which recognized him as a driving force in the arts and for his collaborations with other arts organizations, including “American Roots: The Gospel Experience,” a series of concert performances with WBTT performers and Key Chorale presented in three area churches in the fall of 2019.
In 2025, Jacobs was pinned as an honorary member of FAAME (the Florida African American Male Experience); FAAME is an innovative program at St. Petersburg College that is focused on enhancing educational and career opportunities for African-American males.
Now, WBTT is entering its 26th theatre season, with the theme “Soul Of A People.” The popular arts organization continues to showcase world-class productions while mentoring artists of color through innovative programs offered throughout the year.
As Jacobs says, “While WBTT is dedicated to producing the finest dramatic and musical theatre, my dream – my true calling and purpose for founding this organization – has always been to help young, aspiring artists who may otherwise be overlooked to develop their talents and have the opportunity to achieve success.”