Press Releases

: April 28, 2017

Renowned character actor and playwright of ‘Dearly Departed’ to offer ‘Impressive Auditions’ seminar at WBTT

SARASOTA, FL – David Dean Bottrell, working actor and playwright of "Dearly Departed" - which is currently being performed by Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe - will be holding a free two-hour seminar, "Impressive Auditions," at the Westcoast Black Theatre. This seminar is for working actors who want to fully realize every audition opportunity.

: April 14, 2017

SARASOTA, FL – Sketch comedy group Millennial Fresh returns for two performances in Sarasota on April 23 and May 1. Featuring some Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe artists and directed by the company manager, the group was formed in December of 2015 by Joey James and Natasha Samreny. They wanted to create a comedic voice in the area with people their own age. They started writing, auditioning and, soon, Millennial Fresh was born.

: April 12, 2017

Uproarious comedy paints a vivid picture of a dysfunctional family coming together for the funeral of their patriarch

SARASOTA, FL – Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe closes its 2016-2017 season with Dearly Departed, which runs April 19 – May 27, 2017. In this delightful and heartwarming comedy written by David Dean Bottrell and Jessie Jones, the dysfunctional Turpins gather in their rural Southern home for the patriarch’s funeral.

: March 13, 2017

SARASOTA, FL - On Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe will hold auditions for its 2017-2018 season. Auditions will take place at the WBTT Binz Building (1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota), which is adjacent to its theater building.

Actors are asked to prepare two contrasting monologues, one comedic and one dramatic, of three minutes or less. Singers are asked to be ready with 16 bars of one song, up-tempo or ballad, and one monologue, comedic or dramatic, of three minutes or less.

: February 27, 2017

Popular WBTT artist Michael Mendez to sing, dance and offer special surprises in ‘My Paradigm Shift’

SARASOTA, FL – Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (WBTT) is pleased to continue its fourth annual Young Artist Program, through which Troupe members are able to showcase their talents with one-night, one-person shows. The third and final Young Artist performances of this season, “My Paradigm Shift,” feature popular WBTT artist Michael Mendez and take place Monday, March 20 and Monday, April 3 at 7:30pm. Join Mendez for an entertaining evening celebrating his discovery of purpose and vision for his life and career. The show features music, dance, and special surprises showcasing this multi-talented artist who local audiences have grown to love.

: February 20, 2017

World-premiere production honors girl-powered groups that scored numerous hits, broke new ground for female artists

SARASOTA, FL - Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe continues its 2016-2017 season with Girl Groups: The ‘60s Explosion, which runs March 1 - April 9, 2017. In this world-premiere production, created and directed by WBTT founder and artistic director Nate Jacobs, the girl groups of the 1960s take center stage in celebration of a time when hit songs came fast and furious and glass ceilings were shattered..

: February 14, 2017

Features Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights, The Mountaintop,
Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, and new musical revue Soul Man,
plus 2017 summer show Broadway in Black and holiday offering A Motown Christmas

SARASOTA, FL – Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (WBTT) has announced its 2017-2018 season, with the theme “A Change is Gonna’ Come.” In addition to four regular-season shows, which are included in the season subscription, the schedule includes a summer production and a special holiday show, both being offered outside of the subscription. Running from October 2017 through the end of May 2018, the regular season shows are In the Heights, The Mountaintop, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, starring Broadway legend and Grammy Award-winning recording artist Melba Moore, and Soul Man. The 2017 summer show is Broadway in Black and the holiday show is A Motown Christmas.