One of Sarasota's newest performing arts organizations is the West Coast Black Theater Troupe, which is "dedicated to presenting meaningful, entertaining and thought-provoking theater that celebrates the African-American experience."

Actually, the troupe's origins reach a few seasons back, to a time when longtime Sarasota actor, teacher and director Nate Jacobs teamed with the Players of Sarasota to present several shows featuring African-American actors (Purlie, The Amen Corner and Dreamgirls among them).

This season, though, Jacobs and company are planting their traveling feet on the stage of downtown's Theatre Works, where they've already brought the musical revue Eubie!, about composer-pianist Eubie Blake, to life. Next up is Lorraine Hansberry's ground-breaking A Raisin in the Sun, which runs Feb. 4-11; followed by the musical One Mo' Time May 29-June 15.

There's a lot of talent in the Westcoast ensemble; and it will be interesting to see how the community as a whole embraces this inaugural season. For tickets to the remaining two Westcoast/Theatre works co-productions, call Theatre Works' box office at 952-9170.