Tap Tap

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe Pays Tribute to Tap with a Brand New Musical

The show is the brainchild of the troupe’s artistic director Nate Jacobs.

04/03/2025 By Kay Kipling

Preview

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's 2025-2026 Season Celebrates 'The Soul of a People'

WBTT's 26th season will feature fan-favorite performances, a drama by playwright and actress Dominique Morisseau, and a world premiere.

02/19/2025 By Staff

Review

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe Turns to August Wilson's 'Pittsburgh Cycle' with 'Fences'

Almost 40 years after its debut, this play about dreams denied remains powerful.

01/20/2025 By Kay Kipling

Review

WBTT's Long-Delayed World Premiere Musical 'Ruby' Takes the Stage

The show tells a complicated true story of a murder that shook one small Florida town 70 years ago.

03/05/2024 By Kay Kipling

Preview

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe Announces 25th Anniversary Season

The season will feature Soul Crooners Solid Gold Edition, Fences, Five Guys Named Moe and Syncopated Avenue, plus the holiday show A Motown Christmas.

02/19/2024 By Staff

Review

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe Presents a Hard-Hitting A Soldier's Play

This story of racism in the 1940s, in more than one form, allows for some strong performances by its cast.

01/23/2024 By Kay Kipling

Listening to Black Voices

Travis Ray on Family, Theater and the Dream That Led Him to Found Dapper Bowtique

"Our world needs real conversations, without anger, that allow us to get on the same page."

11/06/2023 By Heather Dunhill

Review

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's 'Once on This Island' Uplifts and Enchants

The Caribbean-flavored musical offers visual and emotional highlights.

10/16/2023 By Kay Kipling

Review

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe Steps Out With the Music of Fats Waller in Big Sexy

The new revue salutes not only Waller, but WBTT veteran Leon Pitts, who stars.

04/25/2023 By Kay Kipling

Preview

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe Announces Its 2023-24 Season

The troupe's 24th season will kick off with Once On This Island on Oct. 11.

03/09/2023 By Staff

Review

Dreamgirls Returns to WBTT Stage with a Big Production

The show is often a hit with audiences, and this staging is no exception.

02/27/2023 By Kay Kipling

Review

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's Flyin' West Tells a Surprising Story with History Behind It

Black settlers in 19th-century Kansas struggle for land and freedom in Pearl Cleage's play.

01/10/2023 By Kay Kipling

Review

WBTT's 'Guys and Dolls' Mostly Sticks to the Script

Aside from its casting, the production hews pretty much to the original form of the classic musical

10/10/2022 By Kay Kipling

Grant Report

Sarasota Kiwanis Club Awards $100,000 in Grants to Celebrate 100th Anniversary

Plus, Gulf Coast Community Foundation awards $125,000 to CareerEdge and WBTT receives $40,000 Arts Appreciation grant.

08/01/2022 By Staff

Review

Two Black Stars Get the Musical Bio Treatment in WBTT's New Playwrights Series

Actress Nell Carter and boxer Muhammad Ali are the duo at work in these world premiere one-act plays.

05/09/2022 By Kay Kipling

Limelight

Photos: WBTT's April Fools Fete 2022

This year's edition had a theme of "Serving Country Vibes."

04/05/2022 Photography by Lori Sax

In the Spotlight

Award-Winning Actor Ving Rhames Visited WBTT This Week

Rhames attended a tour by WBTT director Nate Jacobs, taught a masterclass to local actors, and participated in a press reception.

03/30/2022 By Allison Forsyth

Preview

Here's What's Coming to Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe This Season

The 23rd season opens in October with an all-Black production of Guys and Dolls.

03/22/2022 By Kay Kipling

Review

WBTT Goes Mega with Broadway in Black

The show is chock full of hits from a century of music, ranging from gospel, calypso inflected, R&B, rock, pop, or more traditional Broadway style.

03/14/2022 By Kay Kipling

Grants

WBTT Approved by National Endowment for the Arts for American Rescue Plan Grant

The $50,000 in funding will be used to support artistic team salaries.

01/27/2022 By Staff