SARASOTA COUNTY (WSNN) – Theaters had to go dark during the pandemic, from Broadway to the Suncoast, but the West Coast Black Theater Troupe is ready to hit the stage once again.
It’s been more than a year since artists from the West Coast Black Theater Troupe have performed on this stage in front of a live audience. Now, that’s all going to change.
“We are back in the theatre,” Founder and Artistic Director, Nate Jacobs said. “And yes, I am happy, happy, happy.”
Jacobs had to think outside the ‘theatre’ box to pivot and keep performing amidst the obstacles the pandemic presented.
“Every bad thing always creates phenomenal things,” Jacobs said.
That’s when they went virtual and even moved lighting and sound outside to produce, ‘Light Up the Night!’
They raised millions of dollars to create this theatre, but after one-and-half shows last year, they had to close the doors and go dark.
“And that kind of devastated all of us,” Jacobs said.
But, hope is still alive as they prepare for their upcoming season.
“This season is called, ‘Still We Rise’ and that is the resilience spirit of WBTT,” Jacobs said.
WBTT has five performances planned with all of them in the theatre house with a live audience.
“These edifices are established to make life better, to cushion the craziness that sometimes people can do the people and sometimes happen in our lives,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs says he’s exploring the outside and virtual options in this upcoming season as well.
If you’re ready, WBTT has a lot in store for you. For more information on WBTT and its show, you can click here.
