Pictured: Portraying members of ‘The Dreams’ are (from l-r) Kyla Bolling, Shena Brown, Caila Carter and Maya Cuevas Photo by Sorcha Augustine.

The West Coast Black Theatre Troupe’s much-anticipated premiere of Dreamgirls is playing from February 22nd through April 9th. The celebrated Broadway musical, which won six Tony awards and was a box-office hit after being adapted into a 2006 film of the same name, focuses on the rise of the fictional Motown group, “The Dreams” and the challenges they face en route to superstardom. This year’s production, which will see WBTT founder and Artistic Director Nate Jacobs at the helm, marks the WBTT’s 3rd performance of the show – first at the Manatee Performing Arts Center in 2005, then at the Historic Asolo Theatre in 2007 – and it’s first rendition in the company’s newly renovated Donelly Theater.

“We’re extremely excited about it,” says Jacobs. “We’ve always wanted a better facility to produce this musical in, and now finally, we have it. Over the years we didn’t quite have the funding and auxiliary measures necessary to pull it off, but this time we have the support we need.”

The show fits in well with the rest of WBTT’s production slate for this year. For the company’s 23rd season, the troupe adopted the theme “American Dreams” – opting for productions that focused on the concept of the American Dream and the differing permutations it can have across cultural and racial boundaries. “Dreamgirls follows these young girls who start off at a community talent show and become superstars in the world of music. It deals with all the challenges and consequences of becoming these stars – the jealousy, envy and love that’s intertwined with the journey,” says Jacobs. “We have some wonderful new artists joining us in the production and I’m excited to present this story for the audience.”

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe Campus, The Donelly Theatre, 1012 N. Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236 Box office: 941-366-1505.

Pictured: Portraying members of ‘The Dreams’ are (from l-r) Kyla Bolling, Shena Brown, Caila Carter and Maya Cuevas Photo by Sorcha Augustine.

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