Westcoast Black Theater Buys Property

Westcoast Black Theater Troupe has purchased the property where it has been staging shows since 2010, Julie Leach, board chair announced.

Theater members say the purchase of the two-acre site, which includes performance space and an additional building, enables the troupe to have a permanenet home after 14 seasons.

The theater is located at 1646 10^th Way. The property consists of a theater buildin, with 15,250 square feet of space, and the Binz building, which has  11,632 square feet.

            “In four short years, we have gone from living season to season and not knowing what tomorrow would bring to having one place to call home and being able to own it.,” Nate Jacobs, the theater's founder and artistic director. “

Plans are to use the Binz building for set construction, rehearsals and storage for costumes and scenery. Eventually the combined space will also house educational program space and administrative offices.

The theater plans a capital campaign to fund  building improvements, educational program and the creation of an endowment.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe of Florida started in December 1999. It is the only professional black theater company on Florida’s West Coast. The mission of WBTT is to “produce plays that promote and celebrate the African-American experience."

For more information on WBTT, visit the website at www.wbttroupe.org, follow on Facebook or call 941-366-1505.   

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