COLUMN: 'Soul Crooners' shows what amazing teamwork can do

After more than 30 years with the Venice Gondolier, I have covered everything from real estate, City Council, fires, traffic crashes, School Board meetings, the famed Pillsbury Bake-Off (three times), Walt Disney World and the christening of the Disney Dream, which honored my beloved Donald Duck.

But with a background in theater from childhood on (although only once on stage and for good reason), my greatest joy has been to see the growth of the many theaters here on Florida’s true “Cultural Coast.”

I have seen Venice Theatre rise from an average “Little” Theater to the No. 2 community theater in the U.S. and pray that the money will come to preserve it after massive hurricane damage from Hurricane Ian.

And I have seen the creation of another theater and its slow but steady rise to what founder Nate Jacobs hoped “would celebrate, nurture and spotlight people of color.” Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is doing all that and more.

Entering its 25th anniversary season, WBTT is an Equity (professional) theater. WBTT has launched many a successful professional actor and trained countless more in its educational programs, but mostly it has given this area something special as well as many special entertainers.

This year’s season opening show, the Solid Gold Edition of “Soul Crooners,” which was created, adapted and directed by WBTT founder Nate Jacobs, showcases not only the incredible talent of Jacobs but also of six actors whose careers blossomed at WBTT.

In two acts, the six “Soul Crooners,” plus Earley Dean as “Cedric Soulchild” and Jacobs as himself, perform 48 hit songs in two acts.

Although each of these performers sparkles on his own, for this show the six “crooners” are decked out in sparkle from their neck to the tip of their shoes.

Earley Dean, on the other hand, wears an all white suit in Act One with white stacked heel shoes befitting his character — Cedric Soul Child.

Dean is a Sarasota native and has been with WBTT for years while also performing on HBO and more. Jacobs also appears in this show, also wearing plenty of sparkle to match his persona.

But the heart of this show is the group of six men: Brian Boyd, Chris Eisenberg, Michael Mejia-Mendez, Raleigh Mosely II, Leon Pitts II, and Sheldon Rhoden. Not only are their feet in perfect unison for all 48 musical numbers but also their hands, down to their fingers.

Donald Fison’s choreography is always stellar but for this special show in this anniversary year, it seemed as though everyone involved added something special to the production. Singing voices — spot-on, as well.

Currently based in Atlanta, Boyd is a graduate of WBTT’s Young Artist program and has been on its stage for a lengthy list of shows. See why in this production.

Eisenberg is another Sarasota native who has been on several shows since he was 10 and portrayed a young Michael Jackson. With many awards under his belt, he also writes music and musical shows.

But in this show, it is the unison of the six performers that makes the show so special, and he is a big part of that.

Mejia-Mendez is in his 14th season with WBTT, and I have been watching him develop during all those years. He was 16 when I first met him at the Sarasota Hyatt. I don’t remember the show but I remember meeting him and his mother and deciding he was someone to watch.

In 2014, he appeared in “Playing Through,” a film about professional black golfer Ann Gregory. It was shot in this area and shown at the Sarasota Film Festival.

Last year, he appeared in one of the cabaret shows at Florida Studio Theatre. I know I was not alone in thinking that he and the other younger players were a good fit to this cast.

WBTT’s resident choreographer Donald Frison made the most of all this talent.

Raleigh Mosely II has been a solid presence at WBTT since 2017 but also has been featured in many other venues within Florida and elsewhere. His is another name to remember.

Leon Pitts II was in the first edition of Soul Crooners as well as so many other WBTT shows such as “Marvin Gaye: Prince of Soul,” “Soul Man,” “The Wiz,” and “Love Sung in the Key of Aretha,” among others.

Sheldon Rhoden is another Sarasota native with a long history at WBTT — 17 years and many featured roles.

This great cast, plus Earley Dean in those platform shoes, is accompanied by seven musicians at the back of the multi-level stage. A variety of images projected on the wall at the back of the stage, plus light strips on stage, adds more sparkle to this show, courtesy of technical director Roland Black.

And then all that glitter in Act One gave way to gold and more gold on jackets and vests in Act Two — a finishing touch that says this is a production that is not to be missed.

Costumer Adrienne Pitts is to be commended for those costumes. They merit an award for making the “Gold Edition” of Soul Crooner truly Golden.

When one is told the second act is some 75 minutes long, it seems like a warning. But in this show, that second act flew by with one wonderful production number after another.

“Soul Crooners” continues through Nov. 17, followed by “A Motown Christmas” Nov. 27-Jan. 5, at WBTT, 1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota.

For tickets, call 941-366-1505 or order online at westcoastblacktheatre.org.