A Brand New Beat

The rehearsal space looks like a theater-lover’s dream. The expansive room is filled with old set pieces with colorful depictions of Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and other Motown and soul music greats. There is a cornucopia of clothes, costumes and shoes for anyone to play pretend and take on the identity of any character. This fantasyland is the theatrical factory connected to the theater of the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe.

After an acclaimed and successful run of the play “Knock Me A Kiss” by Charles Smith, which depicted the family drama of early civil rights advocate W.E.B. Du Bois, founding Artistic Director Nate Jacobs is now diving back into the rehearsal laboratory to do what he does best: Create a new show.

Opening Feb. 25 and running through April 4, “Jazz Hot Mamas” is an original musical revue by Jacobs. The revue honors the contribution of the first ladies of jazz, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone, Nancy Wilson, Etta James, Dinah Washington and Peggy Lee.

“I have never done a huge jazz classic before,” says Jacobs.

Every day during the past two weeks, from 6 to 10 p.m., the director has been working to discover the final form of the show. This unearthing process is done with his cast of four performers — Teresa Stanley (who just finished a stint in the Broadway production of “Rock of Ages”), Matelyn Alicia, Neyce Pierre and Naarai Jacobs — along  with his band of four musicians. What started with 70 to 80 songs has been culled down a two-act show with about 24 songs.

“Creating a new show is just like giving birth,” says Jacobs. “There are labor pains.”

Backstage Pass
Here is a backstage peek into WBTT’s rehearsal process and how its staff and cast develops a new production amidst a theatrical season dominated by previously written material.

5:30 p.m. The cast and the band start filing into the rehearsal space talking, laughing and getting ready for the night.

5:45 p.m. They pick up where the last rehearsal left off. The company starts five songs from the end of the show.

6 p.m. The band of piano, bass, keyboard and drums begin to play the melodies of “I Hold No Grudge,” made popular by Nina Simone.

6:05 p.m. Matelyn Alicia sings “I Hold No Grudge.” As she holds the last note — a long one — she turns and gestures to the band so they can end it in unison when she runs out of breath.

6:15 p.m. They move on to the next song in the show, “Old Jim Crow.” Jacobs decides to change the intro to be slower and more dramatic.  He divides the parts and defines the four-part harmony. He also decides to isolate the piano with the voices, cutting out the other band members until the tempo picks back up. They listen to a recording of the song as a point of reference. “It’s more storytelling than singing,” says Jacobs as he leads the company through the transition.

6:25 p.m. As Jacobs does several run-throughs of “Old Jim Crow” he ruminates on the other elements of design such as lighting, blocking and set design to match the mood he just created by slowing the tempo of the intro. Jacobs says he may want to lower the lights to mark the dramatic shift in the song.

6:50 p.m. The company runs through the song several times to establish and polish the adjustments made in the song during the last hour. Jacobs adds vocal flourishes and runs to the finale of the songs, pointing at each performer like the master of a choir to cue her turn in the layered harmonies.

7 p.m. After several times through the song to solidify the changes, Jacobs pauses to reflect on why so much work is being put forth in these songs.

“We’re here as the children of the ancestors of the creators of these songs,” says Jacobs. “These people bled so Nate Jacobs could have a theater in Sarasota. And these changes are in order to reach the spirit of these songs.”

7:15 p.m. After one more complete performance of “Old Jim Crow,” this time recording it for reference, they move on to the next song in the show. An hour into the rehearsal, the company jokes about all the musical detours in Jacobs’ still evolving show.

“Going through ‘Old Jim Crow’ was like four rounds of church,” says singer Teresa Stanley.

IF YOU GO
‘Jazz Hot Mamas’
When: Feb. 25 through April 4
Where: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1646 10th Way
Tickets: $29.50 for adults, $16.50 for students
Info: Call 366-1505 or visit wbttsrq.org.