Arts & Culture
SRQ DAILY FRIDAY WEEKEND EDITION
FRIDAY MAR 20, 2026 |
BY DYLAN CAMPBELL
WBTT artists who will be featured in ‘How I Got Over’ include (from l-r) Maicy Powell, Stephanie Zandra and Jada Carson. Photo by Sorcha Augustine.
A decade after its premiere at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (WBTT), How I Got Over: A Gospel Revue has returned to the mainstage. In production at WBTT until March 29, How I Got Over is a celebration of gospel music—a genre that WBTT founder and artistic director Nate Jacobs attests is crucial to telling the story of the Black experience.
“It is their story from the beginning of time—from the fields of slavery, Black people have hummed, sang, cherished and loved gospel,” says Jacobs. “It was their musical cry out for the very desperate and sorrowful situation that Black people were in for many years in this country. Gospel was their only hope—if I can’t find my happiness, peace and joy on this earthly plane, I will look out to a heavenly plane and a faith and a hope to help me survive this suffering.”
Propagating that history, particularly to the youth of the area, is one of the driving reasons for bringing back How I Got Over. The other is that the show is just a rollicking good time. While the show was originally created with the spotlight on Mahalia Jackson, one of the pioneers of the genre, How I Got Over has evolved to include more contemporary gospel artists such as Andre Crouch and Kirk Franklin.
Jacobs was originally inspired to create the show in large part from the talents of local gospel singer (Gloria) Elaine Mayo, who passed away in 2023. A frequent performer at area churches, Jacobs knew of Mayo’s talents but was convinced to create How I Got Over after witnessing a crowd amass around Mayo when she was singing in downtown Sarasota. “She was part of a gospel dynasty in Sarasota, a member of my church and one of the most remarkable gospel singers I’ve ever heard,” says Jacobs.
How I Got Over: A Gospel Revue, February 18-March 29, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1021 N Orange Avenue, Sarasota.
WBTT artists who will be featured in ‘How I Got Over’ include (from l-r) Maicy Powell, Stephanie Zandra and Jada Carson. Photo by Sorcha Augustine.