Golden Globe winners Dylan McDermott, Ving Rhames to lead Sarasota acting master classes
Jay Handelman
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is launching a series of master classes featuring Golden Globe winners Dylan McDermott and Ving Rhames who will visit Sarasota to work with local actors on an invitation-only basis.
The new project is a collaboration between the theater and Semkhor Productions and FOUNDERS+.
The program starts in January with McDermott, the Emmy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner best known for “Law & Order: Organized Crime,” “American Horror Story” and “The Practice.”
WBTT originally announced that McDermott would speak in November, but then learned that his filming schedule for the new “Law & Order” series would delay his appearance until a time in January still to be announced.
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McDermott worked with Ringling College of Art and Design students and Semkhor Productions to produce his series “Sugar” and the pilot “Sweet Jane.”
In February, at a date to be determined, Golden Globe winner Rhames, a star of “Pulp Fiction,” “Con Air” and “Don King: Only in America,” will take part in a session at a date to be determined.
“WBTT truly embodies the spirit of artistic collaboration and has done so much to bolster the arts in Sarasota; we are honored to be working with the organization to reinforce its mission while helping attract and originate live and filmed productions in Sarasota County,” said David Shapiro, the owner of Semkhor, in a statement.
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Semkhor is a production company that partnered with Ringling College to build a major film soundstage on the campus. The company has been involved in Kevin Smith’s original film “Killroy Was Here,” which originated as a web series pilot. It also was involved in Justin and Christian Long’s web series “The Real Stephen Blatt,” which was featured on Funny or Die, and “Acting: The First Six Lessons,” by Beau and Emily Bridges. FOUNDERS+ is working with Semkhor to help individuals and groups working to create a sustainable digital arts industry.
Julie Leach, executive director of WBTT, said members of the casts of the current musical “Eubie!” and the upcoming “Joyful! Joyful!” will take part in the McDermott master class, and other actors from the Sarasota community will be invited. Some donors and sponsors also will be invited to observe.
In a statement, WBTT founder Nate Jacobs said the theater is “thrilled to be able to bring such well-known experts in the field to Sarasota to lift up area artists while working to attract projects that will benefit our local economy.
For more information about how to be involved in the collaboration, contact Leach at 941-404-7728.
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