Today Is Not Over Yet

Vinette Carroll in Fort Lauderdale

All the old theaters in the world have ghosts, or so they say, and some of the newer theaters also have their share.  Along with the ghosts, there are also a vast number of ancestors who haunt the stage, not necessarily in a spectral form, but in terms of their legacy, and our memories.  They become inspirations for us, and influences, and for many of the most inspired and committed theatre practitioners, their effects live on much longer than their lives on the boards.  This is certainly the case with Vinette Carroll.  She died in 2002, so the extent of her legacy can’t be measured, but for the few years that have passed, it would seem as though this will be a very important one.

She was born in New York City in 1922, and did a lot of her early work there, including an education that included doctoral work in psychology.  She also began to study acting, and became one of the most prominent actors of her time.  In her middle years, she spent her time working in New York and the West Indies.  She was the first African American to direct a Broadway production.  In later years, she would spend most of her time in Fort Lauderdale.  Her influence on the local scene here is tremendous, and visitors coming to look at her legacy will find themselves in a pretty lively city. There are plenty of accommodation possibilities, and some of the best can be found right here.

In the middle of one of the world’s great tourist centers, where thousands come out every year for spring break vacations, there is also a thriving theatre scene.  This is, in large part, due to her efforts.  When she bought a house here in the 80s, she also helped to found a new theatre, which also took her name, the Vinette Carroll Repertory Theatre.  Today, this building is the home to Fort Lauderdale’s independent films, Cinema Paradiso, and is a major focal point for the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.  Even here, her name has a resonance.