BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Vinnette Carroll was born on March 11, 1922 in New York City to Florence and Edgar Carroll. When Vinnette was three the family moved to Jamaica; subsequently, she spent much of her childhood in the West Indies. She received a BA from Long Island University in 1944; and an MA from New York University in 1946; followed by doctoral work in psychology at Columbia University. Carroll's father encouraged his daughters to become physicians, and as a compromise, Vinnette chose psychology. Carroll worked as a clinical psychologist with the NYC Bureau of Child Guidance before beginning to study acting.

In 1948 she accepted a scholarship to attend the Erwin Piscator's Dramatic Workshop at the New School for Social Research and studied with Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, Margaret Barker, and Susan Steele. She made her professional stage debut at the Falmouth Playhouse acting in Shaw's Androcles and the Lion. Later in response to the scarcity of roles, Carroll created a one-woman show and toured the United States and the West Indies. For eleven years she taught theater arts and directed productions as a member of the faculty of the High School of Performing Arts in New York City. Her Broadway acting debut came in 1956 when she appeared in a revival of A Streetcar Named Desire.

In 1967 she founded the Urban Arts Corps in New York City. One of the goals of the Corps was to assist minority performers in all theatrical disciplines. Serving as Artistic Director, Carroll selected and directed all of the Urban Arts Corps' productions, specializing in works by black writers and composers, sometimes writing the material herself.

1972 saw Carroll begin her collaboration with songwriter Micki Grant. Carroll became the first African-American woman to direct a production on Broadway when Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope opened at the Playhouse Theatre. The two women have collaborated on pieces such as Your Arms Too Short ot Box with God and Ups and Downs of Theophilus Maitland.

A talented actress, playwright, and director, Vinnette Carroll has received numerous honors and awards including an Emmy Award, an Obie Award, three Tony Award nominations, and was inducted into the Black Film Makers Hall of Fame in 1979. She is a member of Actors Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild and is currently the Producing Artistic Director, as well as the founder, of the Vinnette Carroll Repertory Company, which has its permanent home in a church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

PLAYS

Trumpets of the Lord-1963

Adapted from James Weldon Johnson's God's Trombones. First produced off-Broadway at the Astor Place Playhouse on December 21, 1963; directed by Donald McKayle.

But Never Jam Today-1969

Conceived, adapted, and directed by Carroll. An Adaptation of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. First produced by the UAC at the NYC Center Black Expo April 24, 1969.

Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope-1971

Conceived and directed by Carroll with book, music, and lyrics by Micki Grant. World premiere at Ford's Theatre in Washington DC on September 15, 1971; opened on Broadway at the Playhouse Theatre on April 19, 1972.

Croesus and the Witch-1971

Book by Carroll, music and lyrics by Grant. Based on a fable. Produced by the UAC August 10, 1971 at Fort Green Park. The production was directed by Carroll.

Ups and Downs of Theophilus Maitland-1974

Conceived, adapted and directed by Carroll with music and lyrics by Grant. Produced by the UAC and opened November 13, 1974.

Your Arms Too Short to Box with God-1975

Conceived by Carroll with music and lyrics by Alex Bradford, additional music by Micki Grant. Based on the Gospel of Matthew; title taken from a poem in James Weldon Johnson's God's Trombones First produced by the UAC for the Spoleto, Italy Festival of Two Worlds in 1975; American premiere at Ford's Theatre in Washington DC November 4, 1975. It was first produced in New York City at the Lyceum December 22, 1976.

When Hell Freezes Over, I'll Skate-1979

Conceived and directed by Carroll and based on poetry by Paul Lawrence Dunbar, lindamichellebaron, and Langston Hughes. Produced by the UAC in New York City January 1979.

CRITICAL/BIOGRAPHICAL RESOURCES

For full citations of the books listed, follow the links to Resources Page

Books marked with book covers or a are linked to an Amazon.com record.

African-American Almanac

African American Encyclopedia

Black Theatre in the 1960s and 1970s

Black Writers

American Women Dramatists of the Twentieth Century

Black Women in America

Contemporary African American Female Playwrights

Contemporary Black American Playwrights and Their Plays

Dictionary of the Black Theatre

Directory of Blacks in the Performing Arts 2nd ed.

Drumbeats, Masks and Metaphors

The Female Dramatist: Profiles of Women Playwrights from the Middle Ages to Contemporary Times

Notable Women in American Theatre

Reference Library of Black America v.IV

Voices of the Black Theatre

Who's Who Among African Americans 10th ed.

The Work of Vinnette Carroll, an African-American Theatre Artist-- On Backorder

SELECTED ARTICLES ABOUT THE AUTHOR