One Woman Shows (Oral History)

Vinie Burrows

VINIE BURROWS is a native New Yorker born in Harlem Hospital. A child actor on radio she made her Broadway debut with Helen Hayes. Six more Broadway shows followed appearing with Mary Martin, Claude Rains, Ossie Davis, and Eartha Kitt, among others. Frustrated by the roles available to the actor of color, VINIE created and produced her first one woman show, WALK TOGETHER CHILDREN, a chronicle of the African American experience. The NY critics were unanimous, the New York TIMES called her "a magnificent performer." Morning TV talk shows introduced her to the college market. 6000 performances later with a repertoire of 8 solo shows, she toured three continents. She has been hailed as a “cultural ambassador” and honored at the United Nations. Actors’ Equity Association gave her their Paul Robeson Award; MIT their McDermott Award for her contribution to the Arts. A mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Vinie calls herself, a "cultural worker."