Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun (“Daily News” reporting Burrows’ one woman show “Sister! Sister!” (02/08/1997)
Center section from Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun’s coverage on Burrows’ performance of “Sister! Sister!” as well as her advocacy for human rights (02/08/1997)
English version of Japanese press material on “Sister! Sister” (Burrows shared the stage with Eiko Shinya) at the Nara Prefecture Culture Center on 02/19/1997
After a performance, a young Japanese woman came up to Burrows and admitted that at first, she looked at this “older black woman with braids” and thought, “What does her story have to do with me?” But after watching “Sister! Sister!” she understood that “We are one.” Vinie Burrows recounted this story, remarking how universal and powerful theatre could be.
(Hear more of Burrows’ recounts of performing her one woman shows at https://performingartslegacy.org/burrows/oral-history/)
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."
