"Let the Good Times Rolle: The Life & Legacy of Esther Rolle at 100" and original play commissioned by the African American Research Library & Cultural Center.
Join us for a Drive-in night where we will have the play LIVE & Socially distanced. Drive In early to get your spot before the show, as early as 1 hour early, with food trucks and more before the show starts.
Registration is NOT Required. Arrive early as the event has limited space.
BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Join the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC) March 4-7, 2021, for the debut of the original play Let the Good Times Rolle: The Life and Legacy of Esther Rolle at 100. Held in celebration of Women’s History Month and as tribute to the many talents of Emmy Award-winning actor and Pompano Beach native Esther Rolle, this special drive-in, outdoor performance will be held at AARLCC, located at 2650 Sistrunk Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311, 954-357-6282.
Born November 8, 1920, Rolle excelled on stage and screen and is best known for her role as matriarch Florida Evans on the 1970s sitcom Good Times. Commissioned by the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, Let the Good Times Rolle is by directed Keith C. Wade, theatre professor at Florida Memorial University. Darius V. Daughtry, writer and founder/director of Art Prevails Project, is the assistant director of the play, which was written by playwrights Sarahca Peterson, founder of The Round Table Project, and Monique Williams, published author and performance poet.
Let the Good Times Rolle is made possible through the generous support of an Art of Community grant awarded by the Community Foundation of Broward. The objective of the Art of Community grant is to bring the arts to Broward neighborhoods to ignite creativity and local pride. Support has been provided by the following funds at the Community Foundation of Broward: Edward Hashek and John Jors Charitable Fund, A Fund for the Performing Arts, John D. Ryan Fund, Linda and Michael Carter Fund, and Mary and Alex Mackenzie Community Impact Fun. Additional support provided by the Broward Public Library Foundation, the Friends of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC), Bank of America and Broward County Cultural Division, Lon Cha Music, and The Hollywood Tailor.
The play will run with three evening shows, March 4th, 5th, and 6th, which begin at 7PM, and one matinee on Sunday, March 7th at 4PM. Let the Good Times Rolle is part biography, part local history and all things Esther! Portraying Esther at varying stages of her life are Ms. Christian Demerrit as Esther, Ms. Sheena O' Murray as Lady, Ms. Chasity Hart as Madame and Miss Sumaiyah E. Wade as Lil Girl.
March 5th is National Pan-Hellenic Council Night
This socially distanced drive-in event is free, but a $10 donation per car is requested. Donations support the Friends of African American Research Library and Cultural Center, and can be made in advance via Eventbrite.
This event is first-come, first-park, so arrive early to get the best parking spot view of the stage! Local food trucks will be onsite providing refreshments for sale.
To learn more about developments with this project, follow @RollewithAARLCC on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or contact AARLCC Regional Manager Makiba Foster at mjfoster@broward.org or 954-357-6176.
About the Community Foundation of Broward
Founded in 1984, the Community Foundation of Broward helps families, individuals and corporations create personalized charitable Funds that deliver game-changing philanthropic impact. 473 charitable Funds represent more than $212 million in assets, distributing $119 million in grants over the past 35 years. The Community Foundation provides bold leadership on community solutions and fosters philanthropy that connects people who care with causes that matter. The Foundation empowers visionaries, innovators and doers to create the change they want to see in the community – and to BE BOLD. www.cfbroward.org
About Broward County Libraries Division
Broward County Libraries Division, named 2020 and 2015 Library of the Year by the Florida Library Association, was founded in 1974 and is the largest library system in Florida by square footage and one of the busiest, with more than 7.5 million walk-in customers visiting its 38 locations annually. Broward County Libraries Division provides convenient access to a full range of innovative and cost-effective services that satisfy the changing needs of the people of Broward County for information, education and recreation. Visit our website, Broward.org/Library, or follow Libraries on Facebook and Twitter.
| Mon, Feb 03 | 10:00PM to 8:00PM |
| Tue, Feb 04 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
| Wed, Feb 05 | 10:00PM to 8:00PM |
| Thu, Feb 06 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
| Fri, Feb 07 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
| Sat, Feb 08 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
| Sun, Feb 09 | Closed |
