Flonnie T. Anderson
March 15, 1930
— Winston-Salem Distinguished Women In The Arts —
She used theatre to break area racial barriers. Flonnie Anderson formed the Community Players Guild (1952), the first Black community theatre troupe in the South. Later she expanded it to Flonnie Anderson Theatrical Association (1981).
Anderson was the first Black actor to perform with The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem, portraying Tituba in The Crucible 1956. She also became the company's first Black director. Her performances won numerous awards and her portrayal of Sojourner Truth, We the People (PBS 1976), captivated a national audience.
This veteran educator in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Public School system took Anderson High School's all-black speech team to the Wake Forest University High School Speech Festival, where they won the first of many sweepstakes awards (1960's). She also formed/directed the Parkland Players, Parkland High School's first integrated theatre troupe (1970's). They performed at the Kennedy Center (D.C.) during the nation's 1976 Bicentennial Celebration.
Upon her retirement after 31 years, the Board of Education named the Parkland Magnet Auditorium in her honor. Mayor Allen Joines recognized Anderson's theatrical contributions to the community with a proclamation (March 2016).
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans
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Location. 36° 5.833′ N, 80° 14.873′ W. Marker is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in Forsyth County. Marker is on Marshall Street North, 0.1 miles south of West 4th Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 310 Marshall St N, Winston Salem NC 27101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Rosemary Harris (here, next to this marker); Earline King (here, next to this marker); Nell Davis Britton (a few steps from this marker); Spruce Street YMCA (within shouting distance of this marker); Nissen Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Shamrock Mills (about 400 feet away); O'Hanlon's Office Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Forsyth County Men (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winston-Salem.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 427 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
