Growing up singing in the church choir in the small town of Anguilla, MS, Vincent Vendell always knew he would be a performer. After his mother took him to the theater for the first time when he was in the third grade, he was drawn to the stage. “When I saw that musical, I was like, this is the marrying of so many things that I love and I didn’t know that there was a place where I fit,” says Vincent.
Vincent went on to a visual performing arts magnet high school in Atlanta, GA, and has recently graduated from college with his BFA in Theatre Performance. Today, Vincent wears a lot of creative hats; he’s an actor, singer, director, and writer. He even directs stage fighting.
What Vincent cares about most in his work is approaching characters with empathy, collaborating with other creatives, and creating a space for people’s voices from all backgrounds to be heard. He recently planned to direct a run of a musical at his alma mater that had the first all-POC cast in the theater’s 112-year history. “It meant a lot for the community and though it wasn’t realized, I know that it’s been my most important work and it’s the most important thing that I’ve done,” Vincent shares.
“We are fighting for our voices to be heard, and we are making them heard. And it’s amazing. That’s the light at the end of my tunnel.”
Vincent is optimistic about the future. “Coming out of 2020, I think that there is a space made for young people now that has never existed before,” he says. He’s looking forward to publishing his Asian/Southern fusion cookbook and developing his cooking show brand. He’d also love to pursue his MFA and one day be an EGOT recipient. He certainly has the focus and determination to get there.