BROWARD COUNTY, FL - The directors have spoken and the cast has been chosen for the original production of Let the Good Times Rolle: Life and Legacy of Esther Rolle at 100.  

This November, the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC), located at 2650 Sistrunk Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311, will celebrate the late actor’s centennial birthday with the play Let the Good Times Rolle, which honors the life of Pompano Beach native and acclaimed actor Esther Rolle. An Emmy Award-winning actor, Rolle excelled on stage and screen and is best known for her role as matriarch Florida Evans on the 1970s sitcom Good Times.  An archive documenting Rolle’s life and career is housed at AARLCC.

The play’s creative team is led by director Keith C. Wade, assistant director Darius V. Daughtry, founder and director of Art Prevails Project; and playwrights Sarahca Peterson, and Monique Williams is excited to formally announce via a recent Facebook Live event the selection of the cast for this historic production.

This highly competitive process brought us a cast that is sure to bring the spirit and passion of this production to life. We are pleased to announce the 2020 inaugural cast of Let the Good Times Rolle: Life and Legacy of Esther Rolle at 100:

• Christian Demerrit – Esther
• Sheena O' Murray – Lady
• Chasity Hart – Madame
• Sumaiyah E. Wade - Lil Girl
• Ensemble: LaShonrda Johnson, Keith Oliver, Natasha Henderson, Ayomi Russell, Larry Robinson, Maggie Maxwell

Save the Date: Join AARLCC for a Virtual Birthday Celebration for Esther Rolle, featuring the cast performing selected scenes on Saturday, November 7th at 7PM, followed by a discussion with the play's production team. On Sunday, November 8th at 4PM, the day of Rolle's birth, there will be a special birthday tribute and discussion with the cast.

To learn more about developments with this project, follow @RollewithAARLCC on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Anyone interested in supporting this project as a financial backer or future intern/volunteer may contact AARLCC Regional Manager Makiba Foster at mjfoster@broward.org or 954-357-6176.

Let the Good Times Rolle: Life and Legacy of Esther Rolle at 100 is made possible through funding from a 2020 Art of Community grant from the Community Foundation of Broward, awarded to the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC), 2650 Sistrunk Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311, 954-357-6282.

 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 Fund.

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.