Vy Higginsen

Vy Higginsen "Portrait of Vy Higginsen, a playwright and producer celebrated in McDonald’s Salutes Faces of Black History 2025 for her contributions to the arts and culture."

Ebony magazine’s first female advertising executive

Musical visionary Vy Higginsen created history with her 1983 masterpiece “Mama, I Want to Sing!”—the longest-running black off-Broadway musical at Harlem’s Heckscher Theater. Her remarkable eight-year production stood as just one milestone in a career defined by breaking boundaries. She shattered glass ceilings as Ebony magazine’s first female advertising executive and pioneered new ground as one of New York’s earliest women in prime-time radio.

The stage success marked only the beginning of Higginsen’s enduring cultural impact. Her vision took new form in 1999 with the Mama Foundation for the Arts, touching countless young lives through innovative programs like Gospel for Teens. This signature initiative serves up to 300 low-income teens annually, delivering extraordinary outcomes—98% of students graduate high school, while over 80% pursue four-year college degrees within two years. Through music, Higginsen created pathways for youth to discover their voices and achieve their dreams.

Early Years in Harlem’s Musical Scene

Music flowed through the streets of Harlem, where Vy Higginsen’s story began in a brownstone on West 126th Street. Her childhood home stood proudly between two neighborhood landmarks—the legendary Apollo Theater and Sylvia’s Restaurant. Rich cultural heritage shaped her early years through her father, Rev. Randolph A. Higginson, a Barbadian immigrant and Pentecostal minister, and her mother Geraldine Payne West, who brought Virginia roots to their family tapestry.

Growing Up in a Musical Family

Sacred melodies and soul-stirring harmonies filled the Higginsen home daily. Though her father passed during her infancy, Vy’s connection to church music remained unshakeable. Her older sister, Doris Troy, blazed a musical trail, claiming victory at the Apollo Theater’s Amateur Night. Troy’s talent soared beyond local acclaim with “Just One Look,” reaching No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1963.

The Influence of Gospel Music

Gospel rhythms and spiritual power shaped young Higginsen’s musical soul. Her passion showed in every service—”I used to clap so long and loud that my hands became bright red”. These sacred sounds echoing through Harlem’s churches planted seeds for her future mission of preserving African-American musical traditions.

Education and Early Career Aspirations

Young Vy’s entrepreneurial spirit emerged at age eleven when she created an in-home childcare service for working parents. Her drive continued through her Fashion Institute of Technology years, where evening shifts at New York Citibank, manning an adding machine, funded her education. These early signs of determination pointed toward her future triumphs in media and entertainment.

Breaking Barriers in Media and Entertainment

Fresh from the Fashion Institute of Technology, Higginsen blazed new trails across media landscapes. Her groundbreaking journey began at Ebony magazine, where she became the first woman to work in their advertising sales department. Her skillful promotion of Black culture balanced delicately with corporate relationships, opening doors for future generations.

First Female Executive at Ebony Magazine

Higginsen’s marketing prowess shone brightly at Ebony, where she brought fresh insights into Black consumer markets. Her pioneering presence reshaped expectations for women in media leadership, creating ripples still felt today.

Pioneering Role in Radio Broadcasting

The Columbia School of Broadcasting polished her natural talents, catching program manager Frankie Crocker’s attention. Her distinctive voice soon made history at WBLS as New York’s first female prime-time radio personality. Listeners connected deeply with her sophisticated style and unique programming throughout her five-year run.

Launching Unique NY Magazine

Her creative vision expanded into publishing with Unique NY magazine’s debut in 1975. This fresh voice in lifestyle media celebrated African-American culture and urban life, speaking directly to both locals and tourists. The publication showcased her talent for connecting with diverse audiences while maintaining her dynamic radio presence.

Her powerful voice resonated across New York’s airwaves for a decade, reaching listeners through WBLS-FM, WWRL-AM, and WRKS-FM. Each breakthrough strengthened her legacy as a pioneering force in Black media, proving that talent knows no gender bounds.

Creating Mama I Want to Sing Musical

Music magic sparked between Vy Higginsen and her future husband Ken Wydro during a casual January 1979 conversation. Their shared passion would soon birth a musical masterpiece that touched hearts worldwide.

Inspiration Behind the Musical

Soul stirred at the heart of this creation—the remarkable story of Higginsen’s sister, Doris Troy, whose 1963 hit “Just One Look” carried her voice across oceans. Troy’s journey from church choir to international stardom echoed the paths of musical giants like Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle.

Development and Production Process

New York’s major producers turned their backs on the project, skeptical of gospel music’s broad appeal. Yet faith moved mountains—Higginsen and Wydro poured their life savings into breathing new life into East Harlem’s forgotten Heckscher Theater, dormant for 15 years. Their hands worked miracles, clearing chains and dust from 632 seats, restoring dignity to each corner.

Impact on Off-Broadway Theater

March 23, 1983, marked more than a premiere—it launched a cultural phenomenon. “Mama, I Want to Sing!” soared beyond expectations, [attracting more than 3 million spectators](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mama,_I_Want_to_Sing!_(musical) and generating $62.30 million within four years. The musical’s spirit touched souls across:

  • European stages from Switzerland to London, reaching Asian audiences in Japan
  • Caribbean islands and American cities
  • Madison Square Garden’s Paramount Theater, where 40,000 hearts beat as one

Pure gospel truth resonated beyond borders—audiences worldwide shared tears and joy at the same powerful moments. The musical’s voice grew stronger with [2,800 performances](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mama,_I_Want_to_Sing!_(musical) in New York and 1,000 additional shows internationally. This beautiful legacy lives on through two sequels and a 2012 film starring Ciara.

Establishing the Vy Higginsen Mama Foundation

Musical dreams found their permanent home when Higginsen established the Mama Foundation for the Arts in 1999, creating a sacred space where Black musical heritage flourishes and grows.

Vision and Mission

Sweet soul music beats at the foundation’s heart, preserving precious African American musical treasures—gospel, jazz, and R&B. Each note carries healing power, each song builds bridges between communities, making the foundation a vibrant Harlem sanctuary where authentic voices rise and spirits soar.

Gospel for Teens Program

Sweet harmonies filled Harlem’s streets when Higginsen unveiled her Gospel for Teens program in 2006, welcoming young voices aged 13-19 into a world of musical discovery. Young talents step through the doors of a historic Harlem brownstone each year, ready to audition and embrace their musical destiny. The program’s magic touches every aspect of students’ lives:

Community Impact and Recognition

Musical seeds planted in Harlem soil bloom across the world. The foundation’s melody touches 10,000 young hearts and half a million community members. One million souls worldwide have felt its harmonious embrace since day one.

National spotlights shone bright when CBS’s “60 Minutes” celebrated Gospel for Teens in 2012, earning two Emmy Awards for their double-length feature. Fresh programs like Mama Music Matters, In-School Programming, and the Harlem Healing Project carry Higginsen’s musical torch forward. Each note sung, each lesson shared builds bridges between past and future, keeping precious musical traditions alive in young hearts.

Conclusion

Musical pioneer, media trailblazer, community builder—Vy Higginsen’s story sings with purpose and possibility. Her groundbreaking roles at Ebony magazine and New York radio opened doors for countless women in media, proving talent knows no boundaries.

“Mama, I Want to Sing!” emerged as more than a musical masterpiece—it became a cultural bridge, sharing Black church traditions with millions worldwide. This artistic triumph bloomed into an even greater gift: the Mama Foundation for the Arts, where musical heritage finds its forever home.

Gospel for Teens stands tall among Higginsen’s proudest achievements. Young voices rise stronger each year, with 98% of students graduating high school and 80% stepping confidently into college classrooms. These numbers tell a powerful story—music opens minds, builds confidence, and changes lives.

Sweet melodies still float through Harlem’s streets, carrying dreams from brownstone to Broadway. Higginsen’s legacy lives in every young artist who finds their voice through her programs. Her remarkable journey proves that when passion meets purpose, cultural preservation becomes community transformation, touching hearts across generations.

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QUICK FACTS

  • What is Vy Higginsen’s most famous contribution to musical theater? Vy Higginsen co-wrote “Mama, I Want to Sing!”, which became the longest-running black off-Broadway musical in American history, running for eight years at the Heckscher Theater in Harlem.

  • How did Vy Higginsen break barriers in the media industry? Higginsen became the first female advertising executive at Ebony magazine and one of the first women on prime-time radio in New York, paving the way for future generations of women in media.

  • What is the Mama Foundation for the Arts? The Mama Foundation for the Arts is an organization established by Vy Higginsen in 1999 to preserve African American musical heritage, including gospel, jazz, and R&B, while also providing music education programs for youth.

  • Can you describe the Gospel for Teens program? Gospel for Teens is a free music instruction program launched by Higginsen in 2006, serving up to 300 low-income teens annually. It has achieved remarkable results, with nearly 98% of participants completing high school and over 80% attending four-year colleges.

  • How has Vy Higginsen’s work impacted the Harlem community? Higginsen’s initiatives, including her musical and the Mama Foundation for the Arts, have positively affected over 10,000 youth and 500,000 community members in Harlem, preserving musical heritage while nurturing future generations of artists.

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Thank you to the New York Tristate Owner and Operators Association for your continued support.

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