She’d been singing most of her life and studied dance with both the Dayton Ballet and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.
“I’d audition for the Muse Machine musicals, too, and played Dorothy in ‘The Wiz,’ ” she said.
“I wanted to go into performance after high school and knew I could get a scholarship as a percussionist, but didn’t have confidence as an actress. All of the Muse Machine staff — Kevin Moore, Marsha Hanna, Scott Stoney, Michael Lippert and even its founder, Susy Bassani, coached me when I wanted to audition. I had a scholarship offer in London, but Suzy encouraged me to go to New York.”
Their work paid off, and when she graduated in ’89, she had a scholarship to the American Musical Dramatic Academy in NYC. After her academy graduation, she worked in numerous musicals on Broadway and in Europe. She was able to work with Elton John in the original production of his version of “Aida,” which she recalls as “an incredible experience.”
Her other performances included “Rent,” “Porgy and Bess,” and “42nd Street.” Then, she took on her current role as director.
She was surprised to run into Kevin Moore again at a theater company conference in NYC. “I had directed one of the plays for the conference, and he later called me and wanted me to read “Ethel Waters: His Eye is on the Sparrow.” I came home to direct that for the Human Race,” said Williams.
Moore called her again last year to direct another play, “but I was pregnant. When he called again, asking me to direct ‘Permanent Collection’ this year, I agreed. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was pregnant again,” she said.
Williams returned to her parents’ home in Dayton’s University Row for auditions in December, and again — with her 8-month-old daughter and in her fourth month of pregnancy — to begin rehearsals for “Permanent Collection” March 18.
Her father and mother, LaDon Williams, are thrilled to have the time with their granddaughter Sayla, and to be able to celebrate their daughter’s 40th birthday with her on April 2.
“The play will premiere on April 15, and I’ll go back to New York on the 18th,” she said.
“This was one of the last plays that Marsha Hanna picked out as a producer for The Human Race, so it means a lot to me.” Hanna, artistic director for the company, died in January.
Another mentor, Scott Stoney, is in the cast, which stars Alan Bomar Jones.
Contact this columnist at virgburroughs@gmail.com.
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