Vanessa Williams got an early start in the arts. Raised in Chappaqua, New York, the future actress and singer began performing at a young age — inspired by the Great White Way but a short drive to the south of her hometown.
“I grew up wanting to be on Broadway because [New York] was an hour away. And once I knew I could do theater as a profession, I continued to study and did amazing musical theater at Syracuse,” Miss Williams told The Washington Times.
Her early showbiz idols were women like Lena Horne and Diahann Carroll, who had done work on stage, television, film and other venues.
“[Performers] were expected to sing and dance and act, and do it all fluidly,” she said of her inspirations.
Miss Williams has multiple Grammy nominations to her credit, including for “The Colors of the Wind” from the 1995 animated Disney film “Pocahontas.” She will perform two shows at the District’s Howard Theatre Friday evening, where she will regale capital audiences with hits like “Save the Best for Last” as well as Broadway tunes, jazz standards and various stories from across her three-decade-plus showbiz career.
“It’s not chronological, but I do talk about my life and my career,” Miss Williams said of her musical stage journey.
That life and career has included dozens of films and TV shows, including the series “Ugly Better,” the action film “Eraser” with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the 1997 hit “Soul Food,” the ensemble comedy that also featured Vivica A. Fox, Mekhi Pfeiffer, Nia Long and Michael Beach.
“That was one of those unique and special pieces because it was George Tillman’s first time directing. He wrote it and it was personal,” Miss Williams said of the film that made back nearly seven times its modest budget. “It was great to offer advice and be there in terms of helping a young black director make his debut.
“When things like that hit and have tremendous success and longevity, those are little jewels,” she said. “I’m so happy that I got a chance to do it.”
For a time in her acting career — including in the era of “Soul Food” — Miss Williams had to go by the stage name of Vanessa L. Williams to distinguish herself from another actress, Vanessa A. Williams, who appeared in “Melrose Place” and the original “Candyman.”
Even more incredibly, the two Vanessas not only grew up in the same area, but both applied to — and were subsequently accepted at — NYU at the exact same time.
“Back in the [the early ’80s] you didn’t have the internet, so I called [NYU] to see if I got accepted,” Miss Williams said of phoning up the college in New York City’s Greenwich Village. “They said ’Which Vanessa Williams are you?’” she said with a laugh. “So I knew that there was another one out there who was the same age.”
Miss Williams, now 53, was crowned Miss America in 1983 at the tender age of 20, becoming the first African-American to win the title. She spent that Thanksgiving on a float waving to crowds during New York’s Macy’s Parade. However, the check for her appearance was in fact sent to the “other” Miss Williams by mistake.
“She figured out how to get it to me,” Miss Williams said of her namesake’s rightful gesture. (In another strange connection, Vanessa A. Williams even starred in the TV series “Soul Food” based on the film.)
Less than a year later, however, racy photos shot when she was 19 were published in Penthouse, and Miss Williams was forced her to abdicate the crown. When she served as head judge of 2015’s contest, she was at long last issued a formal apology by Miss America CEO Sam Haskell, who cited her “grace and dignity” in dealing with the scandal.
And persevere she has, enjoying a lengthy musical and acting career ever since.
Miss Williams has been to the District on several previous occasions, including for a screening of her film “The Trip to Bountiful,” hosted by former first lady Michelle Obama. She was also in the nation’s capital for the inauguration of Mrs. Obama’s husband as well as to sing as part of Tony Bennett’s Kennedy Center Honors.
Miss Williams said she looks forward to exploring the new National Museum of African American History and Culture, however, her quick trip to the District Friday won’t allow for such a side excursion.
“I want to take time when I can actually enjoy it,” she said, before jesting, “It’s a little unfortunate I wasn’t included” in the museum.
“I don’t know who the curator is, but it did kind of hurt my feelings.”
Vanessa Williams will perform at the Howard Theatre Friday evening at 7:30 and 10 p.m. For tickets go to HowardTheatre.com.
• Eric Althoff can be reached at twt@washingtontimes.com.
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