By Matiara Huff
Imagine being a 19-year old black actress debuting as the lead of an old-time classic story. Shanice Williams is a 19 year old actress that made her debut as Dorothy on NBC’s The Wiz Live! If you didn’t see it, December 3, NBC did a live televised performance of The Wiz. The show was an all-black cast that included Queen Latifah, Ne-Yo, Uzo Aduba, Mary J. Blige, Common, David Alan Grier, Amber Riley, and Stephanie Mills. As well as the director of A Raisin In The Sun, Kenny Leon and the choreographer from Dreamgirls and countless hip-hop music videos, Fatima Robinson.
Shanice being casted as the lead in a show like this, is literally a dream come true and an inspiration to other young black actresses. Shanice is from Rahway, New Jersey, and attended Rahway High School, and briefly attended American Musical and Dramatic Academy in LA. She receive the part in an open audition, where thousands of girls from around the country tried out. The opportunity that she received on Thursday, December 3rd, 2015 is life changing, and based on her performance, she didn’t take it for granted.