Shanice Williams | |
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Alma mater | American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
Occupations |
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Years active | 2015–present |
Shanice Williams is an American actress and singer. She is known for her performance as the outspoken Johnnie Mae in The Six Triple Eight .
She grew up in Rahway, New Jersey. Her mother, Andrea Holmes, is a postal worker; and her father, Shelton Williams, is a security guard. Her cousin, Willis Williams, is an independent professional wrestler known as Ali Shabazz. [1] She attended Rahway High School, where she performed as part of her school's drama program. [2]
Williams studied briefly at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles, but began her singing career in her grandfather's choir. [3]
Her first major break was playing the role of Dorothy in The Wiz Live! , a televised program based on the 1975 Broadway theatrical production, The Wiz . Williams was selected for the role through an open casting call when she was 18 years old, which was a collaboration between NBC and the theatrical division of Cirque du Soleil.
In 2017 Williams starred in the HBO film Manic. [4] For her role in this film, she won best actress in a drama at the New York Television Festival and best actress in a drama at SeriesFest. [4]
In 2018 Williams made her New York stage and Off-Broadway debut in Little Rock, a play about the Little Rock Nine. [5] A year later, Williams was cast in the Hollywood Bowl production of Into the Woods which ran July 26–28. [6]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | The Wiz Live! | Dorothy Gale | Television film |
2017 | Manic | Aurora | Short film |
2018 | Sunny Day | Lulu | Episode: "Clowning Around" |
2019–2020 | Perfect Harmony | Leanne | 10 episodes |
2021 | The Last O.G. | Felicia | Episode: "The Negotiator" |
2024 | The Six Triple Eight | Johnnie Mae |