THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 14, 1995 TAG: 9509120092
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH SIMPSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Ever since Tiffany Williams started her first dance classes at 9 years of age, she has not stopped dreaming of hitting the stage.
That was 15 years ago, and this graduate of Indian River High School in Chesapeake is now in a dance troupe that's touring the country in a 20th anniversary revival of the Broadway show ``Your Arms Too Short to Box With God.''
``It's been rocky sometimes, but I feel like this is my destiny, to be a performer,'' Williams, 24, said in a telephone interview from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where she was rehearsing for the production.
The revival is being directed by theater director and operator Vinnette Carroll, who earned two Tony Award nominations for the show when it was on Broadway. The show stars Jennifer Holliday, who had her theatrical debut in the show and went on to win a Tony Award in ``Dream Girls.''
The show will open in Richmond Sept. 21-24 at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts. From there Williams will travel with the troupe to Lincoln Theatre in Washington, and then to Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, and several other cities.
Williams, the daughter of Janice Williams of Chesapeake and Lensey Worrell of Norfolk, attended the Governor's Magnet School for the Performing Arts in Norfolk for three years before graduating from Indian River High School in 1989. Then she went to the North Carolina School of the Fine Arts, where she graduated in 1993. She moved to New York City two years ago to pursue her career.
The first year was the most difficult, she says. At first she worked as an aerobics teacher to help sustain her from one acting and dancing job to another. ``You have to do what you can to make ends meet,'' she said. And she had to get used to rejection. ``Every rejection helps you grow,'' Williams said. ``It makes you stronger.''
As she became acquainted with more people in the performance field, she learned of more acting and dancing opportunities. ``The more people I know, the easier it gets,'' she said. She has performed in several music videos, she's had small parts in movies such as ``Kiss of Death'' and television shows, including ``Law & Order'' and danced in various musicals.
It's been exciting for her to meet dancers and actors she's admired since childhood. ``I'm not on their level, but when you start meeting the people you admire, you feel you're on your way too.''
After the Your Arms production wraps up performances in April, Williams hopes to move to Los Angeles to pursue more roles in films and television.
``I want to express my talent to the world,'' she said. MEMO: For more information about the Your Arms Too Short To Box With God
performances in Richmond, call the Carpenter Center for the Performing
Arts in Richmond, 804-782-3930. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Tiffany Williams attended the Magnet School in Norfolk.
by CNB