Shanice Williams

When you get to Hollywood, it takes you out of your life. It makes you feel cool when you think about all the great things to come out of this town.

I started singing in my church choir, and then when I got to middle school, I had the coolest musical theatre director, and we actually did 'The Wiz' in seventh grade, and I was Addaperle, and my grandma was like, 'Why didn't you audition for Dorothy?' But I was too nervous for that.

I've never seen a show at my high school because I was always in them.

If I'm not working after 'The Wiz,' I am definitely planning on going back to college in New Jersey.

I never thought I'd be doing TV. I've always loved it, but I felt like I was just going to do Broadway because that was what I wanted to do the most.

I think it'd be cool to be in film and television, but I never thought that would happen.

'Once on This Island' is one of my favorite musicals, so to have the lead in that would be great.

My dream job would be starring in a lead role on a Broadway musical.

When I got to high school, I was going to do sports, but I got kicked off the volleyball team because I kept missing it for musical theater.

I like film, and I like Broadway; I just love performing, so whatever God has for me, I'll be happy to just try it and see what happens because no matter what, if I'm performing, I'll be happy.

When I get older, if they ever do a project about Audra McDonald's life, I would love to play her, or even play her daughter in something. I love her.

All my vocal coaches have been pretty great. Thank God.

I grew up an only child, and I always felt as if I didn't fit in. In middle school, in grammar school, and even high school, I just didn't feel like I fit in.

The first time that I stepped onto a stage, it was life-changing. For once, I felt comfortable and in a place where I belonged. It changed my life forever.

I'm a Jersey girl, but I went to college in L.A. I can connect with the feeling of wanting to come home.

You have to be 110% focused all of the time. It's hard when everybody is saying, 'Oh, you're so amazing.' You have to remind yourself to stay humble.

I need to take everything one step at a time. If I think about that too much, I'll miss this amazing experience.

I was eating cereal on my couch when I saw the first commercial for 'The Wiz' on TV. I dropped the spoon and the tears came out of nowhere.

My story, I feel like it's amazing, because it shows people no matter where you come from, no matter what your lifestyle is, your dreams could still come true if you believe in yourself and push hard to do what you want to do.

I would really love to go back to college, if there's any way I could to do it, and maybe minor in business.

I just want to go to Disneyland. I need that a lot, to just let everything go, go on some roller coasters and have fun.

I've always had a huge dream of opening an animal shelter.

The most important thing is to stay humble because there are always people telling you that you're this and that you're going to do that.

I was one of the ones in my generation who actually did connect with 'The Wiz,' even though it was not on Broadway or the movie wasn't big anymore by the time I was of age to notice. But I was into it in middle school.

My generation probably didn't connect with 'The Wiz' the way that other generations did.