Shanice Williams

“When I went to college, I wasn't really happy at there, and I really wanted to come home. Mind you, I auditioned for 'The Wiz' the day after I came home from college. I wanted to come home and try to go to a new school.”

“If I'm giving it 100 percent, I don't have anything to worry about!”

“Definitely had a lot of training since a young age. My teachers in high school have always helped me, gave me encouragement, taught me so much.”

“I definitely learned that when you stay humble, you really focus on the work, and you remember that it's about the work. And you have people working with you who support you and love you, then nothing can go wrong.”

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

“I'm very optimistic about the future, because... Okay, with Audra McDonald, even just on Broadway, they cast her in shows that are usually not played by African-American women, so she's very inspiring to me just because of that, you know what I mean?”

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

“I'm from New Jersey. But I went to school in Los Angeles and all across the country. So, I can totally connect with missing home.”

“I went to Los Angeles for acting, and I thought that's where I wanted to go, and I found out that I didn't belong there.”

“Listen, I'm a performer, and all I'm worried about is just performing and just doing... This is what makes me happy, so no matter what, I'm going to give it my best shot, and I'm going to put myself all out there and give it 100%, and whatever happens, happens.”

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

“My grandparents actually, whenever they got the chance, took me to Broadway, but that started when I was in high school, because that's when I realized... At the very beginning of high school, I realized, 'Oh my gosh. Okay, this is a career choice for me.' So yeah, then they always brought me to New York to see Broadway shows whenever they could.”

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

“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.”

“My biggest inspiration is Audra McDonald.”

“Everyone at a point in their life is struggling to find out who they are and where they belong.”

“I really believe in prayer.”