Quotes from Shanice Williams

My biggest inspiration is Audra McDonald.

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.

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.

It's important to believe in yourself because if you don't believe in yourself, then no one else can believe in you.

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.

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

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

I really believe in prayer.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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 just feel like it's believing in your instincts or believing in yourself to do something crazy. That's why it's important to believe in yourself and trust yourself.

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.

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.

Go out and chase your dreams no matter how crazy it looks.

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.