Shanice Williams facts for kids

Shanice Williams (born July 9, 1996), also known as Shanice Shantay, is an American actress and singer. She became well-known for her role as Dorothy in The Wiz Live! and later for playing Johnnie Mae in The Six Triple Eight.

Growing Up and School

Shanice Williams grew up in Rahway, New Jersey. Her mom, Andrea Holmes, worked for the postal service, and her dad, Shelton Williams, was a security guard.

She went to Rahway High School, where she was part of the school's drama program. This is where she first started acting. After high school, Shanice briefly studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles. However, she began her singing journey even earlier, singing in her grandfather's choir.

Acting and Singing Career

Her Big Break: The Wiz Live!

Shanice got her first big role playing Dorothy in The Wiz Live! in 2015. This was a special TV show based on the famous Broadway musical The Wiz. The original musical was a new version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, but it told the story with an African-American cast and style.

Shanice was only 18 years old when she was chosen for the role. She got the part through an open audition, meaning anyone could try out! This TV show was a team effort between the NBC network and the amazing performance group Cirque du Soleil.

Other Roles and Awards

In 2017, Shanice starred in a film called Manic. For her acting in this movie, she won two awards for best actress in a drama. She received these awards at the New York Television Festival and SeriesFest.

In 2018, Shanice performed on stage in New York City for the first time. She was in a play called Little Rock, which was about the Little Rock Nine. These were nine African-American students who were the first to attend a formerly all-white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957.

A year later, in 2019, Shanice was cast in a special show of Into the Woods at the Hollywood Bowl. She played Little Red Ridinghood alongside many famous Broadway actors and even special guest Whoopi Goldberg.

What She's Been In