R&B star Michelle Williams poses it up in these stunning new promotional shots for Cancers 4 A Cause: Where Music Meets Fashion 4 A Cure.
The former Destiny’s Child singer turned Award-winning Broadway star is among a host of celebrities who feature in the campaign – which is designed to raise funds and awareness of the disease via the music industry.
Chicago’s Michelle Williams will make a special appearance when the 64th Annual Tony Awards are simulcast on the Clear Channel Spectacolor HD Screen in Times Square on June 13 from 6-11pm. Additional guest performers will be announced at a later date.
The simulcast will include NY1′s pre-show, On STAGE’s Red Carpet to the TONY’s, full coverage of the first 15 Tony award categories, normally only available online, and then, the complete CBS broadcast of the ceremony live from Radio City Music Hall.
The CBS broadcast will cut to the festivities in Times Square throughout the evening. The simulcast will take place, rain or shine, with full audio and with seating available, starting at 5:30 p.m. in Duffy Square for 1,000 people.
Students at Rockford’s West Middle School heard Grammy winner and Auburn High School graduate Michelle Williams talk about the importance of education in a motivational speech Friday, May 14, 2010. Williams also graduated from West.
You might be aware the Purple Party is just around the corner. The annual dance party benefiting AIDS Services of Dallas is a weekend long affair happening across a slew of nightclubs throughout the city. You can see the schedule and list of DJs here. But I just saw today that former Destiny’s Child singer Michelle Williams is headlining the Saturday night affair at the House of Blues on May 1.
Spring is in the air at Broadway’s Tony Award-winning hit musical CHICAGO, and producers Barry and Fran Weissler are pleased to announce that Grammy Award winner Michelle Williams (Destiny’s Child) will extend her limited engagement as Roxie Hart at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.).
Originally slated to play her final performance on Sunday, March 28, Williams will now play an additional 18 performances through Tuesday, April 13, prior to joining the Los Angeles engagement of the CHICAGO national tour, Tuesday, April 20 through Sunday, May 9 at the Pantages Theatre (6233 Hollywood Blvd.)
“Michelle has proven to be a tremendous asset to CHICAGO, first in London last year and now on Broadway,” said Barry Weissler. “In addition to being a fantastic performer, she’s as delightful and genuine offstage as she is onstage. We’re thrilled that she’s not only able to extend her Broadway run, but to join our national tour for its third return engagement in Los Angeles.”
In Los Angeles, Williams will be joined by Terra C. MacLeod as Velma Kelly, Brent Barrett as Billy Flynn, Tom Riis Farrell as Amos Hart and Carol Woods as Matron “Mama” Morton.
Visit www.broadwayla.org for complete information on the Los Angeles engagement of the CHICAGO national tour.
Back in New York, “Gossip Girl” star Matthew Settle will now make his Broadway debut as Billy Flynn for an eight-week engagement, Monday, April 19 through Sunday, June 13.
In other Broadway casting news, Tony Award nominee Tom Hewitt returns as Billy Flynn for a three-week engagement beginning Monday, March 29, Amra-Faye Wright returns as Velma Kelly beginning Monday, April 5 and Terri White (Finian’s Rainbow) makes her CHICAGO debut as Matron “Mama” Morton beginning Monday, April 26.
Now celebrating 13 glorious years of girls, glitz and glamour on the Great White Way, the record-breaking smash hit musical CHICAGO is the sixth longest-running production in Broadway history … and it shows no sign of ever slowing down!
Visit www.ChicagoTheMusical.com for more information.
“Chicago” star Michelle Williams and Lil Mo are among a host of singers who recently recorded a song for ‘Hope For Haiti’.
Titled “Prayer Song,” the compilation effort was recorded at New York’s MSR Studios Tuesday.
Also featuring Gospel recording star Tye Tribbett, American Idol alum Anwar Robinson and Krishnar Lewis, “Prayer Song” is set to become part of ‘Hope For Haiti’s’ relief efforts.
“Prayer Song’ follows the successful telethon “Hope For Haiti,” which aired shortly after the earthquake in January.
Often referred to as the shyest member of Destiny’s Child, Michelle Williams defied that description with her solo album “Unexpected” in October 2008.
The singer, who has a penchant for gospel tunes, had no problem belting out dance-friendly pop songs on the high-energy CD. “I had boxed myself in as a gospel singer and didn’t think anyone would be interested in hearing me sing a different way,” said Williams, 29. “It was either Destiny’s Child or gospel.”
Williams returns to Broadway this month to perform as Roxie Hart in “Chicago” and also is working on another album. After that? Perhaps a well-deserved rest.
“I travel so much that I know almost all my account numbers for my different airline frequent-flier miles by heart,” Williams said. Not that she’s complaining.
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: Turks & Caicos definitely is a dream destination. The water is so clear and blue. I really enjoyed the beautiful water, even though I don’t know how to swim. I did get a chance to parasail, and it was simply amazing. I felt so at peace with myself. I stayed at a friend’s condo and cooked, went shopping and just had a ball. It was wonderful to not worry about being glamorous. I was barefoot most of the time and got to lie in the sun.
Q: Where is your favorite weekend getaway?
A: Miami!
Q: What are your favorite hotels and restaurants?
A: The Ritz-Carlton (ritzcarlton.com) or Shore Club (shoreclub.com) in Miami. The Regent Beverly Wilshire (fourseasons.com) in Beverly Hills. Any Thompson Hotels (thompsonhotels.com) property. The Grand Hyatt (tokyo.grand.hyatt.com) in Tokyo because they have one of the best spas I’ve ever been to. And the Mandarin Oriental (mandarinoriental.com) in London because they have Jo Malone amenities.
Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A: An iPod! I pack a dress or two … and the rest are casual. Vacation for me is not always about being the fiercest chick at the pool. I only travel with one bag when I know I don’t have to work because checking luggage can be such a pain these days.
Q: What are your five favorite cities?
A: Miami, Los Angeles, New York, Nashville and Houston.
Q: What kind of research do you do before you go on a trip?
A: I don’t get to sightsee a lot when I’m working, but I make a mental list of places I’d like to revisit when I have a few weeks off.
Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been?
A: South Africa. I’d also like to go to a place like Vermont or Montana.
Michelle Williams, who recently joined the cast of the Tony-winning revival of Chicago, will make an appearance on the syndicated “The Wendy Williams Show” Feb. 16.
Williams, the singing star who rose to fame as one-third of Destiny’s Child (along with Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland), and the Chicago cast will perform “Roxie.”
“The Wendy Williams Show” airs in the New York Metropolitan area on Fox-TV at 10 AM ET; check local listings. For more information visit www.WendyShow.com.
Williams, who played the role of merry murderous Roxie Hart in the London production of the Kander and Ebb hit, recently assumed the same part at the Ambassador Theatre. The singing actress will perform on Broadway through March 28.
Williams has previously appeared on stage in the title role of Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida on Broadway and in the national tour of The Color Purple in Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, playing the role of blues singer Shug Avery. She released her solo debut album in 2002, “Heart to Yours,” which charted as the best-selling gospel album of that year and spawned the single “Heard a Word.” She also released “Do You Know” in 2004 and “Unexpected” in 2008. In 2004, she also reunited with Knowles and Rowland to make a fourth Destiny’s Child studio album, “Destiny Fulfilled,” that was followed by a world tour, after which they officially disbanded. On TV, Williams has appeared in “Half & Half,” and on the reality TV show “Celebrity Duets.”
Chicago won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical in 1997 as well as awards for actors Bebe Neuwirth and James Naughton, director Walter Bobbie, lighting designer Ken Billington and choreographer Ann Reinking. The original production was directed and choreographed by the late Bob Fosse.
Chicago plays the Ambassador Theatre, located at 219 West 49th Street.
Visit www.ChicagoTheMusical.com for more information.
Michelle’s in love ladies and gents !
The Destiny’s Child singer, Broadway star, reality show host and solo act confessed her desire to have children with a certain mystery man on the Wendy Williams Show Wednesday.
Admitting to have fallen for a “business man”, whose name she declined to reveal, Williams told Wendy “I would love to get married and have children. Yeah, I could (settle down with him).”
In related news, Michelle dismissed rumors that she, Beyonce and Kelly were feuding, calling the girls her “sisters”. Rumors picked back up when Williams split from Beyonce’s father, Mathew Knowles (who acted as her manager for years) earlier this year.
Michelle Williams made her Broadway debut in CHICAGO last night opposite Terra C. MacLeod, who is direct from her debut engagement with the London production of CHICAGO. Williams is also a veteran of the London production of CHICAGO. The cast and crew celebrated post-show at the INC LOUNGE.
Now celebrating 13 glorious years of girls, glitz and glamour on the Great White Way, the record-breaking smash hit musical CHICAGO is the sixth longest-running production in Broadway history. CHICAGO features a book by Fred Ebband Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, and is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording. ??CHICAGO plays on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.). The regular performance schedule is as follows: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings at 8 p.m. Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. ??
Singer-songwriter-performer Michelle Williams rose to international renown after joining Destiny’s Child, the top-selling female group of all time, in 2000. As a member of Destiny’s Child, Michelle received three Grammy Awards and performed on several #1 hit singles by the group. Following the success of Destiny’s Child, Williams became the first member of the group to release a solo record. Her 2002 solo debut album – the gospel-infused Heart To Yours – entered the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart at #1, and became the year’s top-selling Gospel album.??Her second solo album, Do You Know, achieved similar success to her debut, peaking at #2 on the Top Gospel Albums chart and #3 on the Top Christian Albums chart following its release in 2004. Released in October 2008, Unexpected, her third solo album, introduced a bold new dance/pop sound for Williams, showcased by the #1 Billboard Hot Dance tracks “We Break the Dawn” and “The Greatest.”
Williams made her Broadway stage debut in 2003, replacing R&B icon Toni Braxton in the title role of Disney’s Aida. In April 2007, she joined the national touring company of the hit musical The Color Purple, performing extended runs in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix with members of the original Broadway cast.
Pictures coming soon…
