Regardless of the outcome at the Tony Awards next Sunday, NaTasha Yvette Williams is thrilled to be a part of a Broadway project that allows her to inspire others. She is currently giving a phenomenal performance in “Some Like It Hot” at New York’s Shubert Theatre. The show tells the story of two musicians who dress in drag to join an all-women band and travel cross-country to escape danger. Williams is a Tony-nominated featured actress and plays the band’s nurturing leader, Sweet Sue. The character was expanded from the minor role in the 1959 film to have much more significance, opening the show and being featured prominently in a dance sequence.
Williams is proud to be a part of a show that is making a positive impact on its audience. She is a big Black woman, which is why she believes she can be a powerful role model for others. “Some Like It Hot” received 12 Tony nominations, including best musical, making it the most nominated theatrical production this season. The original movie featured an all-white cast and outdated queer representation.
Matthew López and Amber Ruffin, the book writers for the show, were very specific about diversity and inclusion to make the story viable for a contemporary audience. Williams is delighted to see people feeling good about themselves in whatever body and skin they are in thanks to the show.
Aside from her Broadway career, Williams has been working on a passion project called “Beyond the Diamond.” It’s a screenplay that dramatizes the life of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, the first female pitcher in the Negro Leagues. Williams aims to highlight the strength of a woman and how challenges can be overcome when one stays focused.
For the foreseeable future, Williams will continue to focus on “Some Like It Hot” and delivering her full-throttle portrayal of Sweet Sue. She hopes the accolades she receives will inspire viewers that no limits can bind them. Williams has been in the Broadway industry for a long time and considers this Tony nomination a collective, community kind of Tony.
